From Oriental we had hoped to head 46 miles out the Atlantic to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks. The weather would not permit it. We will take that route when we return late fall. So we headed up the enormous Neuse River to begin a few day trek across creeks and more rivers that make up the intracoastal waterway.

In the the Neuse we encountered fog, as the air got considerably colder the farther north we went. It was lifting a little when we headed up the Pamlico River finally reaching our anchorage 4 hours later in Hobucken at Eastham Creek. What a beautiful spot- guided to the creek entrance by a bald eagle.

It was the first night in the 50’s and it felt like a fall night in Vermont! I think we rose early in the morning not only because the commercial fisherman were out, but also because there was a brilliant sunrise and we wanted hot coffee. We took our time getting ready for a long day up Alligator River Pungo River Canal. 21 miles of the straightest “man-made” waterway I’ve ever seen.

We exited the canal into the beginning of the shallow and wide Alligator River. The wind had shifted and we had to go further than we’d hoped to find a protected creek. Nearly 8 hours from our departure that morning we finally anchored inside Catfish Point. It was spectacular and terrifyingly beautiful. In the midst of calming down and setting in for a sunset, out of nowhere comes a tow boat looking for a “bigger boat” that had run aground. I wish I’d thought to grab my phone when an hour later he emerges from deeper in the creek with a humongous 60 foot trawler in tow. The whole experience was surreal.

(Also, got to FaceTime with the Little’s- Ronin and Leda, and see their new puppy, Nardo, in person. Saw Owen too ❤️❤️❤️❤️.)

This morning we took a slow 10 mile run up the Alligator River, through the swing bridge, to the Alligator River Marina. We were on the dock by 10AM 😁 we had IRENE scrubbed, fueled up, laundry done and a beer by noon. Tonight, we rest up and make plans for next leg of this journey.