November 8, 2018 – Tuckahoe Point Anchorage to Belhaven, NC

This anchorage was at the beginning of the Alligator River/Pungo River Canal (that’s a mouthful).  After a beautiful sunset the evening before, the morning departure was a dismal looking scene.  The canal was about 20 NM long and included the Fairfield and Wilkerson Creek Bridges.  Both of these bridges are fixed at the required 65 feet from the water.  The water level sometimes changes due to either tides or wind driven changes.  Since our mast is 61 feet from the water plus several antenna’s so we are always a little anxious that we are going to hit the bridge.  They typically have lights that hang down so you have to dodge those.  When we got to the end of the canal where the Pungo River starts, the wind picked up to over 20 knots so we called and got a place at the Dowery Creek Marina.  This marina was rated at five stars.  Although they had damage to their docks and facilities from hurricane Florence, they had all the services including a courtesy car which we took into Belhaven for groceries and supplies.  Getting ‘Blue Breeze’ in was quite the challenge given the wind.  The owner Connie and her daughter Theresa were very helpful in getting us into the slip and tied up in the slip without hitting other boats, damaging the Blue Breeze or the dock.  They had a very nice clubhouse and pool area but it was a little cool for the pool.