We had a mix of conditions today. It was warm 23C and started out with an easy run across the Alligator River to the Alligator River / Pungo River canal. Once in the canal ( which is quite similar to the Erie Canal in some ways ), we encountered boats that wanted to pass us. Now this isn't normally a problem but this is a very narrow canal with shoaling issues when you get off center. For the most part the passing went well. I must say that most of the power boaters called as they approached from behind and stated that they wanted pass on the VHF. We would acknowledge and move over slightly, we would both slow down and they passed without a huge wake. All very civilized and the way it is supposed to work. However you do have some a$$hole power boaters that don't call on the VHF and just roar by you without slowing down ( looking straight ahead and not looking over ). Ask Lynn, the wake these guys give off is huge and on sailboat, you basically have to hold on for dear life.

We did have one incident, I saw a sailboat approaching from the rear and I moved ever so slightly to port to give him room to pass. All of sudden we hit bottom and the rear of the boat lifted up. FBG with her momentum and weight wouldn't have any of that and plowed right through the shoal and we were back in deeper water. This all happened so quickly. I was still technically in the marked channel.

Then the rain hit us on and off for the whole afternoon. As we were approaching the marina we were going to stay at, I saw a lightening flash in the distance. Oh boy not good. It looked like this storm was coming our way and we were only 20 minutes from the marina. We decided to cut across the channel and not follow the channel markers. The charts showed that there was about 12 feet of water there so we were fine. As we cleared the breakwall and turned into the channel towards the marina ( about 500 ft away ), the lightening really started to come strong. No sooner had we docked and secured the boat that the torrential rain started with intense lightening. We made in with no time to spare !

One clap of thunder was so close that it reminded me of the time this summer at the Port Dover marina when our friend's boat got hit by lightening. I did see some boats out in the harbor close the marina. I hope no one got hit.

With the rain, we might not have time to do groceries ( which we are running low on ). We'll probably have to do them in the morning.

PS: we still have not seen any alligators!

The Alligator River/ Pungo River Canal

One of the many "crab pots" ( with a line to a float as shown ) that we have to watch out for. They have been everywhere from Sandy Hook down. Boaters have snagged these around their prop and can be quite a job to take it off. Better to watch and avoid them