Crossroads led the parade out of Belhaven this morning. Although the water looks blue, there is no doubt that it is brown and full of tannins. Our wake looked like we were cruising through Pepsi (the Taste of the Carolinas, originated in nearby New Bern in 1898). Our long trek first took us through Pungo River, lined by stumps and thick marsh grasses.
As we entered the Alligator-Pungo Canal we approached The Middle of Nowhere and lost cell service. We heard birds singing in the trees, and saw several duck blinds and one eagle high in a pine tree. The highlight was seeing a doe and fawn walking along the water's edge. Huge flies challenged our swatting skills, but we were up to the task. Luckily by Milepost 100 (halfway to Norfolk from where we started yesterday in Morehead City) most of the flies had chosen to harass someone else.
In their place, came dragonflies. At one time I counted eight hitching a ride on the flybridge at a single time. They were fun to watch and helped pass the time.
We exited the canal into the Alligator River. We had one bridge that had to open for us today. The Alligator River Swing Bridge carries traffic on US 64 from the North Carolina mainland to the Outer Banks. Our little caravan of three boats received a quick opening from the bridge tender. I missed most of the crossing of Albemarle Sound because I took a nap on Fiberglass Beach. We caught a little beam sea as we approached North River and that sent me back inside the pilothouse. Turns out a new infestation had occurred while I was asleep. We later found out the little critters are locally called "Fuzzy Bills" or blind mosquitoes or midges. Thankfully they were only annoying and did not bite. By the time we pulled up to the long facedock at Coinjock Marina, we had them inside and out. Barry pulled out the vacuum cleaner and sucked them off of the ceiling before we headed over to the well-known onsite restaurant for dinner. Barry had been looking forward to his meal all day and enjoyed their signature prime rib. When we left, the outside was hopping with live music and tables full of people. We took the opportunity to wash some of the salt spray off of Crossroads before darkness came.
Tomorrow will be Day 365 of our Great Loop journey and we will re-enter Virginia. Wow, one year. Time has flown by.
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