Morehead City to Slade Creek to South Lake, NC September 3-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were in no great rush to leave Morehead City, so after cleaning up we filled water tanks, pumped out holding tank, and then got away from the dock about 1015.  We had a pleasant run up to Oriental, passing that town about 1235.  We passed River Dunes Marina about 1340, the turn in the Bay River at 1420, and Hobucken Bridge at 1530.  We reached the Pamlico River at 1620, and turned into Slade Creek in search of an anchorage at 1725.  We found a peaceful, secluded spot, and were secured by 1800.  For the benefit of my Texas friends, what you call a creek (usually dry, but able to be jumped across even when not dry) is not what these folks call a creek.  This creek is probably almost a half mile wide, and 6-8 feet deep. 

We awoke to a fogged-in anchorage in Slade Creek!  Of course, it began to dissipate soon after sunrise, and we were able to get underway by 0800, though some light fog was still around for another hour.  We passed Belhaven at 0855, and after waiting about 15 minutes for a barge to exit, we entered the Alligator River—Pungo River Canal, passing the Wilkerson Bridge at 1015.  We reached the Fairfield Bridge at 1145, and exited the canal into the Alligator River at 1245.  We traversed the Alligator River (more like a wide bay), and were treated to fighter jets and helicopters passing overhead.  We passed through the massive Alligator River Swing Bridge at 1500, and then threaded our way past about a million crab traps into South Lake to anchor for the evening.  This is another gorgeous wide expanse of water.  There wasn’t much cell service today, so Kay is suffering from DD (data deprivation).