2021: North River anchorage to New Bern NC

 22 October 2021

Depart: North River anchorage 7:35

Arrive: Pongo River anchorage 3:35

Distance: 65 nm

Conditions: Cool, humid; Low 70s

Sunrise on the North River in North Carolina

Our cockpit, i.e. area in the stern of the boat, was taken over by a ton of bugs last night and still occupied that space in the morning. I think they might have been midgie flies. Regardless of bug type, the cockpit was definitely off limits! 

View out our window of just a few
of the many bugs enjoying our cockpit.

While bringing up the anchor this morning, we got to watch a parade of boats passing by. Everyone at Coinjock Marina must have coordinated their departures. "Okay! Drop lines now! And go!" Once our anchor was up, we cut into the line of boats and joined the parade.

We all started to bunch up as we approached the Alligator River bridge. Fortunately the winds were only gusting in the 20 knot range, so we did not have to worry about bridge closure due to wind. The bridge tender could see us all coming and told the boaters that arrived first that they would have to wait for more of us to catch up. Then he'd let us all go through together.

Looking back at the Alligator River Bridge closing 
after the sailboat cleared the bridge

MM 100
The ICW occasionally has mile markers to show 
distance from Norfolk (mile 0). 

Alligator River - Pungo River Canal

Clearly, boaters need to stay away from the edges 

I thought I saw a lighthouse on the canal but knew that was not the case.

Red / White Striped Something on the canal

Turned out to be a tall tug boat with a barge;
Tug named "Royal Engineer"

Sometimes the obstructions appear in the center
waiting to do damage to a non-observant boater

For tonight, we targeted an anchorage where the Alligator River - Pungo River Canal ends and the Pungo River begins. It is a large anchorage, and that is a good thing because many boaters from our parade opted to stop here for the night. 

Just as we pulled into the anchorage, it started to drizzle. Then I saw some lightning and heard some thunder. We managed to get the anchor down and get back under cover before it started to rain properly. 

One other boat shared our "corner" of the anchorage. It looked to be anchored normally when we came in, but later when we looked at the boat, it was facing the wrong direction. Later, Tow Boat U.S. showed up to pull the boat into deeper water as the boat was hard aground.

Grounded Boat being towed off by Tow Boat U.S.
(picture taken from inside boat due to bugs in cockpit area)

Boat being towed backwards out to deeper water

The rain storm passed and we saw a nice sunset.

Boats in the Pungo River anchorage

23 October 2021

Depart: Pungo River anchorage 7:40

Arrive: Neuse River anchorage 3:30

Depart: Neuse River anchorage 5:15

Arrive: Private dock Fairfield Harbour near New Bern, NC 5:35

Conditions: overcast / foggy

Foggy sunrise at Pungo River anchorage

Clark counted around a dozen boats in the anchorage with us. One by one we left the anchorage, and once again we traveled in a caravan of boats down the ICW.  Along the way we passed the docks of R E Mayo where we saw lots of fishing boats at dock. Clark asked if I wanted to stop to buy seafood, but I declined.

Fishing Fleet at R E Mayo docks

Our journey today took across Albemarle Sound. We had a smooth ride.

Following the crowd across Albemarle Sound

We left the crowd after turning onto the Neuse River. As we passed Adams Creek and kept going, we watched all the other boats turn off to continue on the ICW. We were happy to get out of the congestion.

We took a side trip up the Neuse River to visit our good friend from our Great Loop trip - Ralph from "Mazel Tug".  We planned to arrive at Ralph's house around 5:30 when he got home from work. With time to kill, we dropped anchor in the Neuse River to relax for a while before heading in to Ralph's dock. We decided to take showers while we had time to spare.

Having taken a day or two off on vacation, our gremlin returned today, and I learned he has a sense of humor. I took my shower first with no issues. Clark was no so fortunate. A short while into his shower I hear him yelling, "What happened to the water?!" Our gremlin has waited until Clark was soapy to mess with the water pump! 

A couple of times in the past, the water pump needed to be reset. Usually this can be done at the circuit breaker, so I turned the breaker off and then on. I checked the galley tap and water was flowing, so I told Clark it was good to go. A few minutes later I heard him yelling again.

As he was rinsing off the rest of the soap, the pump stopped again. I tried multiple times to reset the pump at the breaker, but it was a no go. (This has not happened before.) Clark had to abandon his shower, pull out the user manual, and climb down into the bottom of the boat to check on the pump. He pushed the reset button on the water pump itself, and that seems to have fixed the issue.

Around 5:15, we pulled in the anchor and made our way into Fairfield Harbour to Ralph's dock. After tying up, we all went out to eat at a local Italian restaurant for a lovely dinner. Afterwards we returned to Ralph's house where I had great fun playing tug-o-war with his dog, Chewy. Chewy has a stuffed pineapple with a squeaky toy inside that he loves to tear apart and thoroughly enjoys fighting over.

Chewy says, "Come play with me and my toy!"