a few more miles covered

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Oct., 29/09 35.40.4 76.03.4 Alligator River
We left Elizabeth City, a hard place to say good-bye to, and sailed the rest of the Pasquotank River, the Albemarle Sound then continued under motor and stay sail in the Alligator River. The Alligator River is initially very wide, more like a sound than ones picture of a river. Soon enough there are a series of dogleg turns to make, which we made under sail, until it became very tricky to maneuver, when we switched to the above mentioned motor and stay. After rounding another sharp turn(s) the anchorage we were looking for came into view. There were quite a few boats already anchored, but we had no trouble finding a spot. More vessels were to arrive, so we were not the last to arrive for a change. It is quite desolate looking here on one side, well treed on the other.
According to the books the river got her name because the Alligators would feed on the animals that swim or swam across the river. I wonder if there still are alligators here, but I don't care to attempt a swim to try it out. In any case it is cooler again today, so the socks are back on along with the long pants, fleece etc.. It was a very grey day but only a few drops of rain arrived.

Friday Oct.,30/09 35.31.8 76.37.3

We left the anchorage and headed down the Alligator Pungo River canal, very straight tree lined, and busy. One must pay attention as there is shoaling present along the edges, as we discovered trying to give a passing vessel room, we ploughed quite a furrow and fortunately did not come to a halt. Most of the motor vessels passing us, called with their intentions and and slowed down so as not to cause us to roll wildly. Most of them, the odd one was not so courteous and you could hear boaters taking them to task for it on the radio when this occurred.
We anchored by the town of Belhaven, and thus will begin the making of dinner, and the evening of planning. Tonight we will set an anchor alarm as there is shoal water near us. Thus far we seem to be well stuck, our anchor has not yet let us down, especially since we added all chain rode on the main anchor.
There was more green evident today along the route, the previous day was full of eerie looking mostly bare tree stumps and very tall trees with very little foliage. It was a bit otherworldly looking.
Not a spot one would want to anchor in for long.
Just inside the Belhaven break-wall.... and one should use the term break wall loosely , it is rather a slatted low barrier that I imagine tempters waves and boat wake, but certainly would not break them.
We had sun for a little while today, and it was quite hot while the sun was out, it did however, cloud over and is now quite grey. This has been the norm this trip, grey skies and rain in the offing.
Nov,1,2009 Town Creek Marina Beaufort North Carolina
Well what a surprise when we realized the time had changed! We spent last night anchored in Broad Creek, a picturesque anchorage with a sticky bottom...we had the mud on the foredeck to prove it. It was quite hot when we

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