Sun 6/10 to Tidewater marina, Norfolk Va sm 0
Quite a contrast, the quiet canal to the enormous waterfront activity of Norfolk. Sailed past Navy Shipyard where my father was stationed, past aircraft carriers and the atomic powered "Savannah". Norfolk is hosting tall ships. Viewed them from marina restaurant. While entering harbor, a passing sailboat, saw Chicago home port on my stern and approached, owner was from
Belmont and Central, they guided me to marina.

Sat 6.9 Southport Lock tie up sm 32
Sailed across Albermarle sound and up Pasqutank river to Dismal Swamp Canal. Had to stop in Elizabeth City for a short while, since town was holding annual power boat race on this section of the river. This made me late for last lock opening of the day, I missed it by 2minutes.

Fri 6/8 Little Aligator River anchorage sm 82
Learned from VHF, sailboat had run aground here. Big thunder and lighning storm this PM.
Somewhat uneasy, just my boat and another sailboat anchored 1/2 mi away on this big treeless sound. The other sailboat left shortly before me in the AM, tried to cut a corner, and also ran aground.

Thursday 6/7 to Dowry Creek Marina, sm132

Wed 6.6 to Oriental Marina sm 183

Tue 6/5 to Dudley's Marina, Swansboro sm 229

Mon 6/4 to Wrightsville Beach anchorage sm 283

Sunday 6/3 Georgetown to Barefoot landing sm 353
Had to stop here because bridge wouldn't open with high winds. Landing is big shopping mall

Tue 5/29 Anchorage to Georgetown S(tatute)M(ile) 403
Pix of alligator swimming past boat at anchorage.
Arrived Boat Shed Marina, owner contacted mechanics Kirk Rogers and Tommy- two good old boys who left the steel mill and have become very successfull in marine repair business. I dived under boat to remove prop zinc in order to provide clearance for inspection of shaft and coupling- bad news, boat has to be hauled. Next to the marina is a marine railway which was used to haul it.
While waiting for the haul out, I was approached by a gaunt 60yr old Englishman with full beard who had been scraping the bottom of a huge old wooden hulk asking for a light, he lived on a nice Bristol Channel Cutter anchored in the river. He was called "Mad Dog" by everyone; I never learned his name. He worked at odd jobs around the boat yard and is an alien without papers
That evening when tide was high, boat was hauled by operator of the yard containing the marine railway, Captain Ronnie who is quite an entrepeneur, running a tow boat US franchise, and a dock and marine construction business; one of his workboats was named "Podigal Son" . He talked about the days when the yard was also a fish packing plant, hence the name Fish House for the old building on the property. His son, in his 20's has a fondness for animals, so the Fish House contained a cage of orphaned mallards, an ancient English Bulldog, assorted cats, and a tribe of racoons living in the attic.
Also working in the yard was "Buster", a wiry character complete with prison tatoos.
I learned the big hulk on the adjacent large railway was a classic motor sailer designed by John Gardner and was featured as a luxury yacht in the James Bond movie "Thunderball" when It was located in Cannes, a local bar owner was attempting to restore it.
Met several other interesting people in Georgetown. I was embarassed when I approached a couple and teen aged boy outside the fish house, where some kind of gathering was taking place and asked them what the occasion was. The boy replied " a memorial service for my dad". He had been a fisherman. The man was nattily dressed in black with a white silk tie and panama hat. I later learned from Kirk and Tommy that Maxie Pope was noted for his stylish outfits, he once showed the ladies his new three piece suit, then turned around and revealed it only covered his front half, behind was only tee shirt and drawers.
Getting too late to continue with Georgetown stories. Shaft and coupling were replaced.
Mon 5/28 Charleston to Minim Creek anchorage
Ominous sounds of shaft knock. First time noticed swallows. Some bugs in calm anchorage.