Right on. I've been wanting to try out Jordan Lake, and have heard some of the same things. I'll be attending a little 16 regatta there the first weekend in November, let me know if you are interested in more information. I have heard good things about Kerr Lake, quite a bit of a drive for me, and have also wanted to try out Gaston. I vacation and have family in Emerald Isle, but haven't taken the boat there yet. I've heard that there is a really good boat access to the sound near Indian beach/Salter Path, where there is a good stretch of open water. And your right about the rain, we need a lot of it. I figure that as hot and dry as it has been here we'll probably have one of those cold, wet, nasty winter.