Coinjock to Belhaven, NC

We were away from the dock at 0700 and headed toward Albemarle Sound. We had hoped to NW winds but were not so lucky. We entered the Sound and we had the winds from the SW, exactly what we did not want. We backed off and ran at about 10 knots and made the Alligator River / Pongo River Canal right behind a tug pushing a barge. We had to sit behind him for about 5 miles before he was able to move to the port and let us pass. He really paid for his kindness as it took him about 1/2 of a mile to get back on course. The rest of the day was easy and we arrived at Belhaven at about 1:18PM. Once we got into the slip and fuel added, we took one of the marina golf carts into town and went to the grocery store.

Tonight we will be eating on the boat, life is good as we have cable TV, all 10 stations, but we will be able to catch up on the news as we plan tomorrows leg of the journey.

I will be trying to upload some pictures, but the Internet connection is running very slow.

We are hoping to make Wrightsville,NC tomorrow. I am hoping to get Mike and Bob to Florida in time for them to make it home for Thanksgiving. If not, I am sure that I will be buying the Turkey Dinner.

We had heard on the VHF radio about a dog that had been pulled from the water on the ICW. The boat that rescued the dog pulled into Belhaven just before we arrived. After speaking with the folks on the boat and eventually the owner of the dog, here is what we know. The dog and her owner were hunting bears yesterday. The dog chased a black bear through the NC woods and followed the bear into the water along the ICW. The dog went into the water early in the morning and was swimming most of the day. The folks on the sailboat spotted the dog in the water and were able to pull her out after hooking her collar with a boat hook and pulling her aboard by the scruff of her neck. The reunion was most pleasant and Bob Borg is in his glory that the bear & the dog both won.

Ross
with Bob & Mike