The Rocket's White Glare

 After some days down at Cape Lookout and nervous about upcoming severed thunderstorms in the forecast, I headed back toward New Bern on what was supposed to be a favorable wind, although questionable tidal current. Turned out that the wind was ok in the ocean, but died down entering Beaufort to the point that the strong tide left me standing still, making under a knot for an hour! THEN the direction was such that I had to motor rather than be on a reach, then it died down.... all told, I motored about half-way, something I really dislike. And the Island Packet 38 is designed so the refrigerator (originally an ice box) shares a wall with the engine room. NOT a good design! I did not reach my planned anchorage at the north end of Adams Creek until about 6pm rather than the 3pm I had hoped. On the bright side, the weather is cooler than it has been and the rain held off, so I got a decent sleep starting well before sunset. 

I awoke at 2:15, feeling rested after a good solid six hours of rest, and thought "Why not take a nice night sail in the cool and dark and wide-open Neuse River? Maybe even beat the forecast 7am storm? By 3am, hot pot of coffee beside me, I glided through the final tight pinch and into the open water, set the auto pilot, and cooked some cranberry pancakes, checking every five minutes when my alarm reminded me. Breakfast done & dishes washed, I noticed the sun lightening the sky off my starboard stern quarter and thought it would make a nice pic, if I could get enough light on this unsteady platform.

5:06am

A bit later, some color coming into the sky, I decided to take another shot.... and exclaimed in excitement: there was one of SpaceX's rockets, it's exhaust absolutely gleaming in the full sunshine up there! 

5:18am

And a bit later, I got the most colorful one: 

5:55am

Very cool sunrise!