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Slipped out of Elizabeth City at dawn.  North Wind - Long 55 mile day.  Still cold in the mornings. 

Down the Pasquotank, then across Albemarle Sound – once again a pussy cat and not the roaring tiger it can be in strong winds.  In fact although we sailed the entire way across with full sail we never really got going over 5.  Once at the Alligator Bridge we dropped sail and motored until we got to the lower Alligator.  We always think of the Albemarle as the winter boundary… winter to the North but still summer in the South. Once across it was like a different world - the front deck was warm and sunny and with the following breeze very peaceful. I enjoyed sitting in my pink beach chair reading my book and after a while even reverted to shorts! First time since St Michaels in early September!

After a while the breeze came up and we raised the Jenny for a boost the last leg into our anchorage near the mouth of the canal at Mile 105.  Tuesday’s Child was already anchored and Heron came in with us – no sign of Old Rosie but we declared a quorum of the “Shopping Club” and enjoyed cocktails in our cockpit.  Debbie and Frank on Heron (Bristol) from CT  

and Mary and Mike on Tuesday’s Child (Albin 41) from Sebastian.  

Only missing Ben and Jane from Old Rosie!  Lovely evening.  We were going to grill a pork roast but everyone brought such lovely snacks that we just put it back in the fridge for later.