It is HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Oriental, Bellhaven, and Alligator River

This is the hottest day yet. Temperature is 100 degrees, but with the humidex feels like 115. The weatherman verbage has changed from a heat warning to an EXTREME heat warning. We got under way real early, by 7:00 am. Trying to make our mileage before it got to the hottest part of the day.

We arrived at 12:30, travelling the 48 miles from Bellhaven (Dowry Creek Marina) to Alligator River Marina in 5.5 hours. The Alligator River/Pungo River Canal is straight as a dye(SP???) with only one slight corner in it. 3 hours of nothing to do but stay in the center of the channel as there were a lot of dead heads and tree stumps along the shore. The Alligator River is 4 miles wide at some parts and looks more like a sound than a river.

Alligator River/Pungo River Canal, 21 miles

Peter put the large fan up on the flybridge and what a difference that makes. Life is just a little more comfortable. I would have hated to not have had it today. There was barely a breath of air.

Sunrise at Whittaker Point Marina, Oriental

Shrimp boats everywhere.

Yesterday on  our trip from Oriental to Bellhaven we saw a lot of shrimp boats. They were everywhere. Another 50 mile day. Early start so we can get tied up before the heat of the day. 5.5 hours.We stayed at the Dowry Creek Marina. A great spot, showers, laundry, swimming pool and 5:00 cocktail time with the owners and other boaters. Owners were really great. They helped us get on the docks, helped with the electrical and made sure we knew where everything was.

Now most marina's have someone to catch your lines and get you settled, but at Dowry Creek they also will come and help you get off the dock. Very nice. Docking and getting away from the dock are two of the most stressful parts of my day, so it sure is nice when someone helps.

We have discovered a new trick with the port engine, that has the air problem, that requires Peter to crawl into the bowels of the beast every morning. He primes the injector pump before he tries to start the engine, and he is 3/3. Last night at the cocktail hour, one of the gentlemen suggested that he put a big loop in the return line that would loop below the fuel level before it gets to the return area (I'll call it the reservoir but not sure). Peter wants to try this, as it makes sense and he would really like not to have to prime it.

Jim Murray had asked how our travel was going, and Peter replied; that "the ladies in the basement were behaving themselves".

Deja Vu, docked Alligator River Marina.

 We are at mile 84 of the ICW,  and mile 0 is Norfolk Virginia. We have really been counting down the miles. I hope they have a sign so I can get a picture.

Tomorrow the plan is for another early start. 14 miles across Albemarle Sound that has a bad reputation for getting nasty. She is called "the bit..". It is relatively shallow, and the wind from all directions funnel through the sound. The plan is to get up early and get across before the wind picks up. We will stay overnight at Elizabeth City. Then we will travel the Dismal Swamp. Sounds interesting. We have been hearing about the Dismal Swamp all the way up the ICW and we are looking forward to the experience. We will have our first 2 locks with Deja Vu. Hope she behaves herself and doesn't embarass us. We will lock up and down 8 feet.