ICW Ferry taking school kids home to Knotts Island. After s busy day we anchored on Broad Creek deep in a swamp in front of the only two houses for miles. As I was dropping anchor Joanne saw an alligator run across the front yard and slide into the water. I watched his eyes and nose as he swam away. Hmmmm. We didn't hear a dog barking at that house. Rick: they are working to repair the damage done by hurricane Matthew last fall. He did not know when the canal would reopen. Marty: Ha. Ha. That is a funny observation on your part. Good for you. " However, we almost always lock through the dismal Swamp heading south by ourselves. Heading north is a different story. Most of the snowbirds are coming north when we are heading south. On the ICW we passed over 50 boats heading north and saw only one heading south. It was the powerboat which is in the photograph of the Greatbridge lock. We can be pretty dorky at times but we're innocent this time except for missing the initial fact that the Canal was closed. Thanks for the observation, Marty. I smiled all through dinner thinking of two Yoyos sitting in front of the lock waiting for a closed canal to open. " PS. Broad Creek is the last creek on the ICW before Albemarle Sound Left Broard Creek before sunrise in hope of crossing the Albemarle before the waves built but we were met by large rollers that really knocked us around so we turned back. Several hours later we tried again and after several intense hours made it to the Alligator River. Passed through the bridge and anchored in a swamp in the lower reaches of the river. This area is totally desolate. There is no sight
or sound of humanity. This is really getting away from it all. " I am not that this will transmit. Send a picture when you can Alligator Bridge Alligator Bridge Pine swamp lower Alligator River
Alligator Pungo Canal ICW has markers every 5 miles The ICW considers Florida as "home" so it is red right returning going south. The ICW uses triangle and square stickers on the markers along the way. Note the triangle (red) sticker on a square green marker. We just came through the Alligator Pungo Canal and are anchored in Belhaven, NC. Belhaven NC was our first stop. You may think is strange but Joanne had not been off the boat since we left HPYC. I got off once at a gas dock. We like to get to our cruising area as fast as possible and then start exploring. Of course, we both enjoy just being on the boat. The Belhaven break water is only partially effective. Joanne insisted that I send this picture of the
"captain". Good picture of the Captain. Looks like you both are having a nice time. I went fishing at the entrance of Eastern Bay today. We fished just south of Bloody Point Light. We caught a bunch of small fish and 6- keepers. Great day on the water! Good for you. Were they rockfish? We caught a fish today also. When I went to start the outboard there was a 3 inch fish lying in the sled. I guess he inadvertently jumped in. I like your sunrise photo. Yes. It looks like a great day on the water. Ha ha! Probably being chased by gators! Yes, all Rock fish. The big news in Bellhaven is that a 54 foot catamaran anchored near where we were anchored caught on fire last week and burned to the waterline. Unfortunately the couples dog was trapped on the boat and perished in the fire while the owners were at a restaurant. The man receive severe burns as he rushed back to the boat to try and rescue the dog. A cold front is currently passing through with its attendant thunderstorms. We are far up Slade Creek among the pine trees in less than 4 feet of water. No extreme Our bad news is that our outboard has died The wind is really tossing us around and the thunder is rumbling. All part of the joys of cruising " All of this is not transmitting. Our dinghy outboard died. I think it is the carburetor but I am reluctant to work on it due to gas fumes and our propane burning appliances. % I don't want to be this week's burning boat. Of course the Honda outboard dealer in sleepy Belhaven is closed on Saturdays. & Sorry to hear your OB died Seth but glad to know its
not one of the big boys on your Cat. Be safe, stay low. Don't give those lightning bolts a chance to find you. Thanks Marty. Just as I read your text lightning hit a tree near us. Needless to say it encouraged us follow your admonition. " Sweet Jesus Seth!. I've been living the trip vicariously through you. Operative word is "live".! Glad you're both ok, hope it passes soon and safely. We got through the storm safely. Took today off for R & R. Did a few odd jobs, read, ate and napped. As we were preparing to leave this morning a crabber whom we had spoken to several times yesterday stopped and gave us a gigantic soft shell crab. We sautéed it in butter and had it for lunch shell and all. Yummy ). We decided to buy a new dinghy outboard so I called Radcliffe Honda and asked if I walked the mile to their shop would they drive me back with the motor. As I rowed in to the dock a man asked if I was the one looking for an outboard. Since there were only two boats in the harbor and I was rowing ashore he guessed who I was. Needless to say we now have a new Honda 2.3. We left Belhaven and traveled south to Jordan Creek off the Pungo. Congratulations on your new addition. Are you holding onto your old OB? Joanne and one of our daughters named the outboard "Babe" because it is our smallest but also because several store clerks here have called me that. At home I am often called "Hon". I guess "Babe is the North Carolina equivalent. How was that for baring my soul!" Marty- I drained the gas out of the old OB and stored it in a front locker. I think I can repair it at home. Sorry for the lack of photos but they will not transmit from the boondocks were we spend much of our cruising time. We are thinking of working our way east to Ocracoke which is one of our favorite cruising destinations. The weather continues to be unsettled so we have dropped any plans for heading to South Carolina.
One of the advantages of cruising by boat is the ability to change plans easily because there are no reservations needed.