South Lake to South Mills Lock

I'm Tuesday, 2 June 2015

I enjoyed the morning, soaking in the almost full moon, 

and enjoying the lightening sky.  I can't believe how a few degrees east, and north, make the days lighten so much earlier.  Shortly after 0500, the day was lightening.

Though the last week or ten days have had calm winds in the mornings, this morning there was already a little breeze.  The winds have increased as the day progresses, and if today were anything like the past week, the earlier start to cross Abermarle Sound the better.

We carefully navigated our way out the gauntlet of crab traps, and through a shortcut in the shoal to the north, saving us miles.  Then we entered the famous, dreadful, Abermarle Sound.  The Sound is notorious for its short, nasty wave set.  Today, the wind was astern of us, out of the south, and, it wasn't bad today!

We did a drive-by of the USCG Air Station Elizabeth City, and pulled into one of the free docks provided by the town.  

The last time I was in Elizabeth City, the city docks and bulkheads were all full.  This time, they were almost entirely empty.  There is a lot to be said about NOT traveling with the bulk boat migration.  Gus caught lines for us at the dock, and sent us up the road to Quality Seafood for lunch, which was a GREAT choice.  The seafood was fresh, and fast, and evidently a local favorite.  The down side?  All fried!  But, no more often than we eat fried food...

Elizabeth City is welcoming to boaters, and their hospitality has put them on the map.  We enjoyed lunch in their town because we had a place to tie up.  We would have been allowed to stay 48 hours, but we enjoy being on the hook, especially this time of year, to catch a little more breeze.

Well fed and lazy, we started up the Pasquotank River (say that three times fast) which has got to be one of the most beautiful places on the entire ICW!  The river is deep, and snakes through the countryside, shrouded with magnificent trees on either bank.  It was however, by then, pouring down rain, which, although provided the boat a MUCH needed fresh water rinse, limited photo ops!

We overtook the S/V Moonstone of Aberdour, a British flagged vessel, in the rain.  I told them we wanted to stay close to them since they were taller (the lightning was pretty dramatic) and later the two of us tied to the dolphins on the south side of the locks, side by side.  We visited with Allen and Claire over Cokes, hiding from the rain on the MERCY.  This couple sailed from England to Brazil, and up through the islands on their 40' sailing vessel.  We've seen them on AIS before, and were glad for the chance to finally meet face to face.

The rain has quit, and the wind has dropped to calm, and the temperature has dropped.  We are tied with new acquaintances on sturdy dolphins immediately below the locks.  What more could one want?