From: Canright, Shelley
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:02 AM
Subject: Emerald Isle Bridge is now a passing image

Gang:

I have taken some photos of the Emerald Isle bridge as we approached it at sunrise this morning (6:30am). I realize that my skeptic colleagues shall claim that is not sufficient proof that indeed this trip is for real... especially if the evidence is being submitted by me. So, I encourage Katie to help this situation....by obtaining any supporting evidence so that may be a comparison of captured images can prove that indeed 'Now We're Ready' exists, this trip is for real and Emerald Isle is now a fleeting image on the horizon.

Full throttle, ahead, mates!

- The Admiral

From: Katie
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:02 AM
Subject: RE: Emerald Isle Bridge is now a passing image

You shall, my friend, approach another bridge ahead (Atlantic Beach, at which point you will have seen Emerald Isle from end to end. We are about mid-way between the two bridges, near a water tower (Bouge Banks - but I doubt you can read it from the water) on the ocean side of the island. It’s a lovely day as you make your way into the sunrise!

From: Katie
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:08 AM
Subject: RE: TARGET:: Emerald Isle (NC) -- At First Light (August 19)

It's a beautiful morning for a ghost ship to begin it's voyage through the Bouge Sound. Ah so fitting, for NC with the stories of pirate ghosts still wondering open waters protecting their sunken treasures. The wind has picked up a bit and there are a few puffy clouds, the water has a slight chop to it this morning which is different from the past two mornings. The water has been smooth as glass and Caribbean blue. The odd thing about being on Emerald Isle is that the sun rises at one end of the beach (so Shelley is headed straight into it this morning) and sets at the other end. The orientation is such that the island is not "north-south" as one would expect the sun to rise out of the ocean and set behind the sound.

While the Admiral and crew were touring by the glimmer of red and green beacons, my crew was on the beach! We picked up some tiki torches and took the grill out the beach. We make a makeshift buffet table with plywood and deck chairs. My brother cooked up corn on the cob, veggie kabobs, shrimp, scallops, chicken, and lobster. We finished the evening roasting marshmallows for smores by the glitter of stars from the sky, firelight from the tikis and the hush of the ocean.

We were pleased to hear that Bill's ocean namesake had agreed to stay far off shore -- we would rather only leave the island with the Sunday-Sunday rental convoy as opposed to the entire island and areas inland!

Time for a bike ride -- although I doubt I can make it to the Atlantic Beach Bridge before Shelley! 

From: Detroye, Diane D.
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 8:46 AM
Subject: RE: TARGET:: Emerald Isle (NC) -- At First Light (August 19)

HA!!

The mystery deepens....the supposedly clandestine bypass of Emerald Isle and the Pruzan clan lends further credence to the growing rumor that this whole sojourn is simply a ruse by Shelley and Michael to be able to cocoon together in their Capital Hill digs.

In the picture of The Admiral "at the helm", was anyone else curious about the small  "Washington Marina" sign in the background?

<grin>

From: Katie
Sent: Wed Aug 19 20:42:31 2009
Subject: RE: TARGET:: Emerald Isle (NC) -- At First Light (August 19)

Even though this Pruzan didn't actually see the boat -- My mother-in-law saw the ghost ship as it passed her house this morning! I asked her if she saw a houseboat while she was having coffee this morning on her porch. Oddly enough -- she said yes, it was named something like "Now We're Movin" and it had red swirly looking things on the outside. They live at water marker 26 in the broad creek area of Bouge Sound (between the Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach bridges. They are right on the water and the eyes of the Pruzans were upon the Admiral's vessel!

Cheers!

From: Canright, Shelley
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: TARGET:: Emerald Isle (NC) -- At First Light (August 19)

Yippee...proof that this is NOT a hoax!  A hug to your mother-in-law!

From: Anderson, Bill
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 5:46 PM
To: Canright, Shelley
Subject: How's it going?

Haven’t heard much from you today.  Everything OK?

From: Canright, Shelley
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:25 PM
To: Anderson, Bill
Subject: RE: How's it going?

We were paddlin’ much of the time where there was limited to no connectivity.  We actually docked early today…around 3:30pm.  Stopped for gas and decided to check to see what might be next stopping point so not to have a repeat from last night.  We learned that we would have to travel another five hours…and that would be WAY into darkness.  So, nope, we dropped anchor in small NC community of Bellhaven.  We have just returned from driving golf cart to town and doing dinner.  I am now in the process of downloading email…writing up Admiral’s Log and sorting through photos taken today to accompany the log.  Stand by, First Mate.  :-)

Admiral’s Log

Wednesday, August 19

A quick recap from last night is in order.  We were successful in making passage through the three low bridge obstacles that had faced us at the beginning of the day, with the last obstacle being overcome near sunset at 8pm.  We now found ourselves in situation that dusk would soon be upon us and with no place to anchor, we would need to continue into the night for some unknown period of time.  We decided to remain calm at this realization and just absorb the moment and everything that was to grace us during this paddling time. 

Beautiful sunset across our aft deck was captured. And we did in fact see some most interesting things come to life during the next one and one-half hours until we found a safe haven at Caspers Dry Dock Marina.  In the growing darkness we witnessed the Marines conducting war games with helicopters and flares bursting into the night sky.  We were offered our own personal  ‘firework display’ underneath a sky full of stars.  (PHOTO #385, 386)

 
Photo 385: As the Sun Sets, Another Day Paddlin'

Photo 386: Marine Maneuvers at Dusk

This new day came all too quickly, but by now we were more quickly getting our act together and within 30-minutes of wake-up, we were underway pre-dawn.  We believe our little vessel is beginning to get the whiff of river water up ahead!  We took are anxious for the water of the Potomac River.  Good bye to Caspers as we paddle in the direction of sunrise.  (PHOTO #387)

 
Photo 387: First Light Leaving Caspers (Night Stop)

It is with a heavy heart that the Admiral must reveal that rumors can be heard from envious landlocked persons that there is growing disbelief that this adventure is real and like a reality television show, much of this is staged.  One person has even suggested this is like the great Moon Hoax and is calling for substantiated evidence other than that which the Admiral supplies through daily logs and photos! 

NAMELESS SOURCE STATES, “We have yet to see independent confirmation that this journey is happening (think faked Moon landings) and it's not just Shelley and Michael having a grand 'ole time at their Capital Hill home with elaborate use of backdrops, props, and random tourists shanghaied from Union Station. Skepticism will abound if all you capture is a grainy B-Berry photo.”

Jumping into the deep end of this discussion was individual that happened to be vacationing close to where the houseboat was projected to pass on this day and offered to be on hand to offer photo evidence or any needed supplies.

Needless to say, the passage of this vessel beneath the Emerald Isle Bridge (at Swansboro, NC) occurred just at sunrise and thus the opportunity to quiet the mutterings was not to happen.  Sunrise at the bridge was photographed, but I guess some would claim that such a bridge and sunrise could have happened over any such bridge on the Potomac River, near Washington, DC.  (PHOTO #389)

 
Photo 389: Emerald Isle Bridge - Half Mile Away - Sunrise

Perhaps the next opportunity to quell these rumors shall be as we get close to Norfolk, VA and the ‘family’ at NASA Langley shall bear witness. 

Today’s journey has taken us up the NC coast from Swansboro, past Morehead City and Atlantic Beach and then across section of the Pamlico Sound towards Oriental, NC.  Navigation across the Sound was done by our most proficient Captain Rob and his best friend at that time, a handheld GPS. (PHOTO #404 and 405)

 
Photo 404: Rob Charts Course (GPS)

 
Photo 405: Rob Does His Magic

Jewel of the nearest east is how Oriental is described.  Framed by the rivers and streams of lower Pamlico Sound, Oriental faces the Outer Banks with a soul linked to the traditions of coastal exploration. The population is small...and by all observations…the folks would like to keep it that way.  The settlement lacks many of the conveniences that us city slickers have come to expect…but that’s much of the charm of this town.  In Oriental you could move on at your own pace – or not at all.  For us, we have chosen to move on….

FUEL STOP

We moved only as far as Belhaven, today.  We stopped here for fuel at 3:30pm and inquired what laid between this community and the next community – about 50 miles or 5 hours from this spot.  We were told, nothing, except for water, wind, shoals and limited locations where one might anchor for the night.  We made decision to settle down early with plans to have a much earlier start in the morning.

This is the first opportunity since the start of this little adventure that we have been able to have some daylight and actually explore a community.  The translation of the word Belhaven means ‘beautiful harbor’.  Up the walkway from where we have docked is the Manor House.  It is from the back steps of this Manor that free wireless internet can be found…and I did! (PHOTO #419)

Photo 419: Belhaven Manor House

Belhaven has two traffic lights and folks tend to get around on an array of four wheel vehicles, from trucks, to skate boards…and, in our case, golf cart.  The dock master provided us an electric cart which we used to cruise down the road for dinner at the recommended restaurant – The Fish Hooks Café.  Michael drove and found that the brakes were ‘squishy’ and we had a few close calls when we came up to a stop sign, braked hard, and finally came to a stop in the middle of intersection.  Dinner was wonderful and the town quaint.  See for yourself!  (PHOTOS 410, 411, 414)

Photo 410: Evening Transportation to Town

 
Photo 411: Mr. Crabby, Belhaven, NC

Photo 414: Community Pond, Belhaven, NC

 
Photo 408: Night Stop, Belhaven, NC

Good night from sleepy Belhaven, mates!

Total distance:  92 miles    Total time: 9 hours