Albemarle Sound
Friday, June 24
Left Alligator River Marina at around 8 AM. Got into the Albemarle Sound where there were hundreds of crab pots that are very hard to see. We were glad that the water was calm. We decided that we have to go through the sound in calm weather, no wind and no rain. It was very stressful having to sneak through the crab pots. Two hours of standing up and praying and watching and a little swearing (on Pam’s part) as we had crab pots too close together. Very stressful.
We left Greek’s Folly on the Albemarle Sound. They wanted to go through the Dismal Swamp and we didn’t feel comfortable going that route so we decided to do the Virginia Cut. Both ways take around 3 days or 2 overnights to navigate through. It is strange to not be with them, but we can’t wait to hear about their trip when we get back together in Portsmouth VI.
We got to Coinjock Marina around 1:00 PM. This marina has a 1200 foot long face dock and there were over 15 boats that were coming in that night.
We were one of the first boat so we were at the very end, right behind a sailboat that had been there for a while. Some of the boats that came that day were 60 to 85 foot long. There were a few that were in our length or smaller. Once we got to the marina we decided that the boat needed a good cleaning from the anchorages that we have been you doing. As soon as we got here Pam made our dinner reservations for restaurant at the marina. There is nothing else around this place except for the marina and the restaurant.
This restaurant is known for its prime rib and it is very busy. You have to make reservations early in the day and order the prime rib ahead of time if you want it for dinner. John had the prime rib and I had the Maui seafood special. Neither one of them were all that special. John’s prime rib was tough and my mahi was fishy. At this Marina we saw our very first commercial barge traffic on the ICW. The barge passed right by our boat in this narrow channel. They run day and night. The channel is probably only 250 ft wide and they seemed huge as they went by our windows. We were watching television later in the evening and whenever there was a disruption in the program we were watching we could tell it was a barge that was passing closely by.