Rain & Duck Weed

Weather: What’s this wet stuff coming down from the sky? Accompanied by thunder and lightening, the early morning shower (0600) lasted about 10 minutes. The wind accompanying the storm could be heard in the tree tops but the boat didn’t rock and there wasn’t a ripple on the water. High temp was 85 degrees. The wind was not a factor in the canal or the upper reaches of the Pasquotank River.

Comment:
0700 Rise and shine! It is overcast and there is a haze over the canal but it looks like a good day to finish the swamp. The portion of the canal from the Visitors’ Center to the south Mills Bascule Bridge and Lock is covered from bank to bank with duck weed. We have been elected to lead our fellow mariners down the green carpet that stretches out in front of us. As we did yesterday, we bumped a few submerged logs, but no stumps thankfully.

0830 We are about ½ hour early for the 0900 scheduled opening of the South Mills Bascule Bridge which is no more than 1,000 feet before the lock when headed south. Anna Marie and I tied “SUNSHINE” to the fenders by the bridge and were hailed by the crew of “Kallista” who asked if they could raft with us as their cooling water intake was clogged with duck weed. As we were tying them alongside, the bridge began to rise! Larry, “Kallista’s” skipper was up to his elbow in duck weed and couldn’t stop clearing it from his strainer and seacock, so besides the bow and stern line, we ran a spring line and side towed him past the bridge. Just before entering the lock, his repairs were completed and we cast off “Kallista” and tied to the starboard side of the lock.

Through the course of the morning, “Wind Borne” had to drop the hook to clear the duck weed from his cooling system and a short time later, “Kallsita” had to make another stop to clear his strainer of the now dreaded duck weed.

A few miles south of the lock saw the end of the duck week and we motored in the dark tea colored waters of the Pasquotank River. We are in an old Cypress Swamp and on one of the most scenic sections of the intracoastal water. In a few weeks, we will pass through an even larger cypress swamp while transiting the Waccomaw River just south of Myrtle Beach, SC.

After tying up at the Elizabeth City Town Docks, we enjoyed another gam with the cruisers we met at the visitors’ center plus the crew from four or five other boats that were tied up at the docks.

Anna Marie and I took a short walk about town and perused the book store and the hardware store. As usual, the shop owners were very nice people and very accommodating. The people of Elizabeth City, the “Harbor of Hospitality,” obviously take great pride in being hospitable.
Larry, Fran (“Kallista”) and Dave (“Canvasback Too”) joined us for dinner at a local seafood dive. It was a clean, low key restaurant and fresh fish market. The food was reasonable and delicious!