Day #297 – Elizabeth City, NC

Today we left Alligator River Marina at 7:00 headed to Elizabeth City.  The crossing is about 35 miles and mostly traveled in the Albemarle Sound.  The area is know for shoaling and some buoys have recently been moved because of it.  Bob on Headquarters left before us and called in to let us know exactly how it was.  The call was appreciated and we made it through the tough areas without incident.  Another cruiser traveling a bit ahead of us wasn’t quite so lucky as he ran aground.  Fortunately, we was able to get himself off.

Crab pots are everywhere as predicted in this area.  You have to keep a vigilant watch and change course all of the time.   Below are some crabbers bringing in their catch.

Beautiful crossing though and the weather is perfect and seas are calm.  The clouds cleared and it is 85 and sunny.  Many, many cruisers are headed in the same direction.

Elizabeth City is known as “A Legend In Hospitality”.  The story from their site follows.

“The complimentary city docks were completed in 1983 as donations from various businesses and individuals. You can see who sponsored your slip by looking at the stone embedded in the walk along the bulkhead.

We are proud to be staying in the “Committee of 100” slip.

Two long-time residents of Elizabeth City, Fred Fearing and Joe Kramer, decided one Sunday after church in 1983, shortly after completion of the docks, to have an impromptu wine and cheese party for the visiting boaters. Joe, who raised roses as a hobby, stopped by his house and clipped 17 buds for the visiting “First Mates” while Fred rounded up wine, cheese, chips, dip, and cups. Meeting at the dock, Fred and Joe hosted the first party for those 17 boats and crew. Since that time the tradition has grown strictly by word of mouth along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Joe Kramer has passed away. His rose bushes were transplanted to the Mariner’s Wharf area where they still provide the rose blooms for the ladies aboard. A perpetual care fund has been established to care for the roses, and Joe’s gardener still oversees their care.

Fred, a retired mail carrier, is the “Senior Rose Buddy” and drives the Rose Buddy Golf Cart around the docks as he greets the visitors. The Rose Buddy Golf Cart was a gift from Willard Scott, NBC Weatherman, when he visited Elizabeth City years ago and did a short TV clip on the Rose Buddies.”

As we approached Elizabeth City we saw one of eight remaining huge dirigible hangars built by the Navy during WWII.  It is now used as a manufacturing and test location by a private company.

We arrived at the Elizabeth City  Mariner’s Wharf  and were pleased to find they had two slips that could accomadate our boats as you cannot make reservations.