Broad Creek NC to Alligator River NC

Start time and hours                                0900                                3398.94

End time and hours                                 1450                                3404.85

     We woke up this morning on Broad Creek NC to some fog.  It was mostly in towards the creed and the shore line.  It did burn off before we left the anchorage.  As we were getting the boat ready to leave we made some new fisherman friends.  It seems that we anchored with our rode over their net.  I apologized for anchoring over their net but they said it was not big deal and that I would have no way of knowing it was there because it was not marked.  Fortunately, for both of us, it was a calm morning and there was plenty of slack in our rope rode.  They were able to pull up my rode and pass it over the top of their boat and continue on their way.  They were very nice about the whole affair. 

     There were 22 boats in the anchorage the night before and by the time we left there were 2 left.  We were only going about 37 nautical miles today so it was not important to leave too early.  We could relax in the morning or relax more in the afternoon.  It is always best not to rush things in the morning and to start the day rested and refreshed.

     The weather was again sunny and a little bit cool, in the 60s.  The forecast for crossing the Albemarle Sound was very good, seas less than a foot and light south winds.  I have heard that crossing the sound in high winds can be very uncomfortable as they tend to kick up quite a chop. 

     We made it across the sound, about 15 miles, and came into the Alligator River.  We requested an opening of the Alligator River Swing Bridge and were greeted with prompt and courteous service.  Most of the cruise was uneventful.  We were cruising in a wide section of the ICW and scenery was good but not great.

     We got into our anchorage with no problems and settled in for the afternoon and evening.  After we set the anchor we were treated to a show of Air Force jets flying from the nearby base.  They were doing circles around the Alligator River flying right over our boat.  They are incredibly fast and LOUD.  This went on for about an hour or so and was very entertaining.  They also flew overhead around 8pm and it was less entertaining.

     There are about a dozen other boats in the anchorage with us.  Many of them are the same as the previous night.  These boats left Broad Creek well before us in the morning and yet here we are all together again. 

     Cell service in this anchorage is almost nonexistent.  We can get e-mail, text, and phone calls just barely, but internet service through our phones is nothing.

     We had cocktails and hor d’oeuvre on the flybridge.  Dinner was shrimp & gnocchi picatta.  We expect to sleep well tonight.