10/30/2009, Deep Point, in the Alligator River, NC - ICW Mile 103
Heading South Fall 09 VII
Friday, October 30, 2009 - 8 AM Deep Point, in the Alligator River, NC - ICW Mile 103 Water temperature 65 F
We got a late start yesterday. We had to wait until 9 AM for a bridge to open but then it took longer than planned to put the dinghy away and longer than planned to pull the anchor. But we finally got going and once we were thru the bridge and the river widened out we were able to shut the engine down and sail for the next four hours. We crossed Albemarle Sound with one reef in the main and a full jenny on a broad reach with 15 to 20 knots true wind. (One of the boat chores we did in Deltaville was to haul me up the mast where I installed our new wind sensor. The old one broke before we left Texas in May 2007 and I've been quite happy not knowing the precise wind speed. But, my able bodied crewperson really wanted the wind instrument to work so now it does.) We averaged 6 knots going across the Sound and hit 7 K in gusts a few times.
Once we got to the mouth of the Alligator River, our course was further downwind and our speed dropped. We had twenty more miles to go to get to the anchorage we wanted to use so we motor sailed the rest of the day. When we came around a bend and could see the anchorage, there were thirteen boats there already! But there was plenty of room so we just tucked ourselves in and dropped the anchor. This location is one of the places on the ICW where you feel like you are a million miles from anyone (excepting the 13 other boats). At night, there is not one light to be seen on shore in any direction and the horizon is dark. There is no road noise and the only sound is the wind howling and the boat creaking. It is so nice to be back aboard and anchored out in the boonies after a hard days sail.
The wind blew hard all night but we had good protection from waves so the boat motion wasn't too bad. We start off this day going thru a twenty mile long narrow canal that is straight as an arrow and has one turn. The boats are starting to pull anchor, it's time to get going.
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10/29/2009, Elizabeth City, NC - ICW Mile 50 - Pasquotank River
Heading South Fall 09 VI
Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 8 AM Elizabeth City, NC - ICW Mile 50 - Pasquotank River Water temperature 64 F
We started off yesterday with breakfast served by Robert the Lock Tender at the cottage that serves as the lock tenders office. The cruisers who had tied up between the lock and the bridge over night, enjoyed breakfast as Robert locked thru another five boats. When the lock was about full, we returned to our boats and led the parade to the bridge. Once the lock was secure, Robert drove his truck to the bridge and then opened the bridge. We now had a parade of nine boats going thru the bridge and heading for the South Mills Lock, 20 miles away, to catch the 1:30 opening. Many of us had chart plotters that could predict to the minute what time we would arrive if we continued at our current speed so we were able to adjust our speed to arrive at the right time. There were a few Nervous Nellie First Timers that didn't know who to use their chart plotters to predict arrival time and needed to go faster so they could sit and wait for the bridge and lock to open. It's easier to travel slowly then it is to try to keep the boat stopped in a narrow canal. Unless they are tied up or anchored, boats never stop moving. There is always some current or wind that makes them move.
At 1:30 the bridge opened and ten boats went thru the bridge and then into the lock. The lock was completely full with one small sloop rafted to another boat. After the lock lowered us eight feet, the gates opened and one by one, all ten boats made their way out of the lock and into the beautiful Pasquotank River. The Dismal Swamp Canal is straight as an arrow, the Pasquotank River twists and turns thru the trees. For over ten miles you never go more than 100 to 200 yards without a turn in the river. It keeps the helmsman busy but the scenery makes it worth it.
We anchored for the night at Elizabeth City and dinghied in for nightly Wine & Cheese party that the city hosts for cruisers (can you believe that???) and then went to Quality Seafood for dinner. I had the soft shell crabs and they were wonderful.
This morning we will go thru the Elizabeth City Bridge when it opens at 9 AM, heading for Albemarle Sound.
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10/28/2009, Deep Creek Locks - ICW Mile 10 - Dismal Swamp Canal Route
Heading South Fall 09 V
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - 8 AM Deep Creek Locks - ICW Mile 10 - Dismal Swamp Canal Route Water temperature 62 F
On Monday, I moved the boat to the free dockage at the High Street Ferry Landing at Portsmouth. I really didn't want to dock the boat by myself but Patti was flying in late that night and the thought of taking a dinghy ride in the rain at midnight was enough to make me try it. There was no wave action and not too much wind in the ferry landing and I managed to come alongside and get tied up without too much trouble. I did tap one of the pilings with our big Bruce anchor, the anchor rang like a bell and I think it took a little chunk out of the piling. The contact didn't hurt the anchor and no one will probably notice the small missing piece of the piling.
Patti's flight came in right on time and by midnight we were finally all back in our cozy little floating home. It was raining and it was so nice just to drive up to the ferry landing, park the rent car and step onto the boat.
Tuesday morning I made a last minute shopping run and then turned in the rent car. Enterprise took me back to the boat and we were ready to get underway. After going a short distance, we stopped at a a marina for fuel and water. With our tanks full, we headed south down the Elizabeth River. We only had one drawbridge to go under and it would open on request. But there were several railroad drawbridges to go under and they stay up except for when a train is coming. And you can't talk to the railroad bridges, they are remote controlled. One of the railroad bridges was closed when we got to it and we had to wait a half hour for it to open. By then there were seven boats waiting so we had a little convoy going thru the bridge and down the river. When we got to the Dismal Swamp Canal turnoff, we turned off. Except for one other sailboat, the rest of the convoy went straight. We caught the 3:30 Deep Creek Lock opening and were lifted up nine feet into the coffee brown waters of the Dismal Swamp Canal. We tied up for the night at a FREE dock in the stretch of water between the lock and bridge. The people running the Dismal Swamp Canal are so nice they almost thank you for using their facilities. There were three other boats already tied up there and we all dinghied to a Mexican Restaurant for dinner.
It's great to be back in the cruising community.
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