Big MIstakes

Tuesday started out just fine in the morning the waves had died down and we had a nice run to the Alligator river canal.  The canal was long, over 20 miles, straight and narrow.

At one point we met a down bound tow.  Due to the narrowness we were VERY close in passing him.  Once  we left the canal the river opened up again. Let me just say one thing about the rivers we have been on lately, they are huge!  The waves were not bad and we were enjoying a smooth crossing.  When we got to the place where we had planned to stop with Brown Eyed Girl it was just after 12pm and with the smooth water we decided to push on across Albemearle Sound and on to Elizabeth City.

Maybe in hindsight we should have stopped for the night.  Shortly after going through the bridge and leaving Brown Eyed Girl who went to the marina we encountered a strange set of markers.  Mary had gone below to fix lunch and I got confused and made the cardinal mistake of following the magenta line.  To those no boaters, all the electronic charts have suggested sailing lines colored in magenta.  We have been warned not to trust them 100%.  Well without my trusted copilot I zigged left when I should have zagged right.  All of a sudden we were running aground, luckily it was just mud and I was able to get through it without any consequences.  The boat was moaning and groaning, Mary being down below said it sounded especially bad. She thought of coming up but at that point decided to stay put.  We got into deeper water, checked the sea strainer for mud and ran the boat up to full RPM and had no vibrations.  Except for a blow to my ego everything was ok.  

The crossing of Abemearle  Sound  went very well light chop, sunny a very comfortable ride.  We then had another hour or so up the river to Elizabeth City.

This is a blimp factory from WWII still in operation today.

There were two main choices for dockage here.  One is a free dock with no power or water and the other is a reasonably priced marina with power and water.  Because we got here a day early (remember the @##% bridge closing) we opted for power and water.  

Well big mistake number two of the day.  The marina was, how shall I put this, a bit rustic.  We were directed to a slip with fixed docks, port tie that at first look seemed like any other it even had rubber bumpers on the pilings.  So I decided to hold off on the fenders until we were tied up, big mistake number three.  As we were pulling in the dock master suggested we tie a line on a pole opposite the dock on our way in.  Mary was not prepared for this and I knew once we were at the dock the pole would be 30' in back of us and I could see a second pole we could tie to once we were at the dock, big mistake number four.  It turns out the finger pier only ran a short way out from the main dock and then took a sharp angle to our left with an offset piling.  I forgot to mention that the winds would be blowing us into the finger pier.  This is usually not a problem, especially if the pilings have bumpers.  Also I can usually use the bow thruster to keep us from hitting.  Well at this point the bow thruster decides to hiccup, it sounded strange and would not move us at all.  As I am recalling all this I just figured out why it acted up, remember the grounding.  Most likely some mud got in there and it took a while to clear it out, because once we were finally tied up and I rechecked it all seemed ok.  Back to the fiasco, because we didn't have a long finger pier to lay against, had not secured a line to the way back pole and the angled dock/piling we had the boat somewhat sideways, with a piling between the dinghy and the transom preventing any fore or aft movement and no bow thruster for any left right movement.  After a loud thump, a few words and much running around like the keystone cops we finally got the boat secured.

Looking things over we had just a few marks which I was able to remove with a little rubbing compound and except for the winds which continue to blow and unless they subside will make leaving here just as hard as arriving, all is well.  

We found a stowaway aboard.

We hope cats aboard are not a sign of bad luck, at least it decided to leave.

After cleaning the boat we sat down for much appreciated drink on the upper deck.  We then decided to walk the half mile into town and find a place we had heard about from some fellow Loopers for dinner.  

Well the town was not quite as appealing as I thought it would be.  So now I'm thinking big mistake number five in spending two days here.

There is history everywhere.

After wandering around a bit looking for the restaurant we saw a sketchy looking young couple along the water front and thought no way would the know where this place was, but what the heck.  Turns out not only did the know where it was it was their favorite place in town and even recommended some entrees.

Shortly after we ordered our dinner Tom and Linda from Raydiance walked in.  They are fellow Loopers we first me back on the Tenn Tom, saw briefly in Isle of Hope and have been talking back and forth on the VHF for the past few days.  We invited them to join us and had a very nice dinner and walk around the town.

We had all read about Elizabeth City and the their town docks,  the roses the female crew members receive, a nightly wine and cheese party as well as a movie theater where you see a first run movie and can have full meal.  Well, Linda said she did not get a rose, they asked at the visitors center the movie place has been closed for a couple of years and they were told the wine and cheese party only happens if there are five or more boats.  Ray said there were eight boats arrived today and still no party.

A new friend Mary and Linda met on our stroll around town.

Ray and Linda are leaving for the Dismal Swamp tomorrow and knew about a marina to stop at before the @##% bridge.  So if we can get out our slip in the morning I think that's the new plan.  That will put us much closer to Norfolk / Portsmouth and we should be able to get there fairly early on Friday.  

As I reflect on the problems we had today I realize it could be worse, much worse.  Especially when I think of some fellow Loopers who are having some serious health issues.  The problems we had today and the rough seas for the past two are nothing compared to what they are going through, I wish them well.

Smooth sailing to all,

John and Mary