April 24 & 25, 2011, Sunday and Monday

Sunday, Whittaker Pointe Marina, NC to Dowry Creek Marina, Belhaven, NC:  We left early and Joe helped us with our ropes.  We just met Joe Wilson; he is doing most of the Loop by himself because his wife is still working.  He has a Nordic Tug-Pilgrim.  When she has time off from work, she joins him and will be on the Loop all summer.  We woke up to very warm and humid weather.  About 09:00 the sun went behind the clouds by it still was very humid.  Yesterday and today we saw tows, each pushing 2 barges and carrying Phosphate.  It was almost like being back on the Mississippi River.  The Pungo River was full of crab pods today both in and out of the channel; had to watch extra careful.  When we got to the marina we got gas and a pump out before getting into our slip.  Since it was Easter, the marina had a cook out planned for their guests.  We all brought something to pass and we had "Hot Dogs" for the main meal.  There were about 30 people there and we all had a good time.  We met the former Mayor of Elizabeth City, NC, Steve and his wife Joan on a Pacific Trawler-Carolina.  They hope to start the Loop next spring.  Steve filled us in on what to do and where to stay in Elizabeth City.
N35 31.991
W76 32.115

Monday, Dowry Creek Marina, Belhaven, NC to Alligator Creek Marina, Columbia, NC:  We got another early start to try and cover a lot of water before the wind started blowing hard.  There were 4 of us that left early; we were like a caravan going up the river.  The Pungo River went smoothly as well as the Alligator River/Pungo River Canal.  It was hot all day in the 80's and humid again.  The Alligator River is huge and by early afternoon it got a little choppy with waves from 1 1/2 to 2 feet.  They were working on the bridge so the bridge tender waited until all 6 boats got to the bridge before opening it so we waited about 30 minutes.  We finally got to our marina on the other side of the bridge; 2 boats kept going on the Elizabeth City and the rest of us stopped for the night. 

N35 54.330
W76 01.719

CO's comments:  At Dowry Creek we got fuel, asked the Dock Master which slip to go in and he told me to back into Slip 8.  I did so.  Later, when 4 other boats came in he had them all come in bow first.  I asked him why he wanted me to back in and all the rest came in bow first?  He told me that he did not want to embarrass the other boaters.  I think that was a pat on the back.

Kim Jo III at Belhaven, NC

Belhaven Sun Rise on 4-25-2011

Dowrey Creek Marina, NC