We finally shook free of the Dismal Swamp and Elizabeth City vortex and continued our trip south. We had 2 great days in town which included a visit to the local museum and a tour of the annual craft show. Unlike a lot of shows today, all the items were made by the local artisans, the wood working and pottery displays were especially impressive. After our museum visit yesterday we were treated to a happy hour at the town dock, courtesy of the locals then we headed out for a nice dinner. It still amazes us how small the cruising community is, of the 8 boats in our floatilla, one couple lives in Long Sault (30 kms. from home) and another lives 50 kms. from home.

Elizabeth City is home to the largest Coast Guard Station in the U.S. and as we motored by it we were treated to an air show by a couple of planes doing touch and goes. It was a beautiful sunny day and we motor sailed across Abemerle Sound and down the Alligator river to our current anchorage. This is a relatively sparsely populated area that is perfect for the military to practice their flying. We were no sooner anchored when a few F 18s came out to do some low level training, a little loud but very impressive.

The weather looks good for the next couple of days so with any luck we'll get to Beaufort N.C. where we hope to make our first offshore jump. In the meantime we'll keep plugging along down the ICW.

Today's picture is of a surveillance blimp at The Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station.