A Day Of Contrasts

10/16/11
We were blessed with a gorgeous morning. The wind had died down enough to allow us to push off the dock with ease. As the sun rose we were the first of three boats taking off  early that day. As we were cruising down the Pasquotank River I asked Ron "What is that strange dome like structure along the shore". "My goodness" he exclaimed...."that is a blimp hanger and there are two blimps tethered right beside it.. I received my ATC instruction in one of those down in Georgia.".  This is, as I might have mentioned before, a trip down memory lane for the Captain!
By 10:30 am we were motorsailing on a nice beam reach across the Albemarle Sound with west winds 11-13 knots.
We crossed through a swing bridge into the Alligator River by 11:45. It was a CAVU day...and we didn't see any alligators, thank goodness!
We dropped the hook just before the entrance to the Pungo Canal  off Tuckahoe Point at 3:00. This river and this anchorage is one of the most desolate places we've ever seen. Low growth on the shoreline, stumps everywhere, weather ravaged vegetation  for 50 miles. As we settled into this isolation, the only boat at this point, it seemed somehow appropriate to look out and see a lone bald eagle perched atop a tall dead tree. He calmly kept watch through the whole evening as seven other boats one by one drifted in and set their anchors. Three hours are needed to finish the Pungo Canal and since there is no stopping place and it would be difficult in the dark most people anchor if they can't make it before dark.
So here we were in utmost darkness, with no earthly lights around except for the little twinkling anchor lights....As the stars began to come out we were treated to the most magnificent starry night sky we can ever remember. It was absolutely mesmerizing. We were both so exhausted but couldn't stop starring up at the wonder before us....
This was an amazing day of contrasts, from the expansive stark desolation of the Alligator River to the magnificent spectacular night sky.
 Thank you, God!