The Alligator Pungo Canal to Belhaven, NC (Mile 135 ICW)

The "giant beaver dam"
Brunelle, Sevilla, and Andiamo in the canal.

     We lifted anchor at 8 AM and began our way down the Alligator-Pungo Canal.  The winds and currents were very favorable as we managed 7 to 7.5 MPH as our cruising speed. It is a very straight, narrow, undeveloped, and surprisingly, very little observable nature outside of swallows, sea birds and black birds.  I did see a hawk and later a deer come out of the reeds to the canal, but was unable to get a picture.  The cruising guides warn of the “dead heads” (floating or submerged trees).  Apparently, they must be pulled to a collection area or as Pete suggested, “They must grow mighty big beavers in this neck of the country!”  At the end of the canal is the Wilkerson Bridge, which makes most larger sailboats very nervous.  It is fixed and the posted height of 64 feet can vary.  Andiamo’s mast height is just at 64 feet.  Thankfully, with the wind and the tide the boards showed almost 65 foot of clearance.

Sevilla & Brunelle in the
Pungo River.



Andiamo motorsailing
in the Pungo River



Once into the Pungo River, we were able to motor sail.  Our destination for tonight was to either the Pungo Creek or Belhaven on the Pantego Creek.  Winds tonight are supposed to be out of the north so we needed to investigate which would offer the best protection for anchoring.  As Pekabu III also needed fuel, we decided to do the investigating. We started towards Pungo Marina, but then figured Belhaven would be better suited and turned around.  Unfortunately, the only remaining marina in Belhaven had no diesel, so we had to turn around again and go to the new marina in Pungo Creek. It is so new, it is not listed in the cruising guide.  There is very poor cellular service so we were disconnected before getting the information.  As it turns out, it is a small marina, located in shallow water, but we were able to take an unmarked channel of deep water right up to the dock.  Mission accomplished!

 By the time we returned to Belhaven, our flotilla had dropped anchor well protected up the creek. It is 3:30 and we picked up ice for Sevilla. Andiamo made the reservations at River Dunes in Oriental, NC for the next couple of days, and Brunelle made the rounds, delivering the ice, sharing info and takes requests prior to heading into town.

It was a good day all around.

 58.7/347.2 Total Statute miles            ~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete