Day 57, Monday, June 9, 2008

Underway at 0630. Destination today is Alligator River Marina or a nearby anchorage. There is a fair amount of smoke from the swamp fire and visibility is less than a mile when we depart Upper Dowry Creek. We used the jib a while during the eight mile run to the Alligator-Pungo River Canal. The run was uneventful, but the smoke got thicker and visibility less. We finally lost the wind altogether and by the time we reached MM 115, visibility was down to about 50 yards and a lot of ash was falling on the boat. The 95+ degree heat, high humidity, smoke and little wind made breathing bothersome and our throats and eyes became irritated. Smoke conditions began to improve as we exited the canal at MM 105. We actually saw an alligator in the Alligator River between Grassy Point and Deep Point. He took off when we came close to him.

The winds were predicted to keep the smoke in the area so we decided to stop at the Alligator River Marina rather than anchor. We arrived at the marina about 1500. After the sun went down we showered, watched a little TV in the boaters lounge and enjoyed the A/C.

Location: Alligator River Marina at MM 85. Boat distance traveled, 49.5 miles. Time in actual transit, 8.5 hours. Top speed 6.6 mph, average speed 5.7 mph