At River Dunes, North Carolina for a while
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Sat 6 Nov 2010 19:12
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35:05.01N, 76:36.09W
After 4 enjoyable days at Elizabeth City we joined an exodus
of boats heading nine miles down the Pasquotank River which leads onto the
Albemarle Sound. We were up at the crack of dawn just as the day
before when we had planned to leave at the same time but a 'small craft
advisory' was in force for the area and we didn't fancy taking a beating in an
area notorious for giving them!
As it was even with 15-20 knots blowing on the beam when
we entered the Sound it was more than enough as we were thrown around by the
short seas. In the distance we could see a whole convoy of craft heading into
the Albemarle from the alternative route through Virginia. They were having an
easier ride with the wind from their stern. We all converged at the entrance to
the Alligator River where boats go aground every day due to the rapidly changing
shoals. If you rely on the chart plotter you are doomed and fodder for the
tow-boat companies that charge a fortune to pull you off the flats. All you have
to do is obey the red and green markers and you stay afloat. Nothing too
difficult about that!
  Beautiful sunrise on our departure from Elizabeth
City
Down the Pasquotank with a helpful breeze
Our evening was spent in an anchorage just off the Alligator
River which coincided with night exercises from the USAF which were
screaming overhead into the early hours. They had been entertaining us all
day with 'attacks' on a target a mile or so off the river, flying in at low
level before sticking the afterburners on for a steep climb that produced
a noise that endangered the eardrums. We thought they would go back to
their mess smoke their pipes and play their piano (sorry, that's RAF stuff) when
the sun disappeared but no, they were at it during the night as well.
Coincidently the anchorage itself is surrounded by a backdrop of trees that look
as if they have been napalmed. It did make us wonder if that area had already
been 'attended to' by the USAF.
The next morning we motored through the Alligator
River-Pungo River Canal. This is 20 miles of tedium, being a narrow cut
linking one river on the ICW with another. We were kept alert by the various
deadheads floating around the canal waiting to mess up somebody's
propellers. Our next night's stop was in a place we had previously anchored in
on the way north last year and offered a much quieter night. The next morning we
woke to thick fog which delayed our departure for a short while.
We are now in River Dunes, a harbour-side community still in
the process of being constructed. When (or if) finished it will comprise of a
massive waterside development covering the south-eastern shores of Broad Creek
just a few miles from Oriental on the Neuse River. About 50% of the marina complex is up and running which is
overlooked by some large detached properties already constructed. The docks here
are floating as they are at home which is a luxury and a change from the
fixed wooden docks that are more traditional. In time there will be a post
office, performing arts pavilion etc. More info at riverdunes.com for anyone
interested in seeing what the place is like. The chapel is quite delightful
and presumably an early feature to ensure somebody up there is
kept happy. For us so far the excellent shower facilities have proved to be
a welcome addition to our daily routine although a degree in engineering is
useful to get all the powerful water jets functioning without damaging any vital
body parts!
  Entrance looking outwards from River Dunes
Marina
Quite a few 'Transients' (as 'us types' are called) here
  Neat little chapel on
site
It's November - only the brave swim
now
  What it should resemble in a few years
time
A way to go yet!
Our stay here will depend on when our insurers feel
comfortable releasing us from our November 30th constraint to dip below 35
degrees North. With hurricane names now at T for Tomas with still some
weeks to go in the cyclone season we are not very hopeful of an early release.
Last year at this time the hurricanes had only reached I for Ida. They did say
it would be a heavy year although to be fair many of the names have been
allocated to tropical storms that never even reached hurricane
strength.
Another reason for staying is to purchase some spares. Once we
have the green light then we will head to Beaufort where we sailed to last June
from the Bahamas. There we hope to bite off some large chunks of the east coast
on the outside route. Until then we will enjoy our stay at River Dunes, take
care of some on-board jobs and relax.
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