Free dockage at Welcome Center Dismal Swamp

36 30.408N

76 21.358W

Sat morning they were having a kayak and canoe paddle to the border of NC and VA.  The distance is about 7 1/2 miles

We're on our way back to the boat after a 5pm "Captain's Meeting" with the folks from TN

Free dock at the Welcome Center--two looper boats from TN with us

Museum at the Nature Center across from the Welcome Center

No wonder there are so many Canadian Geese

They finally decided to take off only to glide onto the water just ahead of us

This is as exciting as it gets in the Dismal Swamp--trying to get the ducks out of the way

This is the bridge leaving Elizagbeth City, NC, and entering the Dismal Swamp that we had to wait three hours for it to open, they were having machanical difficulty.  I thought we would be stuck there over night like we were stuck in Niantic Bay waiting for the RR bridge to get fixed.  The good news about this bridge is that there is another way--Virginia Cut

Free Dock Elizabeth City, NC

36 17.901N

76 13.105W

I got my rose!

Dave, our host, told us that when there are more than four new boat arrivals, they have a wine and cheese party.  What a nice tradition!

Just one side of the free docks--getting pretty full

Tradition of giving a rose to each of the women that arrive by boat at their free docks.

This sign greets all boaters at the docks

This guy flew from one side of the river to the other-not sure what kind of plane this is.

Spy Blimps made in Elizabeth City--all the blimps are made in here except for the Goodyear Blimps

Anchorage Catfish Point, NC

35 45.981N

76 30.841W

Reflextion of the moon as the sun was rising

Morning fog in our anchorage

Just off the Aligator River before Albermarle Sound

River Dunes Marina, Oriental, NC

We are waiting out weather and winds in our hope of getting to Ocracoke on the Outer Banks of NC

This guy isn't on the Bear Trail.  There are bears everywhere since Bern means Bear.  The first settlers were from Bern, Switzerland.

We started the Bear Trail with this tennis pro.  Mystic used Whales for its 300th anniversary.

We borrowed the Marina courtesy car and drove to New Bern.  The guides say it is a mini Charleston.  It is a cute waterfront town where two rivers come together.

Anchorage Broad Creek, Oriental, NC

35 05.408N

76 36.758W

Sunrise as we go down the ICW, we actually left the anchorage before sunrise.  We got through that area of the ICW that is subject to milliary closure.

Anchorage Mile Hammock, Camp LeJeune, NC

We checked with the Onslow Bridge nearby to see if we could get through in the morning.  They close the ICW if the Marines are on maneuvers.  We were told that they would find out at 8am tomorrow.  Soooo we are getting up early again tomorrow so that we are through the bridge before 7am because starting at 7 the bridge only opens every half hour. 

34 33.105N

77 19.494W

He has transformed into a plane

His wings are moving so that he can morf into a plane

Osprey was doing touch and goes right near our anchorage, this position of the wings makes him a helicopter

Along the way

Deep Point Marina, Southport, NC

33 55.797N

77 59.795W

Ferry Terminal for Bald Head Island

We returned to the ferry boat terminal marina.  The harbormaster remembered us from our Nov. stay.  The live-a-boards have clamped down on the ferry wakes in the harbor.  Our stay was much more pleasant.

It was raining but these folks were out on their crew boats paddling down the river right by the casino boat.