Monday 29th August.
We are still awaiting the all important telephone call from Sailcraft Service in Oriental to give us the official report of whether we still have a boat or not. (www.sailcraftserviceboatyard.com) The hurricane passed directly over Oriental and we watched the whole thing happening on television but could do nothing to protect our 'baby'. It was just the worst feeling, the unknown of what was actually happening, whether we still had a boat. Visions of destruction, boats on their side on high ground, boats sunk; about every terrible visions of destruct were being mulled over. After a good day when your head hits the pillow, a wry grin settles in as pleasant thoughts sends one off to sleep and the land of nod. Not this night, torment was firmly in place no convincing would give the assurance that our boat and future home had survived, we needed the call.
Tuesday 30th.
I posted two notices on Krogen Cruisers and Cruiser's Net and one member, Steve, who also had his boat in Sailcraft fortunately, saw my post and e-mailed me yesterday. His news that 'Partners' appeared, at least from the ground, okay was a relief. Sailcraft chained the stands to stop them moving and, hurrah, it worked! Power, telephone and internet were all unavailable through Monday but reports tell us that the utility companies expect to have services restored by today.
Lavinia and I will be travelling to visit our future home on the 8th, 9th & 10th; we have made reservations at a quaint B & B on Church Street called 'The Inn at Oriental'. Oriental is a small town on the north bank of the Neuse River, the widest river in the USA, leading to the vast sailing waters of Pamlico Sound and on to the Atlantic through North Carolina's barrier islands. Oriental is known as 'The Sailing Capital of North Carolina'. The area is easily some of the finest boating waters on the East Coast. Oriental is midpoint on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and a destination for hundreds of cruising sailors travelling North and South with the seasons. The population was 875 at the 2000 census so a very small town with a big boating reputation. It is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. Oriental is a town in Pamlico County, North Carolina, USA. Believe it or not Oriental, although small, lays claim to being the largest city in the county, and home to most of its motels, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, marinas, boat brokerages, the newspaper, several sport fishing charters, and the county's cultural center.
It is ironic that 'Irene' made a direct hit on the Outer Banks as the reason why our boat is still there and not with us in Sarasota, FL is that our insurance company didn't want us to bring her back to Florida during hurricane season, go figure! Murphy lives!
August 31st
All is well, thank goodness, we finally received the call, there was a lot of damage to the surroundings, equipment tools etc., a five foot tide surge occurred which apparently floated some boats off their stands! Fortunately we were not one of them. Our heartfelt feelings, commiserations and very best wishes go out to the many that were not as fortunate.
There will be more to come after our visit...
