LORD’S PRAYER LOG, Part 309:
0632 Sunrise.
0740 We’re underway, bound for Elizabeth City, NC.
0840 The South Mills Bridge opens so that we can pass through with a gaggle of other boats.
0850 We tie port side-to in the South Mills Lock. We’re in the company of 11 boats.
0915 After the water level drops approximately 8-9 feet, we exit the lock.
0919 After leaving the lock we enter Turners Cut, another man-made land-cut channel, a straight shot of about 3.3 nm.
0959 Leaving the land cut we enter the Pasquotank River, which runs via a very winding path all the way to Elizabeth City where it opens up into an estuary off Albemarle Sound. As we enter the Pasquotank River we find ourselves in a cypress swamp. River depth varies between 12 and 30 feet. Here one of the boat crews reports spotting a beaver, although we don’t see it, as we’re now about midway back in the boat-parade. We’re behind a catamaran bearing the flag of Austria. The crew has sailed here from Italy. There are 3 Canadian flag boats in the gaggle. Of the US boats, one hails from Easton and another from Berlin on Maryland’s Eastern shore. Another boat – a small double ender – hails from Wellfleet, MA (on Cape Cod).
1016 We motor past a turtle hauled out on a snag in mid-river.
1230 On arriving in Elizabeth City, we go alongside at Pelican Marina to get fuel; we learn that they were severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel and they have no fuel available.
1245 We secure to Mariners Wharf (the public landing) with a number of other boats. Our position: 36 17.806 N 76 13.066 W (ICW statute mile 50). Engine time: 409.3 hours. Water depth at the wharf is: 9.5’.
1300 Lunch ashore. We learn on our walk to the restaurant that Elizabeth City is the location from which Orville and Wilbur Wright embarked in a ferry to reach Kitty Hawk; it was there that they made aviation history by accomplishing the very first powered flight. It’ll be 100 years ago on the 17th of next month since that historic flight took place from Kill Devil Hill, NC. It’s pretty amazing what man has accomplished in aviation in just a hundred years!
1655 While Chris takes a walk, I perform an oil change (adding 5 quarts); I change the oil filter, and Racor fuel filter, check the air filter, check the coolant level, add some hydraulic fluid to the autopilot reservoir, and wipe down the engine & surrounding area. I clean the seawater strainer and check the transmission oil level. I tighten several fuel connections on the manual fuel (lift) pump in hopes of stopping a slow fuel weep from that area. I change the alternator belt, as it’s got over 400 hours on it now and we don’t want it to fail while we are underway. I restart the 3-cylinder, 30 hp Yanmar 3HM35F diesel and test-run it; all is well. Engine time is: 409.3 hours.
1600 We attend a social at the wharf; a group of volunteers known as Rose Buddies put on the affair for the benefit of transient cruisers. It is a delightful event.
1703 Sunset.
1830 We dine on sushi at an Elizabeth City Japanese restaurant in the company of Jerry and Karen Kopp of the Crealock 44 No Agenda.
END OF LORD’S PRAYER LOG, Part 309
