Turf to Surf

  Left the free wall just in time for the lock opening.  We are not going far but we do have one more lock/bridge combination to go through. We followed our looper friends back to the ICW where we all went our separate ways.  We are heading to the Atlantic Yacht Basin to see if we can leave the boat for a bottom paint job. The Great Bridge Lock goes up and down by inches only….they are not controlling the water depth but the water flow as salt water flows in and fresh water flows out. This is a busy area so they only open the bridge every 2 hours and they try to coordinate with the lock. We got tied up along this quiet stretch of river  This will be home for a while, waiting our turn to get hauled out and have the bottom painted and the running gear sealed. We have decided to rent a car and go visit the kids….take a break, reset health insurance and time in the US.  Leaving May 1st and returning May 12th.

This swing bridge is at the end of the Pasquotank River and at the start of the Albemarle Sound.  Crossing the Albemarle Sound is no joke … we think we have the right weather to cross but the 1 foot waves end up being more like 2 feet and mostly on the beam…it’s a miserable 2 hours. The Elizabeth City lift bridge is a welcome sight signalling the end of open water for today. The Dismal Swamp Canal, built on the eastern edge of the Great Dismal Swamp, opened in 1805 which makes it the oldest canal in the US. Locks on each end control the water depth in the canal and open 4 times a day.  We arrived at the South Mills Lock late for the 1:30 opening but the lock master gave us a lift anyway.  Up 8 feet… We tied up to the free wall between the lock and the bridge to spend the night….it had been a long enough day for us and we look forward to traveling the length of the canal in the morning. There were 6 boats in the lock for his 8:30 opening.   We got in-line just in front of them for the b

  Left Beaufort early morning…We have a 10 hour day planned. Cloudy day with a verity of open water and narrow rivers.  Positioning ourselves to cross a large sound tomorrow before the winds pick up on Wednesday. We got anchored between 2 other boats just as the clouds cleared and the sun came out.

  Left Wacca Wache early on Wednesday the 19th…..we have an anchorage picked out that is 9 hours away.  Beautiful travel day, good weather and calm waters. Outskirts of Myrtle Beach…..mansions and restaurants on the Intra-coastal waterway. First of 2 swing bridges today. We hail the bridge on VHF and he opens the bridge as you approach.  Some bridges open on the hour or half hour so we try and time our arrival. We passed by Southport and we are now in North Carolina. We anchored in a wide open space with no one around for miles except for the odd ferry or barge going by….it was a calm night  so I slept well but the captain is up and down all night checking on the boat…..😣 Up with the sun….we have a 7 hour day today.  Destination is a popular anchorage as there is not much around while transiting this stretch of water.  A bascule bridge, we had to wait for this one….long line of boats behind us all waiting for this opening. Good day for dolphins…. Not so good for the admiral…I think I