mile 136-mile 50
86 miles was an ambitious undertaking. Features of this journey were the Pungo River-Alligator River Canal, fondly known as the “long straight,” the Alligator River and Bridge (old and new), the Albemarle Sound and The North River. The Alligator River and North Rivers had anchorages in case we did not feel like going the whole way.
We left in the dark around 5. The channel out of Belhaven had lighted buoys. I watched from the bow with the spotlight until it was light.
There was no wind on the long straight. It was secluded and beautiful with the occasional fish camps nearer to Belhaven. We saw at least a dozen bald eagles but no other wildlife.
A motor boat, Summer Hours passed me as I was driving. The owner sent us some pictures.
The canal opens up into the Alligator River and then the Alligator River Bridge is just before the Albemarle Sound. They now have all the pilings in for the new bridge but no work on the roadway there.
We were unable to sail on the Albemarle Sound. There was no wind and it was calm out there. People were remarking on the radio that they had never seen it so flat.
I steered for a while in the North River and got to steer around lots of curves and bends. I am getting good at it as long as there is no cross current. Several motor boats passed by us . The wind picked up at the end of the North River.
We got to Coinjock around 6 o’clock. 13 hours on the waterway was our new record. We had a wide area to pull into and also help from the dockhands. The current was picking up with the wind. We had time for a shower before dinner at the restaurant. Great dinner, we did not share this time. A mega yacht, American Honey, docked in front of Josie while we were at dinner.
