Day 18 - Brunswick GA - Portsmouth VA
Magic Friday
Phil, Di and Annelise
Wed 18 Apr 2018 17:58
Yet another early morning rise . along with the sun - bathing the marina and surrounds in a rich yellow glow! Early to the Wilkersen Bridge - charted as 64ft (Magic Friday's mast and VHF aerial measure 64 ft 7 inches)! Trying to arrive at the bridge at the lowest possible tide, and no traffic to avoid wash..slowly, slowly we edged to the bridge - the water mark trying to show 65ft (but not really managing to do so and not really helpful. One brief moment it looked like the aerial was going to touch again.but not this time - we were through.phew!
Onward, along the Alligator River / Pungo canal - 17 nm of absolutely straight waterway, lined with trees, grasslands, and dead tree stumps either side. a hazard everywhere one looked! Then at last some animals - a deer in the bushes, an anhinga drying its wings and turtles basking in the sunshine.
Exiting into the Alligator River - cautiously finding water depth at every turn. A rush to the swing bridge (as the bridge operator had kept it open for us and whilst the traffic queue lengthened! A brief bump on the muddy bottom as we exited Alligator River (the marked chart was incorrect and the wind conditions were unfavourable). The planned anchorage at the south of Albermarle Sound would not work - so no choice but to set sails in the late afternoon and speed across the sound into North River and look for a suitable anchorage in strengthening southerly winds and setting sun.
Phil and Di
