Heading for Coinjock
After leaving Oriental, we crossed Pamlico Sound and the "cut" up the Neuse River, across more of the Pamlico Sound, but it skirts the shallows and a lot of the big water. Our route took us up a river that looked a lot like home, pines and less inhabited areas, andd very pretty. We anchored just south of Belhaven. Initially we considered the free dock at Belhaven, but decided we would prefer to anchor out and found a beautiful private bay in Slade Creek. I changed the racor filter, changed the oil and filter on the main engine, inspected the raw water impeller at engine hours 5097. Yesterday we went through the 20 miles or so of the Alligator/Pungo Canal which looked a lot like the Dead River, but a bit bigger. Lots of swamp. Exiting the canal, the wind picked up out of the east, the temp dropped, but we plowed on. Thjis part of the trip has lousy cell phone signal, so no internet, and despite the choppy conditions, moved on to the south side of Ablemarle Sound. The Alligator Bridge normally opens on demand, but due to construction, is opening only sporadically. A sail boat ahead of us probably waited for half an hour, but our wait was more like 10 minutes. Made camp last night in the lee of Durant Island with the winds out of the NNE. This morning crossed Ablemarle Sound without issue although it was pretty choppy. Currently at anchor for lunch 10 miles south of Coinjock where we are going this afternoon for a night at their marina along the narrow part of the waterway. Their restaurant has a reputation for having a really good prime rib which we are going to eat, and give the boat a good washing. We are only 90 miles from our destination at Zimmerman Marine and I think the plan is to keep on to the Chesapeake, find a protected spot for the last 3-4 nights and do remaining boat maintenance to leave it for the summer. We need to work on logistics of getting to the Richmond airport and not sure if Uber is available from Zimmerman's. We will figure it out.
Engine hours 5108.2
Genset hours 5597.3

Durant Island this morning

Albemarle Sound this am

Ablemarle Sound sunset from Durant Island

a bridge coming out of the swamp on the Alligator Pungo canal

Alligator Pungo canal

looks like the Dead River

Tug pushing a barge on the Pungo River

Sunrise on Slade Creek

huge mushrooms in Oriental

Shrimpers at the free dock in Oriental

Pamlico Sound

Home in Oriental