TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 43 NM
DOCKED AT: ALLIGATOR RIVER MARINA
ICW MILE MARKER: 1.5 WEST OF 84
SUNRISE: 6:18 SUNSET: 7:48
HIGH: 85 LOW: 69
TODAY’S BRIDGES: 1
1. ALLLIGATOR RIVER SWING BRIDGE 84.2
Our day started out with a thorough cleaning out of last night’s dead and dying insects. We were scrubbing, vacuuming, sweeping and squeegeeing fools for a while. Once that job was done we were out of there and headed for the scenic Alligator River-Pungo River Canal that would take us to our night’s destination on the Alligator River.
Just after entering the canal we came across a large dolphin or small whale. I have not been able to identify it as of yet but will continue the search. It was splotchy grey in color, slow moving, had a whale shaped tail that it raised as it dove and larger than any dolphin we are familiar with. Any of you out there able to help me identify this lovely creature? We also found sever turtles basking on the fallen trees at the river's shore.
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| ENTERING THE CANAL SECTION OF TODAYS RUN |
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| SUNNING TURTLES |
Again we were treated to an aerial display by the super jets making practice runs in the skies around us. They are so fast that they are way across the sky before you hear their booming jet engines.
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| IMPRESSIVE AIR DISPLAY |
The waters were not so smooth when we exited the canal section and entered the wider Alligator River. We had heard that the swing bridge we must pass through often closed due to windy conditions but we were able to make an opening then immediately turned to port and entered the Alligator Marina’s calm channel. Looking back we watched as the river itself raged by and S/V Chinook made the turn in.
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| ALLIGATOR SWING BRIDGE OPENING TO LET US BOATERS THROUGH |
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| NOTICE HOW ROUGH THE RIVER IS BEHIND CHINOOK AND HOW MUCH CALMER IT IS IN THE MARINA'S CUT |
OK, so here we are out in the middle of nowhere and docked at a Shell Gas Station. Their fuel prices proved to be the best we had seen in a long time plus they gave a volume discount to boot. They are members of BoatUS and had good docking rates and their little convenience store kitchen produced some great pork chops and soft shell crabs for our dinner. That’s right folks, the Porters had gas station food with us for dinner and loved it!!
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| OUR HOME FOR THE NIGHT A GAS STATION WITH SOME MIGHTY TASTY HOME STYLE COOKIN' |
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