Alligator River to Great Bridge, VA

     As Kermit would say, "moving right along".  We are making tracks, averaging 80-90 miles a day.  On Friday we left at 6:30 am and breezed down the Neuse River, motorsailing with the jib out, crossed Pamlico Sound, Goose Creek and Pamlico River easily, up the Pongo River and through the Pongo R./Alligator R. canal.  The SW breeze made it possible to have the sail up almost all day long.  We anchored at the southern end of the Alligator River at 7:30 pm.
     Up and off again at 6:30 am.  Still with a SW breeze, but much stronger, up to 24 kts at times, so we motorsailed out the Alligator and were glad we weren't any later crossing  Albemarle Sound as it was nasty enough at 9:30 am and we heard reports that it got nastier as the day wore on.  We carried the sail up the North River until it's snaky turns made it too difficult to control, especially as the wind did not die down when we got in the lee of the trees along the riverbank.  We had decided we would take the Coinjock, or VA cut route instead of the Dismal Swamp, just because we hadn't done it on the way down.  The distance is virtually the same, but you aren't constrained by the locks (or the 6' controlling depth) of the Dismal Swamp.  The Dismal way is prettier, but the VA cut was interesting and we were able to make good time, arriving at Great Bridge around 7:30 pm.  We tied up at the free docks right before the bridge that controls the locking of the one lock we will encounter tomorrow.  Our progress may slow for a while as the weather reports don't look good for the next two days.  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!  ~~~_/)~~~D&M
Google Earth track file for 5/8
Google Earth track file for 5/9

Not a lot to see wending our way through NC on Friday, just a fawn wandering the banks.

Mom seems to have found a good place to stay cool and hidden.

After a long day Saturday, we tied up at Great Bridge, VA, just 12 miles from Norfolk, at sunset, but enjoyed the moon rise after a light dinner.