Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

To leave or not to leave…that is the question we find ourselves asking on so many occasions lately. After leaving the Dismal Swamp, we’d headed to Elizabeth City, NC with intentions of staying for a night and continuing along our merry way early the next morning. So, we made the best of what little time we thought we had there. We topped up our water tanks. We spent time visiting a local museum. We made a grocery run. And then before calling it a night, we checked the weather forecast again…and decided we weren’t leaving the next day after all. Or the day after. Our one night stay had turned into a three night stay.

I must admit, every time we arrive at a new dock or anchorage, I find myself torn when it comes time to leave. Whereas on the one hand I can’t wait to get further south to warm weather, on the other hand, it’s just so much easier to stay put, and I can always find a reason to stay another day. So, when we were “stuck” at the free dock in Elizabeth City for two extra days (yes, the town provides a free dock for cruisers passing through), I was kinda sorta secretly happy. It meant that we’d have time to check out the seafood store. Time to go back and finish enjoying the exhibits at the Albemarle Museum. Time to grab lunch at a fast food restaurant. Ahhh…life is good.

However, when we finally pull away, I find myself upset that we had to stay so long! Now the Bahamas are two days further away than they were when we arrived! I just want to keep moving! Or do I? I really don’t know sometimes. Even though we left our home marina back in August and have spent the last three and a half months traveling at a snail’s pace, at times it feels like we are just moving along too quickly…like we’re passing by places we should stop and explore. Each time we pass by a town without stopping, I wonder what we’ve missed. And yet I can hear the Bahamas beckoning us southward…

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This is Gus. Gus is a volunteer from Elizabeth City who greets all the cruising boats as they pass through his town. He will talk your ear off…if you’ve got the time, he’s got lots of interesting stories to tell!
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Gus is carrying on the tradition of the Rose Buddies, welcoming boaters to Elizabeth City.
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Each slip in the free docks has a plaque stating who paid for that slip. This was the plaque on our slip.
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Elizabeth City is home to the largest and busiest Coast Guard air station in the U.S. Notice the dirigible? Not sure what the story is behind that!
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Cute little mermaid dolls in the gift shop at the awesome Albemarle Museum. The fish, on the other hand, looks like it has anger issues!
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I really wanted this mermaid…but delicate glass on a boat just isn’t a very smart idea!

 

11 Comments

  • Dee Walker

    December 13, 2015 at 10:09 pm Reply

    Did you buy any of the other mermaids? I like the one in the dark pink. You are having such a wonderful life experience! Can’t wait to see the two of you! Very interesting reading. Have been enjoying all of your blogs.

    • Chris

      December 13, 2015 at 10:12 pm Reply

      Nope! Unfortunately there’s not a lot of extra room in the boat for mermaids, so we just capture them in digital format to remember for years to come. 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying the blog!

  • Willow

    December 14, 2015 at 7:56 am Reply

    Hi Chris

    We are enjoying your blog. It brings back so many memories of our cruise. Glad to hear you’re taking the time to enjoy the process. Where are you now?
    Willow

    • Chris

      December 14, 2015 at 8:17 am Reply

      Hi guys! Glad you’re enjoying the blog! I’m a bit behind, but hope to catch up by Christmas. We just left Daytona Beach and are heading for Titusville today. If you’re ever wondering where we are though, so far I’ve been managing to update the Our Route page on the website every day after we dock or drop anchor!

      Merry Christmas!

  • Brian Nolan

    December 14, 2015 at 9:11 am Reply

    Love the Rose Buddies story! I imagine there are similar stories in almost every port. Gus seems like one
    of those people that you’ll remember years from now because you hear a story that sounds like him….love those guys!

    • Chris

      December 14, 2015 at 9:34 am Reply

      We’ve not yet encountered anything else quite like the Rose Buddies! Gus was fun and quite the flirt! Lol!

  • Ken

    December 14, 2015 at 3:33 pm Reply

    The balloon. It’s a Homeland Security balloon carrying radar for tracking ships and aircraft. They reel them out to about ten thousand feet and reel them back in for bad weather and maintenance. You will see them all along the southern border. Lots in Texas. All those places you feel you need to explore. Future places to re visit! Who needs to go around the world, there is plenty to see and do right here. I kept a separate journal with only places and local things to go see. Used for planning next years trip. Took me two years just for Louisiana. Ken

    • Chris

      December 15, 2015 at 9:08 am Reply

      Thanks for the explanation! We were very curious what it was and what it was used for!

  • Kathy Walden

    December 16, 2015 at 10:15 am Reply

    Another enjoyable story. Thanks for keeping us informed and included in your awesome adventure. Can’t wait to hear more and see you both.

    • Chris

      December 16, 2015 at 7:17 pm Reply

      Glad you are enjoying it! Can’t wait to see you either!

  • Linda Timar

    February 7, 2016 at 3:05 pm Reply

    I hope you are having Fun. You are living everyone’s dream!

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