09/26 - 09/28 - NC Gathering

snal":38ijzzbz said:
Anybody know what the gas situation is like from Asheville east????
Tempers are flaring, cops park at the stations after dark. Another week of this and it's gonna get really bad!
Click to expand...

No problems this way. We are about half way across the state (south of Greensboro about 45 minutes) WalMart was out of premium blends, but had plenty of Regular at 3.91... all you can pump. Filled up last night. We had the chaos when the storms hit Texas and all has calmed now. All the stations around here back to normal pumping.
 
Hi folks,
Gas doesn't seem to be a problem in New Bern, only ~30 mi. from Oriental. Didn't see any lines this AM, and regular price $387.9 - 3.88.9, about like it's been for a few days.
Windy today on the Neuse, NNE, 20-30mph, higher gusts. The wind has brought the water up high here, and I'm sure at Oriental. It was a bit high there Mon. They're still saying it'll moderate Thurs. & Fri., come around to E ESE. That could be sloppy at Whitaker Point Fri., but only 5-10, so not bad.
 
Some reassurances:

RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today (Sept. 24) said that his office has
been working with the major oil companies constantly this week seeking
the release of additional gasoline for western North Carolina. He said
that most companies seem to understand the problem and are moving fuel
from other places into western North Carolina.

"This is a temporary shortage. We have been assured by the oil
companies that some supplies are on their way today and larger
additional supplies are expected through the pipeline very soon," said
Easley. "For the next few days, consumers should take some common sense
steps to conserve gasoline like eliminating unnecessary trips and
carpooling."

The pipeline is being refilled but fuel is not coming through as quickly
as it will be in a few days. The governor said he expects the situation
to improve this afternoon and tomorrow.

"I ask people to please cooperate with each other and we will get
through this shortfall."

The governor will have further updates on the gasoline supply situation
as information is available.
 
Hey this storm is still blowing like crazy and from what I have read the low pressure area has stopped just below Wilmington. It may continue into thursday if thats the case I'll wait until friday to leave for Oriental. I was really fortunate to get into this marina. The slip I'm in is pretty well protected but just 10' from me on the other side of the dock there are 2' white caps. The larger cruisers are on the windward side of the dock and really getting beat up. Tracy my Aunt and Uncle live in Chocotwitty (sp) so fortuantely they weren't with me when I went white water rafting yesterday. As far as fuel everyone seemed to have it at the Marinas between here and Southport and I didn't have any problem towing up from Jacksonville to Southport.
 
Thanks for posting that...that is gooood news! Things are slightly better today...same long lines...but more choices of where you want to get in line. Most, however, have dropped the maximum purchase to $20 and even $10!....that should ease the tension :evil:
 
You folks stay hunkered down if you can, hope things "blow" over for you. Blowing pretty good up here on the Chesapeake too!

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
200 PM EDT WED SEP 24 2008

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

1. SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED ABOUT 250 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. THERE IS STILL THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS SYSTEM TO BECOME A TROPICAL OR SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT AS IT DRIFTS WESTWARD. THE LOW IS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR AN AREA OF WINDS TO HURRICANE FORCE WELL TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF THE CENTER. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING
STRONG WINDS...COASTAL FLOODING...HIGH SURF...AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TO PORTIONS OF THE U.S. EAST COAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. SEE STATEMENTS FROM LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES AND HIGH SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WARNINGS. AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM LATER TODAY.
I still wish we could be there, storm or no storm!! :sad

Charlie
 
I've been thinking about this weather, I think it showed up the same time that CFLE got into NC !LOL So Marvin you can not blame us for anymore rainy weather in Florida when we come to visit ! :lol: Looks like it will get better soon.. . Friday will be wet but we had rain last year then it cleared off and got really nice.. KNOCK WOOD for this year. Talk to you all soon.. BE SAFE ! :lol: Tracy
 
Hi Brats,

Here's a WX and cruise update from NC.

Marcia and I on Valkyrie and David on Alma's Only left Oriental on Monday and headed south to Beaufort, having a nice run. Yesterday we ran through the inlet on the outgoing tide into the Atlantic and had a great run to Cape Lookout to see the lighthouse, but an increasing wind and heavy chop kept us from going ashore in the inflatable. We dropped anchor for a few hours, waiting for the tide to come in so we had more water for the run in the "back way", which is through some definitely skinny water. We gingerly picked our way back, in increasing wind and let's just say that the skeg of the Honda 90 doesn't have quite as much paint on it as it used to have. The prop is a little shiny around the edges, too.

We came back into Beaufort and have been at the town dock ever since, which is very protected and the town is quite nice. Winds have been in the 30-40 range with higher gusts to 55. Quite a few boats/yachts in the 100 foot range left yesterday and then came back in.

We were getting ready to go Alma's Only for dinner preparations this evening when David hurried over to tell us that Tracy had called him to let us know that the wind-driven waters of the Neuse River had flooded the ramp/parking lot where our vehicles were located and that water was coming up the wheels. ( It seems that Doug and Annne from Anne B came down from MD for the Gathering and saw our vehicles in the standing water. I suspect that my C-Dory vanity plate tipped them off. They called Tom in Rock Hall who emailed Tracy in NC who called David's cell! Thanks to all for their concern.)

A night time run was out of the question in gale conditions so after a number of phone calls we secured a $100, hour-and-a half cab ride back to Oriental to assess the situation. Fortunately, things were okay and we brought the vehicles/trailers back to Beaufort and dropped them off at a ramp three miles from our dock.

Of course, that's when the rain started in earnest! An older couple stopped at this remote area to use the restroom and taking pity on us, gave us a ride into town and dropped us at our boats.

The rain is pouring down now and 4.5 inches are predicted for tonight and the winds are still gusting pretty high, but we're well protected here. Some time tomorrow we'll trailer back to Oriental and hope that conditions improve by Friday or Saturday for the Gathering.

However, we've had a great time in Beaufort, gotten to know David even better and have eaten well and caught up on our naps.

Here's wishing luck to Marvin and others heading this way by water.

Regards,

Nick and Marcia
"Valkyrie"
 
Nick...Wow!, sounds pretty exciting down there to say the least!
Looks like we'll be trailering thru the worst of it. You guys hang in there! See you in about 16 hours!
 
Update:

It rained all night and was really honkin' with gusts well over 45 mph. It's still blowing now with lightning, thunder and some sideways rain.

It's supposed to drop off later today, but I doubt that we'll pull the boats today under these conditions. Hopefully tomorrow.

The NOAA guys report flooding up to five feet in the Neuse River, which is where our trucks were until last night. I imagine if we left them that they would be flooded today!

The forecast for the weekend is 5-10; let's hope that holds! We're getting a bit tired by the constant blowing.

Regards,

Nick and Marcia
"Valkyrie"
 
Just talked to Patrick and Donna...they are on the road near Hickory...no rain yet but they've heard that they'll likely hit it at Raleigh.
 
Hi Nick, Marcia, David, et al,
I had email contact with Tracy last nite a few times re: your situation.
We're located on the Neuse, about 8 mi. downstream from New Bern, and our boat is in Duck Creek Marina, across the river from downtown NB. Water was up there last nite, had hit a high level at about 4PM, was down a few inches when we ckd the boat at 7PM. Our levels may not be quite as high as Oriental, which is downriver about 25 mi. from New Bern. NE winds always create a "wind tide" as the mouth of the Neuse is at the SW corner of Pamlico Sound, and there's probably 75 mi. of open water to the NE.
We monitor a few websites to ck conditions, I'll paste them in here for interested folks. The best for easy info is the Oriental Town Dock site, they have webcams, the one at the Dock now shows Hodges Street, and the dock our 3 boats were at Sun nite, under water.
http://www.towndock.net/
You can surf around that site for fairly up-to-date weather info specifically on Oriental conditions.
the next on is a State of NC data site, info taken from a monitoring stn at marker #9 on the Neuse, which is probably 15mi. from Oriental, but will show water levers every 15 minutes, in the far right column. The actual number, a depth at that point, doesn't help much, but you can see how it has changed, peaking a few times since yesterday, and presently down maybe 3" from the peak.
http://nc.water.usgs.gov/qw/0209265810.txt
A lot of numbers there, but if you can sort things out it might help. Look at the column headings.
For actual wind strength and direction for this part of the Neuse, again it should be close to Oriental's, we watch a private monitoring stn near us. He shows wind speed that has run in the 25-30mph range since yesterday, with gusts well over that, and maybe a bit higher this AM.
http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KNCNEWBE1
He has a webcam showing his dock on the Neuse, under water now.
Of course anyone can use Weather Underground, or whatever your favorite is, and punch in "Oriental, NC" and get their forecast and maybe present conditions.
Hope this will help you folks who are planning to head this way for the gathering. It does look like things will moderate, and wind direction will become more favorable for Sat. festivities, tho' it may shower some.
Nick, Marcia, and David, it was nice meeting you Sun., sorry you got into these weather problems, but glad you got to see Cape Lookout, Beaufort, etc., and stayed safe. Have a good "haul" back to Oriental, and enjoy the better weather that's coming.
 
Larry, Don't go to the Ramp in Oriental tonight ! Go park on the back side of the Fire Dept on Straight road. Like your going to Whittakers Pointe. The Ramp as you have read is wet. They say it will be fine tomorrow but not tonight. If you have any problems call me. We don't want anyone else worrying over their trucks and trailers !
We will all park behind the fire station on Straight Road then shuttle the drivers to Whittakers Pointe.
Larry and I are coming down tomorrow . Here is Mobile East Marine's number 252-745-5615 and you have my cell number. Everyone please be safe and we'll see everyone tomorrow ! Yippee.. :D
 
Patrick just called again...Carrie had called him...and it looks like the Donna Marie and Thelma Lou will be anchored out in the parking lot at Mobile East marine tonight.
Seems as though the weather events will make this an even more unforgetable weekend...."We're on a quest to have fun!" (Chevy Chase)
 
Carol and I have decided to head down early tomorrow AM. It's only four and a half hours for us, so we'll ride this one out tonight.

We plan to make a quick stop at Mobile East and then head on down. Should we still go to the Town docks to launch? Expect we'd get there around noon. I am anticipating I'll steer the boat over to the Marina and Carol will drive the truck and trailer there? Or are there other arrangements I should plan on?
 
Spoke to a friend of mine this morning who must have run into Nick & Marcia last night. He said folks from Ohio who owned a C-Dory were looking for a ride to Oriental stating their boat was getting bashed at the docks and their trailer was going to sink in Oriental. Not sure what watering hole you ran into "Luke" (I call him the UV-Man), since he generally makes rounds to all the local watering holes (Clawsons, Dock House, Rib Eyes, Spouter, Beaufort Grocery, Blue Moon Bistro, Stillwater, Sharpies, etc). Yeah, you can eat pretty good in Beaufort. Hope Valkyrie weathered the subtropical cyclone unscathed.

The landing you stated is where I'll drop ANTIBODY in tomorrow to head up to Oriental via the "ditch". If you happen to need any decent wood at a decent price, Atlantic Veneer is right across the street from that landing on Front Street (across from the old Menhaden plant) - I was over there this morning snooping out some Teak and Mahogany.
 
Hi all,
As far as I know we will still try to launch from Oriental ramp then park at either Whittaker Pointe Marina or on the backside of the fire dept on Straight road. Just add my number and Mobile East Marine's number to your cell phone so when who ever drives to Fire station can call to get a ride to Whittaker Pointe Marina. The have a guest car and Carrie said they will be driving folks around as well. We will leave early tomorrow it's a 3 hour drive so we will be there by noon at the very least. Everyone please be safe driving and boating ! Tracy
Mobile East Marine 252-745-5615
Tracy 919-708-8434
 
Hi again,
The water has gone down several inches in Oriental since 10AM, and there's even a little blue sky showing on the "mobile cam" set up on Hodges street at the Town Dock.
http://www.towndock.net/
if you click on "slide show" and select the last 3 hrs, you can see the progression. Move your mouse arrow over "latest mobilecam pic" to get it to change.
"every little thing is gonna be alright"
 
Wind seems to be dying down here in MHC and the water is actually calm compared to what it has been. Nick came by and we had coffee. We will be leaving sometime tommorrow for Oriental. Gonna stay one more night to get some more of this great seafood in MHC.
 
Just talked to Bob on Hunk E Dory in WV/MD. They will be leaving very early tomorrow morning. Paula will have fresh shrimp for all of us tomorrow night ! Something to look forward to. Glad Nick dropped in on Marvin, hate to have his first visit here in 30 years to be so uh unforgetable before the gathering even begins ! LOL Ya'll take care, Tracy
 
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