We really like the Dismal Swamp route. Unfortunately, that’s not an option this year. The swamp is still undergoing cleanup and repair, mostly dredging, since hurricane Matthew last year. So down the Virginia cut route we go!
Leaving Top Rack marina at 0700 gets you to the Great Bridge lock at 0730 and then the Bridge itself just in time for the 0800 opening. A little early morning fog kept the going slow, but the timing all worked out fine.
Somehow, the marks look smaller from a distance!
Even though the Swamp is closed, we decided to backtrack to Elizabeth City to spend some time with our friends on JoLinDy.
The finger piers in E City are pretty short, so the bows have to be tucked in tight so you can climb over the bow pulpit to get on and off the boat.
The local College was performing a play within walking distance (actually just under 3 miles) of the dock. The dinner-and-a-play evening was great. We were excited that John and Linda shared their anniversary evening with us.
Sunrises on the water are the best! If you look closely, you can see the middle of nowhere just on the horizon…
Along the Alligator-Pungo canal, wildlife abounds. Besides this bald eagle, we’ve seen deer swimming across the canal in the past, and talked to someone who saw a black bear swimming the canal. No bear or deer this year, but the eagle was out fishing and watching over it’s realm. Of course, the price paid for the wildlife is no connectivity. We’re pretty sure there aren’t many places around with no cell service anymore, but the Alligator River and the canal are definitely on the list.
The canal is fairly wide, but it’s only deep in the middle and sunken trees line both sides. Who has right of way when a 9 foot draft barge is heading up the canal? Hmm – seems like a good place to apply the law of gross tonnage. So we eased over to the edge of the deep water and stopped, waiting for 2 different barges to pass through.
All that tasty shrimp has to come from somewhere! This was at the junction of the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers just before the turn into Broad Creek. Broad Creek is a fairly well-protected spot where we plan to sit out a cold front coming through tonight and tomorrow. Then we’ll continue on to Beaufort to stage for our first offshore run down to Wrightsville Beach.
But if not…