ORIENTAL, NC

After a little over a week out, we've gotten as far as Oriental, NC, Mile 182 on the ICW. Our trip started from home on Monday, October 31st. The start was delayed because the refrigerator stopped working. In fact, there was nothing wrong with the refrigerator; the problem was that there was no power. So Monday morning turned into a rewiring project at Custom Yacht Service. We were fortunate to get going in the afternoon and made it to Jackson Creek for the night.

Waiting for Deep Creek Lock to fill

On Tuesday we had a spirited sail down the bay in a 20 knot northerly, making it to the ICW Mile Marker 0 at Hospital Point.


The following day we opted for the Dismal Swamp route, enjoying the scenery and we found a nice anchorage behind Goat Island on the Pasquotank River. After that, in Elizabeth City we wound up waiting three days for the weather to clear. It blew 25 to 30 from the NE, gusting to 45, so not the best conditions for crossing Albemarle Sound.

Bottlenose at anchor behind Goat Island (Photo by fellow cruiser Bruce Deal)

Porch column, Elizabeth City

Ready to take the plunge

We finally left Elizabeth City on Sunday the 6th, and anchored in the Alligator River for the night. The port engine had been laboring and overheating; I had gotten it into my mind that there might have been something wrapped around the prop. So I decided to dive down to check the port propeller. I knew that the water in the Alligator River was full of tannin, but I was unprepared for it being totally opaque. I couldn’t see a thing; all I could do was to feel around the prop to determine that it was OK. And, boy was it cold! The engine problem turned out to be simple when I found that the alternator/fresh water cooling belt was shredded. Anyway, after I replaced the belt, the engine was fine.

Dawn at Hobucken anchorage

Yesterday we anchored right off the ICW canal slightly South of Hobucken. A scenic anchorage and very convenient. Tomorrow we leave Oriental and head for Morehead City.