June 10, 2026 Change of Plans - Times 2

 Wednesday June 10, 2026   Coinjock to Lafayette Creek Anchorage   56 Miles and 7.5 Hours

Good night's sleep after that big prime rib dinner last night.  Opted for a 7:30AM departure today.  Light overcast skies but warming up to 90 degrees.   Heat wave here over the next few days into the mid 90's.  Couple of hard stops today.  After leaving Coinjock we need to hit the North Landing Bridge on the half hour.  Then make it to the Centerville Bridge for their opening on the half hour.  And then hit the Great Bridge Bridge and Lock for their opening on the top of the hours.   Plan A was to just stop at a free dock we've used in the past at Great Bridge.   There was room for us, but we got there in time for the noon opening so decided to push on.   Considered stopping in Norfolk at one of the marinas as Plan B just to be able to grab power for the A/C system. But again, still plenty of time in the day to keep moving.  Finally opted to continue on and use Plan C.  Anchored in a new place on Lafayette Creek just past Norfolk.  Pretty good decision as we had one of those typical Chesapeake area strong afternoon windy thunderstorms blow through after we got anchored. This location offered great protection. Residential area all around us which was surprising as the industrial Norfolk waterfront is just around the corner.  Plan A to Plan C took us from a 3-1/2 hour planned initial trip to a 7-1/4 hour day on the water but sets us up for some relaxing times before hitting Baltimore.

Back to the initial trip.  Coinjock to Norfolk.   After exiting the cut, you head out on the open water of the Coinjock Bay and Currituck Sound. This passage again looks like wide open waters but it's all skinny except in the marked channel.   Cross over from NC into VA while on the sound and then up the narrower meandering North Landing River.  Still very rural at this point with marsh and trees.

Another one of those Valhalla boats.  Believe this is a 46 SY.  They were docked
 in Coinjock and I noted power was quad 600HP V12 engines.  CRAZY!!

GPS unit clearly showing the narrow channel despite the visible open waters.  

Arrive at North Landing Bridge a few minutes early with 3 other boats. We all left Coinjock Marina about the same time and traveled in a pack.  From there it was a spirited run to get to Centerville for their opening.   Finish with a slow cruise to Great Bridge where we line up and idle for half an hour for the bridge to open.  A few more boats join us and we all make way under the bridge and to the Great Bridge Lock. Locking through is completely drama free event for us having done probably 200 passages by now.   The lock drops us an unimpressive 2 feet!!  Then we're on our way to Norfolk and the start of the industrial and military complexes along the waterfront. 

Waiting for the North Landing Bridge opening

Passing through the open Centerville Bridge 

Great Bridge Bridge raising.  Open space available at the free dock on the right 

Tied to the wall.  Really nice blue hulled Sabre behind us.

Slow traveling through Norfolk. Just lots of commercial traffic and a No Wake Zone through downtown. Tugs, barges, cargo ships, naval ships of all sorts. Scoot right alongside some of the docked ones just to stay out of the main shipping channel.  Surprised at the reduced number of naval ships compared to several of our past trips along here. Amazing variety of vessels either passed us or we passed by them within just a few miles.

Have no idea what these are for, but it's a big construction project

More parts for that construction project arriving by ship

Considering the anchorage is just a short jog off the main channel it is amazingly serene.   Nice open place all to ourselves.   A bit shallow with 7' waters but that just means we need to put out less anchor chain.  We weather the thunderstorm that passes through without issue.  Nice heavy rain did a good job washing off some salt and grime. Brought in some cooler air but we'll have to see if it holds overnight.   Greeted by an awe-inspiring rainbow and sunset once the storm passed.  Just never know what each day will hold.  Jumping dolphins one day and double full length rainbows the next. 

The makings of a double rainbow never full materialized 

Benefit of a wide open anchorage with calm reflective waters. Full view of the rainbow

Sunset to the west..

Simply added even more color to the rainbow at the east.

Journey for June 10, 2026

June 9, 2026 Big Water - Big Steak

Tuesday June 9, 2026    Pt. Lookout to Coinjock,NC    57 miles and 6.25 hour 

Relatively short cruise planned for, so able to get little later start.  Anchor up at 7:30 today.  The winds died down overnight and temperatures cooled down to the lower 60's made for good sleeping.  We dodged a bunch of crabpots coming into the anchorage yesterday.  Hard to see them as they would get lost in the waves.  With calm conditions it was surprising to see them all so easily in nice straight lines.

Preparing to weigh anchor. Not the most scenic anchorage we've used but got the job done.

 Very quickly out into the open but shallow Alligator River.  Well-marked channel you need to stay in but mostly long straight stretches that were again just what Otto likes.  A minimal bit of residual wave action on the bow.  Driving from the flybridge.  A bit overcast, still some wind and cool temperatures had us bundling up a bit. Made it to the Alligator Swing Bridge.  Working fine today and we get a quick opening. Construction on the new high-rise bridge is coming along.  Bridgetender gives specific instructions for passing under bridge and getting through the construction zone.  They call this a river but it's more like a large bay.  A full 2-1/2 miles across at the bridge location. 

Swing Bridge moving into the open to navigation position

Starting to make our entry approach

Construction work continues on the footers for the new bridge

Then continue out the last of the Alligator River and onto the Albemarle Sound.  Another shallow body of water notorious for kicking up waves when the wind picks up.   Today is just more of the same as Alligator River.  A light chop on the nose and an easy crossing.   Then up the meandering North River.  Again, shallow and need to stay in the defined channel. 

Passing another southbound barge

Seems like we hadn't seen any dolphins in a while and then a wide spread group showed up on the North River.  Always exciting to see their fins surface ahead off to the side with them making a B-line for the boat.  Martha got a great shot of one jumping fully out of the water which is pretty unusual. 

 

Very playful group of dolphins today. 

 Led a parade of boats up the cut to Coinjock Marina.  Glad of that as we were first to get tied up.  Dockhands working frantically to get to everyone.  Vey particular about their tie ups.  This is just a long dock along the shore line and they squeeze in every boat possible. Anchors always hanging over the forward boats swim platform.  Not sure where everyone came from, but the dock was FULL by midafternoon. Glad we called early this morning and they were able to fit us in.  Makes for interesting departures getting clear of your neighbors.  Restaurant at the marina is known for their prime rib. They have a 32oz. cut we get and split and then still bring half of it back to the boat for another meal.  I think it's a bit overrated but Martha was in the mood for it.  Final note.  We are at Mile 50 on the ICW.  Do you recall the Mile Marker at Brunswick Landing when we started out??

As You Wish squeezed in between a 60' Selene and a 53' Navigator

Journey for June 9, 2026

June 7 and 8, 2026 - Trying out Two New Anchorages

 Sunday, June 7, 2026   Homer Smith's to Scranton Creek  74 miles and 9.1 hours 

Breezy SW winds and low tide to start the day but managed to make it out of the slip and out into the channel without issue.  Winds expected to continue all day.   We were followed out the marina by Andreas Fault, another looper headed north who followed us to Belhaven.  Very nice 48' Offshore pilothouse.  Surprising number of boats out.  Several large sportfish headed north - most at full speed and throwing their huge wakes.   Most turned off after getting to the Neuse River and headed for the outer banks.

Sunset over Homer Smiths Marina.  They cater to center console boats
year round but also are one of the best stops for transients on the ICW

SW winds blowing strong all night

We've seen a few more tows this year on the ICW.
This one passed us on its way to Morehead City

Super hot day.  92 degrees for the high and sunny.  Running from the flybridge where there was some shade and a nice breeze.  Slow progress through Adams Cut.  It's a rare area in NC where there's a long stretch of No Wake zone that's pretty well enforced.  Relatively narrow with houses, docks, boats along both sides. 

Followed this Valhalla 46' center console with quad 300HP outboards thru Adams Cut.
 They were GONE just as soon as we got out of the No Wake Zone!!

Out onto the open waters of the Neuse River.  Was expecting a bit more wave action as there's a long fetch of open water with this SW wind blowing right down it.  Mostly just a rolling 1-2' chop that was primarily at our stern until cutting NW up into the Bay River.  Then a bit more rolling with waves on the beam. Up the Goose Creek Cut towards the Pamlico Sound.  Mostly undeveloped here with the exception of the short no wake zone at RA Mayo Seafood and the Coast Guard station. 

Passing the fishing fleet at R A Mayo docks

Once again expecting heavier chop out on the Pamlico but it didn't materialize. Nice open water makes using the autopilot a no brainer.  Set it and go and relax a bit.  Turn to port to head up the Pungo River.  We're going to explore a new anchorage in Scranton Creek that's beyond Belhaven. Andreas Fault decides to run a little faster up to Belhaven and pass us as they head into town and the marina.  As we're a few miles past Belhaven a southbound target shows up on AIS.  It's Mystic.  Friends of ours from our days running track days with the Porsche club. Their boat is a 52' Krogen Express with a gorgeous light blue hull.  The owner started the loop but decided it wasn't adventurous enough for him.   Sold it, went to the west coast and bought this boat.  Then took it up to Alaska before turning around and heading south. Took it through the Panama Canal and eventually back to his house in Wilmington.  It's a trip known as "The Big U".   

Andreas Fault passing us as they head to Belhaven

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Mystic headed southbound.  Always interesting to come across
 someone we know while on the water.

After that it was time to explore Scranton Creek.  On paper it looked like the perfect anchorage to hide from the ongoing SW forecast to continue overnight.   Reviews all sounded decent.  Not too far off the ICW and sets us up for passage through the Alligator Pungo canal in the morning. Not too bad but a bit more exposed than I expected.  The tree lines are set back a good distance behind marsh grass. Anchor set well and we have the place to ourselves. When we were at Homer Smith's some fishermen had just returned and were cleaning a nice catch of mahi mahi.  Martha was admiring the filets and they offered up a bag. Cooked with butter and lemon yesterday.  Today was marinated in some Italian dressing and cooked on the grill.  Nothing like super fresh fish.   Two more packages set aside in the freezer for later. 

Martha taking a turn at the helm. Otto doing the hard work keeping us on course

Sunrise over Scranton Creek

About 6:30PM Martha sees a post on Facebook (I refuse to use it - scourge of the earth) that the Alligator River Bridge is closed to navigation due to mechanical repairs.  I turn on the VHF radio and hear a CG confirming announcement. Yup.  Closed with unknown time frame for repairs. That old swing bridge is in the process of being replaced with a high-rise bridge.  In the meantime, it's blocking our route with it 14' clearance.  As of tonight, there's about 14 boats in the area waiting to see if it gets repaired in time to leave in the morning or if we'll sit at anchor an extra day or more.  

Journey for June 7, 2026

Monday June 8, 2026   Bridge Update.  On to Pt. Lookout.  29  miles and  3.25 hours

Called the bridgetender at 6:30AM for a status report.  Had hoped they worked on it overnight, but he said repair crews were just now on the way.  So not a good start.  Hoping for a quick repair as we have a 9-hour cruise ahead.  If we can't get gone by 9-10 AM we'll need to stay anchored here. 

Crabbers came by to check their pots while we were waiting
for bridge opening information

Bridge reopened at noon so we decided to get a few hours cruising in and ran the length of the Alligator-Pungo canal.  Nothing at all of note along the way.  Long straight cut. Fire long ago destroyed most of the trees on the south side - just now starting to get a bit of new growth back.  Shoreline now just looks like a tree stump graveyard. 

Long straight Alligator Pungo Canal

Old tree stumps along the shoreline

Definitely want to stay mid channel to avoid hitting them

 Made it to a new anchorage at Pt. Lookout.  Very breezy NE winds gusting 20-25 so opted to stay off the open Alligator River.  Shallow water coming in with many crab pots.  Spit of land offers a break in wave action but not much.  Wouldn't bother staying here again except in very settled weather. 

Journey for June 8. 2026

June 5, 2026 Onward to Beaufort, NC and a Short Respite

 Friday  June 5, 2026  Wrightsville Beach to Homer Smith Marina   83 miles and 9.2 hours

One nice advantage of cruising this time of year is the long hours of daylight.  First light is 5:30, sunrise at 6, sunset at 8:15, and last light at 8:45. If we had the stamina we could cruise for 14 hours in daylight and cover a lot more miles.  Today we simply used that early morning daylight to allow for an early departure to get to the Wrightsville Bridge for the 7 AM opening.  From 7AM to 7 PM they only open on the hour, and we wanted to get gone before the 8 AM opening.   So, anchor was up and on deck by 6:20. Made it to the bridge about 6:40.  Hailed the bridgetender with a request for an opening and expecting him to notify us of the need to wait until 7. Taken aback when he opened "on demand" as we were there before 7AM.  The bridgetender here has a somewhat bad reputation so maybe we just caught the night shift tender and it's the daytime one with the attitude.  In any case, made for a pleasant start to the day.  Short cruise up to Figure Eight Island Bridge. Clearance of 20' but some extra as we're coming through at low tide. The ICW tends to be wider here and slightly less developed so only a few true "no wake" zones to slow us down. 

Figure Eight Island Bridge. Drop the VHF antenna and we squeeze under it.

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Remember when rental beach houses were simpler affairs
 and having A/C wasn't even guaranteed.

The times sure have changed with everyone going bigger and outdoing their neighbors

 We're able to get under higher bascule bridges and the high-rise permanent bridges with the exception of the Onslow Beach Bridge. Seems dumb that they just put in a new replacement lift bridge with a mere 16' clearance and are maintaining their opening schedule of only on the top and bottom of the hour. We time our arrival for the 11:30 opening. This area of the ICW is cutting through Camp Lejeune.  There are times the area is closed off due to military training, but not today.  Strict rules due to unexploded ordinances.  No landing on the base, no landing on the beaches, no anchoring, no bottom fishing.  Just want to make sure no one accidentally goes "BOOM"!  Of course we see violations of all these regulations as we pass through. 

Mile Hammock anchorage at Camp Lejeune.  A good spot we've used in the past. 
We bypass it today and keep on moving.

Always some kind of interesting activity at the base.

Targets still sitting on the beach - just to reinforce they do live target practices

Passing through Sneads Ferry area and slow down for a boat being pushed towards shore.  Happy to see it's actually a work crew removing a derelict vessel. Abandoned boats have become more of an issue over the years.  An eyesore, a navigational hazard, and an environmental risk.  Thankfully grant moneys are being made more readily available for their removal and disposal. 

One of several derelict boats we learned were being removed

Part of the local fleet still in good working order

Blue heron strolling the shallows looking for a quick bite

Locals also strolling the shallows on a spoils island along Bogue Sound

On to Swansboro and then through the long stretch of Bogue Sound.  Lots of center consoles out and about buzzing up and down around us as we approach Morehead City and Beaufort.   This is a big week here.  The 68th Annual Big Rock Marlin Tournament starts Saturday.   $4.7MM in prize money.  Raises over $1MM for local charities. This tournament is known world-wide with top teams spending $300M-$400M over the week on entry fees and operating costs. We're just glad Homer Smith Marina was able to fit us in for a 2-night stay.   After multiple long cruising days and multiple nights on the hook it was time for a little break.  We love this marina.  Nice new facilities.  Great bathrooms for a much enjoyed long hot shower, Captains lounge with recliner couches that are more comfortable than ours at home.  Becoming a rarity but they even have a nice courtesy car.  So a quick grocery run is in the plans along with a visit to the local craft brewery! 

Sportfishing crew behind us at the dock.  Back in for the day and prepping for
an early departure tomorrow. Prime marlin grounds are 40 miles offshore.

Sunset casting a warm glow on the Fairform Flyer next to us. 
Old school classic boats still custom built in Jacksonville, FL

Journey for June 5, 2026