Day 43-44. May 14-15. On to Alligator River and Elizabeth City. First day nm 31.1. Total 1075 miles

 We left Belhaven and returned to the Pungo River and headed east, then north.  

This was the view from our anchorage as we left.

The river is mostly undeveloped pine forest with very few homes on the mainland and even fewer homes on the peninsula.  

The Pungo River narrows about nine miles up river and eventually the river ends at the Pungo Alligator River canal, connecting the two rivers.  When the canal was built it allowed the brackish waters of the Pungo River to mix with the fresh water of the Alligator River, impacting the bald cypress trees.  Those cypress that succumbed to the increase in the waters salinity make a great roost for the bald eagles that have repopulated the area.  We were lucky to spy four eagles on our trip up the 18 miles of canal. They are magnificent birds.

The canal ends at the Alligator River, named for the 13 foot alligators that used to be in the river in the 1930’s and 1040’s.  Today the Alligator River runs through the Alligator River Wildlife Preserve which has a large population of Black bear and is home to the red wolf, which was reintroduced to the area successfully in the late 1980’s.

We anchored in the Alligator River off Deep Point early afternoon.

We researched our stops in Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay in the afternoon and then took a much deserved rest!!

Day 44.  May 15 on to Elizabeth City. Nm.      Total miles

We left Deep Point anchorage early as we had a longer day of travel and wanted to cross the Abermarle Sound early morning.  We had fog still lingering in the Alligator River as we traveled the 15 miles to the Sound.

The Alligator River continues to widen as we travel north.  As we cruised, we passed several flocks of ducks, startling them into flight as we went past.  

Going under the Alligator River swing bridge, we entered Abermarle Sound.  The sound is quite large, 12 miles wide where we crossed, and over 40 miles long.  There were tales of north winds and steep waves which would make the crossing uncomfortable.  For us, the waters were quite calm.  The only obstacle we faced was dodging crab pots!

Boaters have a choice of two routes to Portsmouth/Norfolk VA.  One route is to up the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City and then travel the Fismal Swamp or  go up the North River to the Virginia Cut.  We chose the route to Elizabeth City.

As we completed our crossing of the Abermarle Sound, we entered the Pasquotank River.  The wide mouth of the river slowly narrows to approach Elizabeth City.  Both sides of the river are heavily wooded with an occasional cluster of homes.

We passed a really large Quonset hut which is a hanger where blimps are manufactured.

Further up the Pasquotank River we passed Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station, the largest in the US. The Base houses C130 aircraft which monitor Greenland’s icebergs and drug running in the Bahamas.  The base is also the training ground for the Coast Guard rescue swimmers.

Elizabeth City is a small town that earned the nickname”Harbor of Hospitality”.  They have free docks, free WiFi, free rides to the local grocery, free courtesy bikes and free museum entrance.  Can’t get more boater friendly than that!  

The town of Elizabeth City was developed as a port city for shipping goods up and down the Dismal Swamp.  Local goods came to Elizabeth City and were shipped on barges up the canal to Norfolk.  At one time this small town rivaled Norfolk in terms of shipping.  The town has converted the warehouses to shops and restaurants and maintained the old facades of the Main Street stores.

We got the boat tied up to the free dock and went into town to see the city.