Alligator River!

We were awake early this morning and underway by 6:30. This was our sunrise after it came above the cloud line. That was the last we saw of it. There is something to be said for a cloudy day when the temperature is high. Normally I would complain about the clouds but in this heat, never. 

Things were calm coming down the Pasquotank River from Elizabeth City until we got to the mouth of the river where it meets the Albemarle Sound. Then we felt like we were in the inside of a washing machine. The winds were high 10 to 15 knots gusts higher and we had the whole fetch across the sound coming at our beam. Needless to say it was not a fun ride. We had our jib out to steady the boat. It helped but when we came out of the mouth and headed toward the direction of the Alligator River it kept flogging. Even so it was still a help to even out the boat. About half way across the sound we weren't sure if it was our imagination or the fact we were getting used to the wave action but the waves seemed less confused. 

The trip across remined me of a time we had three of our kids on board our 25 foot sailboat and were crossing Lake Ontario from the south shore of NY to Toronto Canada. I actually got seasick the waves were so confused. Thankfully that didn't happen today. 

One bright spot today I saw a pod of dolphins just as we were entering the sound. I was busy on the helm and didn't get a picture for you. Maybe next time. 

We had a short day today. We arrived at Alligator River Marina about 1:00. The storms have been wetting us down but we are plugged into electricity with the air conditioning running, so we are cool. 

Tomorrows plans are to be in Belhaven, NC for two nights.