Day 311 – Manteo, NC to Elizabeth City, NC - May 12, 2012

We have a longer day planned today including a crossing of Albemarle Sound.  We also have more wind today than we had last week when we traveled along the edge of the Albemarle Sound to get to Manteo.  So we know that conditions will not be as idyllic as they were during that trip.

We got off the dock at our favorite departure time – 7:30am.  We traveled out through Roanoke Sound and into the Albemarle.  The soft shell crab season recently started, so there are crab pot floats EVERYWHERE, but careful diligence keeps us out of trouble.  As we anticipated, the wind has kicked up some waves.  They are not too large, but they are hitting the boat on the rear quarter, which makes Boreas rock from side to side.  This is not our favorite wave direction and after awhile we decide to kick it up and run on top.  Running on top keeps the boat from rocking so much and makes the crew more comfortable (except in the wallet, of course).

We finish our crossing of the Albemarle and head up the Pasquotank River.  The orientation of the river and the wind direction makes this last leg of today’s trip very easy with almost no waves at all.  We head into the free town docks in Elizabeth City.  We decide to use their wall and do a side tie instead of sterning into one of their docks – our problem with the docks is that they are so short that with the dinghy on the back of Boreas, we wouldn’t be able to get off the boat.  The side tie works great and we have gotten into town early enough to take a quick spin through the farmers market that is taking place on the lawn right next to the docks.  We pick up some fresh fruit and just baked cookies.

We met up with Greg and Kate from Grianan when we arrived in Elizabeth City.  The four of us took a stroll around town and then agreed to meet for drinks on board Boreas and then a walk across the lawn to dinner at a local restaurant.  Over drinks we caught up on what we’ve been doing since we last saw each other in early December and we planned our next day’s travel.

            Miles: 51.9      Bridges: 0        Locks: 0

Fort Raleigh National Historical Site at the north end of Roanoke Island

a wedding took place in Elizabeth City at a restaurant next to the town
docks - the groom and groomsmen arrived by boat

after the ceremony, the bride and groom left by boat - they returned a bit
later (by car) for the reception