TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 30 NM
DOCKED AT: ELIZABETH CITY MARINERS’ WHARF
ICW MILE MARKER: 50.9
SUNRISE: 6:16 SUNSET: 7:49
HIGH: 83 LOW: 68
We made it out of the relatively calm waters at the marina and into the swiftly flowing Alligator River. Due to high winds, the swing bridge we passed through yesterday was not opening but the bridge tender did wish us luck in our day’s travels through the river and crossing the Albemarle Sound. That should have been our first clue!! We knew the conditions were going to be less than ideal with the raging tornado systems that have been decimating the countryside. No tornado for us today but plenty of tornado watches, rain and an evening thunder and lightning storm.
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| ROCKY WATERS AT THE BRIDGE |
Having made it across the sound, we gratefully crept into the Pasquotank River (the first river in the country to receive an Underground Railroad Network designation) and approached Elizabeth City. Nearing the city we passed an old WW II dirigible hanger that now houses a blimp-building firm. You can see evidence of their daily work in their yard. We next passed the USCG Air Station, Elizabeth City. This is home to the largest and most diverse Coast Guard command in the nation.
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| THE HUGE WWII HANGER TO THE LEFT AND TWO BLIMPS AT RIGHT |
We were, thankfully, greeted at Elizabeth City’s wall by two fellow boaters who assisted by grabbing our lines and lending muscle to help us get tied up in the blowing wind. Thanks so much!
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| HELPING HANDS GOT US SAFELY TIED UP |
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| QUEST IN ELIZABETH CITY |
We dropped in at the Visitors’ Center then took a quick walk around town before going through the lovely Museum of the Albemarle. Here we got a glimpse of this area’s developmental process from the first Indian inhabitants, followed by the expanding colonist movement that brought the need for slaves to harvest their crops and dig their canal. Next came the War of 1812 in which the canal played a huge part by providing a link between Albemarle and the blockaded Chesapeake. The Civil War years brought division in allegiances but, as we all know, the Union was victorious and the healing process began. We also discovered that what is now known as the USCG developed from a small organization in North Carolina known as the US Life Saving Service.
And then the rains came!! We had thunder, we had lightening and some of it was close, really close. Once the front passed by we were left with a delightful evening devoid of the oppressive humidity and perfect sleeping weather.
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