17 December - Day #15. A heavy frost clings to Nellie as this morning's temperatures touch the mid 20's. Nellie's diesel furnace did yeoman's duty last night keeping us warm and snug. Our plan of heading to New Bern was changed as we entered the Neuse River. Winter weather is known for being unsettled and this year is no exception. Now NOAA is predicting gale force, northwesterly winds through the weekend. It's one thing to run with the wind 22nm down the Neuse to New Bern, it's quite another to contemplate beating 22nm to get out of there. Our decision to skip New Bern is sealed when we hear reports of wind driven flooding near town. Our winds are in the teens now and the Neuse is already starting to rear its head. The good news is Beaufort, a town we've yet to visit, is just 25nm away. It's a circuitous and river-like trip getting there. Arriving in Beaufort we check out the Town Creek anchorage. It's a tight area, with reportedly poor holding and filled with derelicts and live-aboards--next. The lenght of Beaufort fronts Taylor Creek and this is where most transients drop the hook. Unfortunately the creek is fairly narrow and mooring balls abound. I can't imagine how crowded this place must be in the summer. We motor up the creek into a 1kt ebbing tide and find a nice comfortable spot 1.5nm west of town. At anchor in Taylor Creek, Beaufort, NC. 24nm today and 322nm total. DBH
