I rarely wake up early enough to see the sunrise when it happens at 6:00 am. But when I do, I take a million pictures of it. I don’t think I can emphasize enough how peaceful this anchorage was. There was barely a ripple in the water, we could hear birds chatter in the distance. There was a solid half mile of water between us and anything else in any direction. It’s mornings like this when you just look around at all of God’s creation and you feel so grateful to be a part of it. What a blessing!

Eventually, we had to go. The water was so calm, I started pulling up the anchor without Owen moving the boat. I just started pulling the anchor rode in, and the boat easily moved toward the anchor. I did this until I saw itty bitty baby shrimp coming up on the anchor rode and landing on the boat deck. I’m not sure why, but live shrimp gross me out. I prefer to see them cooked, still, and pink on a plate. I don’t want to think of them and all their legs writhing around in the water (I do not have this problem with live cows, live pigs, live chickens, or live fish.).

All that to say that Owen took over pulling up the anchor rode.

We made our way back out to the ICW and toward the Albemarle Sound. We had been told how rough this area can be, and we were thrilled to be there on a calm day. Just like Lake Michigan, you just have to watch the weather and pick a good day. We were grateful that we didn’t have to delay travel. We are also grateful we don’t have to say Albemarle out loud because we don’t know how it’s pronounced. We made up our own versions that were different every time we said the word. It’s how we roll.

As we cruised into Elizabeth City, we noticed the Weeksville Airship Hangar on our left. It was used during World War II to house the blimps that guarded against German U-boats. It’s a massive structure that is now privately owned with no tours available.

We knew we had a bridge we needed to open in Elizabeth City. We could hear a boat ahead of us call the bridge operator:

Boat: Elizabeth City Bridge, Elizabeth City Bridge, Elizabeth City Bridge, this is __________ going northbound requesting an opening.

Bridge Operator: Okay, I’ll open it when you get here.

Boat: We ARE here, darlin’!

Bridge Operator: I can’t see you.

Brief delay…..

Boat: We’re at the railroad bridge requesting an opening.

Bridge Operator, confused: I don’t see you.

Boat: Never mind. It’s open.

This conversation was EXTREMELY confusing (and hilarious) until we got to the railroad bridge. It’s so low that a kayak wouldn’t be able to make it under, and the swing bridge opening is at an angle so that as you approach it you can’t see where the gap might be or that it is already open. Even when we got to the bridge, we weren’t sure the gap was wide enough for us to fit through until we were yards from it. We knew it had to be fine because boats bigger than ours go through it, but there was some second guessing as our eyes deceived us.

Our marina was right after the railroad bridge, and it, too, had a narrow opening. We made it inside, and a dock hand was waiting for us. What a protected marina! They don’t seem to have room for a lot of transients, but they had room for us. Everyone we encountered was kind and welcoming. There’s a laundry room ($1.50 to wash, $1.25 to dry) and bath house with three toilet/shower rooms, an on-site convenience store, and a Dollar General across the street. There is also a restaurant across the street, but we didn’t have an opportunity to eat there.

This is one place where Enterprise still picks you up! This was great, because Enterprise was 6 miles away, and the road wasn’t walkable. At all. The town isn’t far, but the highway between has no shoulder. Not even a white line on the side for a long portion.