05/27/2010, Alligator River, NC

May 26th...2010 Pungo River to the Alligator River

Were were up early but in no hurry to get under way. It still looks like Thursday is the day to cross the Sound so we'll only have a trip of about 20 miles.

Our anchor was up about 8 a.m. and back down at noon in the Alligator out of the wind. The grey skies began to lighten about then and by 4:00pm it was mostly sunny. The wind continued to blow about 20 knots until supper time.

The highlight of the day occurred about ¾ of the way through the canal when a bear swam across in front of us. By the time it reached the other side we were about a boat length away. It didn't stick around for a posed photo but Kathy did get a couple of shots as it left the water.

When we arrived there were two boats in the anchorage ... by sundown there were eight. There is lots of room so there wasn't any trouble except for Barry's cousins who anchored of our starboard stern and shouted in French all night.

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05/27/2010, Pungo River, North Carolina

May 25th, 2010 Pungo River, NC

The storm over the Atlantic is spinning clouds and wind from the north. Our next leg is the Alligator- Pungo Canal and it's only about 22 miles long... but from that point there is another 30 miles through the river and then the sound where we be heading due north into the wind. Since it looks like Thursday is the first day we'll get any respite from the north winds, we decided to stay put for the day.

Kathy worked on cleaning, I sorted the starboard cockpit locker and put my spears, the gaff and fishing poles away for the time being.

I baked bread and experimented on adding cheese to one loaf and garlic mashed potatoes to another. Later in the afternoon I made a meat loaf and got it in the over around 5 p.m..

A boat pulled in during the late afternoon and proceeded to lower their dinghy and head our way for a visit. It turned out to be John and Nancy whom we've met before and have run into them the last two summers. Nancy owns a Bayfield 40 that is currently for sale and John has an Island Packed that looks to be about a 40 as well. They have spent the winter in the Caribbean and are on their way back to the Chesapeake to haul "Larking About" and launch "Adventuress" with the idea of selling her.

They are in a rush and will brave the north winds tomorrow on the sound in order to get Nancy back in time for a graduation.

We had a nice chat ... neither of them have been on the ICW before and were thankful for the information we could give them.

The meat loaf was excellent-served with the last of the garlic mashed potatoes.....

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05/27/2010, Pungo River, North Carolina

May 24th, 2010 Oriental to Pungo River, NC

We debated about leaving Oriental this morning. The skis were black to the east and we could see white caps out on the Neuse. But there was no serious showing up within 16 miles on the radar so even though it was sprinkling, we weighed anchor at about 6:30 and heading north east.

The wind picked up as we approached the Pamlico Sound making things rolley but not uncomfortable...3 footers with the occasional 6. We waited for a tug pushing two barges before entering the Hobucken Cut that leads to Goose Creek. It was calm there but we knew that when we left the creek we'd get blasted.

Sure enough we had 25 knots on the nose as we crossed the Pamlico River. It's was only about an hour run until we were far enough in the Pungo to get some protection. As we motor-sailed north there was a call to the Coast Guard that an older Hispanic fisherman had gone overboard had didn't come up. It happened just behind us, a little upstream on the Pamlico. There was radio traffic all afternoon but no mention of finding the guy.

At about 3 p.m. we arrived at our anchorage on the Pungo just beyond the junction of the canal. For those traveling this way and need a good stop this is it, with protection from all directions except south.

We read for a while and I baked some chicken thighs which we had with biscuits, gravy and salad.

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