GLORY DAYS ON THE GREAT LOOP: ANOTHER BAD FORECAST

DAY 307: SUN. MAY 20, 2012

DEP. ALLIGATOR R. 07:33 ARR. ELIZABETH CITY, NC (mm 50.7) 12:13

NORTH WIND 25K SEAS 6’

We check the weather every day before we make the decision to depart. This is the second time this week NOAA has given us bad info. The forecast was for north winds 11k to 14k and waves “around 2’. Ten minutes into Albemarle Sound and the winds picked up to 25k and the waves to 6’. Albemarle Sound is where at mm 80.1 the ICW splits. Route 1 goes to Norfolk via Great Bridge and route 2, our chosen route, goes to Norfolk through Elizabeth City and the famous Dismal Swamp. While under way in these conditions I checked NOAA weather radio for the latest forecast, and sure enough, they reported conditions as 15k winds and waves around 2’. It wasn’t as bad as Fri. in the Neuse R., but it was bad enough. Fortunately we only had to endure it for 10 miles, about an hour and a half. As soon as we got to the lee of the north side of the sound the waves diminished and we made our way up the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City ( http://www.discoverelizabethcity.com). Elizabeth City bills itself as “The Harbor of Hospitality,” and that it is. They offer FREE docks, a wine and cheese happy hour every day, and the tradition of a free rose to every lady boater. Unfortunately, we are there on Sunday. and that’s the only day they are shut down. They also have an excellent museum, but that’s closed too. The city itself is typical of most downtowns. It is struggling to re invent itself by promoting tourism and it is ideally located to appeal to boaters wishing to take the Dismal Swamp route.