Perfect Travel Conditions

Camden Point to Belhaven  |  9.5 Hours  |  66 Miles  

I admit that early wakeup calls are less annoying when accompanied by a display of dawn's vivid colors. Unseasonably warm temperatures are also greatly appreciated. I was on the bow at first light to bring up the anchor. As expected, the chain was accompanied by a heavy coating of mud. By the time the chain and foredeck were clean, the sun was up and we were nearing the entrance to Albemarle Sound. This body of water is notoriously temperamental. Wind can quickly whip up an uncomfortable chop that breaks over the bow. Been there, done that. While Crossroads can handle such conditions, the crew greatly prefers the placid lake that we crossed today. Sixteen miles to the Alligator River Bridge went quickly. The bridge tender opened the span as we approached and we passed through without delay.

The Alligator River was incredibly calm. We could not ask for better travel conditions. Our chartplotter gave us reassurance that we were indeed on the correct route to Florida.

There was little activity on the water for a warm holiday. We passed two barges and one sailboat. I got excited at the sight of a balloon and wanted so badly to go grab it with the boat hook. Alas, it was in the shallows, and we had to leave it behind. (I'll use this as another opportunity to say, "Don't release you balloons.") There were more birds out today and most seemed unhappy when we snuck up on them and forced their relocation. The water took on a brown color as we entered the tannin-laden Alligator-Pungo Canal. The day was sunny and clear and warmed up nicely. Who would have thought that we would have the doors open on January 2? Upon exiting the canal, the channel markers reversed. The ICW golden triangle holds its position, even though it looks a bit strange on the square green marker. We pulled into the Belhaven anchorage at 4:00 and followed a previous track to a favorite spot. A waxing, nearly-full moon was high in the sky. I grabbed a much-needed shower and returned to the pilothouse in anticipation of another gorgeous Belhaven sunset.

The ensuing show did not disappoint. Dinner, blog, stretching, and sleep followed. We'll do it all again tomorrow and take advantage of our last perfect travel day to transit the Neusse River on the way to Beaufort (NC). There we will wait out a passing cold front that will usher in the return of seasonable (colder) weather.