10/31/2009, Slade Creek, off the Pungo River, NC - ICW Mile 140
Heading South Fall 09 VIII
Saturday, October 31, 2009 - 8 AM Slade Creek, off the Pungo River, NC - ICW Mile 140 Water temperature 66 F
We stopped last night in Slade Creek for at least the third time. We had planned to go further but the next anchorage would have been 15 miles and 3 hours down the road and we just felt like calling it a day. We like this anchorage. The creek is wide, 10 feet deep, there is one house in the distance, the shoreline is attractive and it is so, so quiet.
We started out yesterday with 20 boats stretched out in a long line going down the Alligator River Pungo River Canal. We passed a few boats and a few boats passed us as the line stretched out due to different boat speeds and departure times. Later in the day, power boats that had started the day further to the north began catching up and passing us. When we stopped, the pack we had left with was long gone and we were the only boat in this big beautiful anchorage last night. That's fine with us. Today when we get underway, we'll be with a different group of migratory boaters, all heading south.
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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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