June 7, 2026 - A New Anchorage near Belhaven

 Sunday, June 7, 2026   Homer Smiths 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 Smiths 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 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.

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.