Coinjock, NC to Belhaven, NC

Today:        85 miles            13.2 hours           ICW ST Mile: 136
Total:     294.2 miles          47.75 hours

     The alarm went off at 5:50 this morning and our day began. Temps were hovering slightly above 40 degrees, but the breezes were unnoticeable at the dock and the humidity was not as high as other mornings.
     With the help of Bill, Mary and Bob and his wife (from the sailboat in front of NORTH STAR,) we were pushed away from the dock.
     Breezes increased as we approached the Albemarle. We motor sailed through the 1-2 foot chop. Breeze dropped once we assed through the bridge.
 

SV VAGRANT GYPSY

   Two F-16s were playing/training over Alligator River. Low above the deck, turn to starboard & vertical climb, barrel roll to port, descending to port, making a large circle to starboard and return to repeat 3 times. When I realized it was training, I grabbed my good camera to capture it on their next run, but they never returned to repeat a 4th time.

    Prior to the AP Canal, we did overtake a beautiful, wooden sailing vessel out of New Orleans. She was slow, majestic and roomy.
     The current was against us all the way down the AP canal. We were lucky to maintain 6.1-6.3. Mph.
      When we first saw it in November of 2010. Pete jokingly referred to it as the “Giant Beaver Dam.” It was just a pile of dead trees and logs piled on the bank. As we pass each year, Mother Nature has decorated it in various greenery while the pile is slowly reclaimed. We notice it only because we know what it was.

 
Nature has reclaimed the "Beaver Pile" over the last 10 years.

 
Fall along the AP Canal and our "buddy boat," SV NORTH STAR

Don't tell these turkeys Thanksgiving is only a month away!

     About 700 yards north of the Wilkinson Bridge was a semi-submerged log with about 2 feet sticking above water. Coast Guard broadcasted the coordinates all day. Unfortunately, we couldn’t check as the GPS isn’t working. Thankfully, SV STORY TIME alerted us and NORTH STAR.

  
The obstruction in the water and the air-draft clearance boards

 

   Exiting the canal, I looked back at NORTH STAR. The full moon was rising right behind them. Talk about perfect timing!!!
     At Belhaven Marina, Gary waiting on the dock when we arrived at 7:20 pm. Great tie up as usual. He then took Bill to pick up dinner. Pizza shop closed, deli closed, but Chinese was still open. I so glad we had already eaten underway.
     Amy and Bella, SV ROWAN, were at anchor just a short hop away. We caught up by phone rather than get together at this hour.
     Gary shared that there are changes coming to the downtown. The new bakery is just waiting for oven hood, so is Mexican restaurant; New homes to be built on the old hospital grounds; the town wants to build gazebo/bandstand next to dock; New bulkheads & pickings going in; and Belhaven Marina will be extending their dock another 150 feet!
     It’s another early night as we are to depart at sunrise.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~   K & P