ALBEMARLE SOUND WITH A NORTH WIND



POUNDING THROUGH HIGH WIND & WATER

September 8, 2012 - After pushing hard with the 25-30 knot wind on our nose we finally crossed the Albemarle Sound.  It was exhausting.  We turned into the Little Alligator River for calmer water & a place to anchor for the night.  The clouds & wind were building, time to get the anchor down. 

LITTLE ALLIGATOR RIVER ANCHORAGE

We picked our way through shallows & underwater obstructions toward a protected spot in a small cove.  To add to our exciting day we had to dodge crab pots.  There must have been 100 in the mouth of this cove.  Finally we dropped the anchor in 10 ft of water & closed everything up.  A thunderstorm was about to let loose.  While we watched the rain fall while we had chili for supper in the cockpit. 


After the rain, a complete rainbow.
First complete one I have ever seen.




BLACK BEAR CROSSING THE
ALLIGATOR CANAL

Sunday - We pulled the anchor at 9:20AM.  It was a cool, gray, misty morning with light north winds as we made our way back into the Alligator river & headed toward Belhaven. We were soon in the Alligator Canal.  Coming north in the canal we saw 3 black bear swimming across the canal, what are the chances we would see more?  About half way in there was something in the canal up ahead.  Hard to believe but it was an adult black bear swimming across.  I did not get a look at him as he came out of the water, he was swimming a lot faster the momma & baby bears were last time.  After leaving the canal, we arrived at 5:45PM and anchored inside the Belhaven breakwater & called it a day. The outside temp was 68 & the water temp was 78 degrees.  Beginning to feel a lot like fall.



SOUTH RIVER ANCHORAGE AT SUNSET

Monday was a beautiful day with a blue sky & north wind.  We sailed off the anchor at 8:30AM and into the Pungo River.  As we turned into the Pamlico River the wind was behind us & we sailed wing on wing for several hours.  After a very long day we turned into the South River to anchor in a beautiful small cove for the night.  We now are only about 5 hours from Beaufort, SC.  Our refrigerator is again giving us fits, so we will move on to Beaufort & try to find a solution.

Tuesday we slept late & pulled the anchorage at 12:30 & motor sailed out into the Neuse River.  The water was calm compared to the last 4 days & we spent 5 hours moving south.  At 5:30PM we dropped the anchor in Taylor Creek just off the waterfront in Beaufort, NC.  The anchorage is much less crowded & we found plenty of room just up the creek from the main part of town.