We are in Dowry Creek - very near Belhaven - after coming through the Alligator River/Pungo River Canal. We spent Tuesday night anchored off Deep Point in the Alligator River - a good little spot with room for several boats. As we came along we wondered about protection, but a boat that was already there, Foxglove, called to say they were sitting very comfortably. Accordingly, Madcap and Oz pulled in, followed shortly by Feelin' Lucky and a boat we have seen several times but have not yet met - Condesa. We all had a good night and were gone by 9 the next morning.

We have been motoring along - not enough wind to sail across the Albemarle Sound - and today the wind was on our nose - and of course we were in the narrow overland cut so didn't have a lot of leeway anyway.

We followed Oz into Dowry Creek - a regular stop for them - filled up on diesel and topped up the water tanks, and then decided to take a slip for the night. That is unusual for us but it is a great little marina and it was a chance for us to try getting into one of those slips with the pilings and the little short docks. You know the ones???? What a hash we made of it, but the folks on the docks really helped us out and we finally managed to get the lines around the poles and figure out how to do it.

We've done laundry and had showers and enjoyed the nightly happy hour in the very nice clubhouse. (How about this bottle tree that stands near the clubhouse? New species to me!) We've been encouraged to stay for the cruisers' Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow night, but think we will leave and head for Oriental. It's a bit of a struggle deciding what to do. The weather forecast is for winds on Friday that we might like to be tucked away for, and if we stay here for tomorrow, we might still be here another day.... and our inclination is to keep moving.

Good news - Jim fixed the remote mike for the VHF radio. I can't tell you how - but he just worked through a bunch of trouble shooting things and then said "I've fixed it! Who's your Daddy?" Now if he can do the same thing for the fridge, I'll be even happier!

There hasn't been much traffic along the ICW. We met a couple of tugs and barges today but always when there was lots of room to pass. One bald eagle was perched high in a tree and several vultures watched the passing traffic.

Oh - I have to tell you that the movie in Elizabeth City wasn't quite as bad the second time around - maybe because we weren't expecting much? And the whole experience was a lot of fun. The theatre had upscale little tables with shaded lamps and a phone to call in our food orders. It would be a really neat idea for some of the old theatres back home I think.

As I was walking back from the grocery store, a woman wheeled her SUV around in front of me and called out "Get in!" I did and she drove me back to the waterfront. Jim asked Charlotte at the Visitors Centre where to get ice and she said, "I'll take you there!" So we both had very positive experiences in Elizabeth City. Good place!! Dowry Creek Marina - good place too!