We started out bright and early to cross the Albemarle. The day before it was crazy rough, with 4 ft waves and big winds. Today? Calm and beautiful. I think maybe as calm and beautiful as it ever gets anyway....

The pictures are great. Look through them to see how pretty the sound was. At the far edge of the sound we ran into a ton of crab pots. They are becoming a real source of contention for George. It's a constant battle to keep from driving over them and tangling props. I understand that they only get worse in the Chesapeake Bay, but here in the sound they are already getting bad. Also, on the beginning of the Pasquotank River someone (maybe a telephone line crew?) had lost a telephone or power line pole and it was just floating right in the channel. We missed hitting it by feet. Not sure the damage that would do to props, but we missed it... That's what counts.

We got in to Elizabeth City, at the edge of the Pasquotank River Bay, and assumed that we would tie up to the free city dock, and call our friends Beth and Sam to come and meet us for dinner. Nobody mentioned the city dock description.... just that it was free. We got there and discovered that we needed to back in to the space, and step off the back onto the small walkway to the dock. On our other boat, that's a fine idea. On this boat, we have an additional 8 ft behind us because we are carrying a dinghy. We can back in just fine, but then can't reach anything to tie to, and can't get off the boat. Might as well just anchor, but then Sam and Beth can't get to us. Ugh. We searched around and found a marina with space in it only 10 minutes away. It was in the town of Camden, which Beth knew well. She said no worries, they will just come by and pick us up, so no harm no foul. The marina was a tucked away gem of a place. The Lamb's have owned it for many years. It's a combination marina/seafood restaurant, and they had $3.50 gallon diesel, and $35 per night dock. What a deal! Almost free. (Typically pay $100 per night +) The seafood restaurant was closed, so we went into Elizabeth City with Beth and Sam and enjoyed a wonderful dinner.

We were starting up the Dismal Swamp the next day, so decided to get an early start on the trip. We're pretty excited for our first locks!