We arrived in Manteo, NC, about 1400 yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, and are enjoying two nights in a marina right in the downtown area, close to shops and restaurants. Nice, quiet, historic area. Virginia Dare, The Lost Colony, all that stuff.

The night before (Wednesday) we anchored in a little wide spot in the Alligator River, about 10 miles south of where it enters Albermarle Sound.

Tomorrow we’re leaving Manteo for Elizabeth City, just on the south end of the Dismal Swamp Canal, and the next day (Sunday) we’ll start through the canal. The locks on each end only open at 0830 and 1530, so if we don’t make it to the end we’ll have to spend the night in the canal and go on to Norfolk the next day. We haven’t been through the canal before, and had heard that there were problems with depth and dead-heads, but in talking with several people who have recently made the trip, everything seems to be ok now, and the Army Corps of Engineers has recently dredged it out (again).

We spent the day today doing a little shopping, bought a few groceries, and I had a few things I needed at a hardware store (all within walking distance). I also did some work in the engine room this morning, while Judy was doing our laundry. Tonight we are eating an early dinner, then taking a taxi to the Elizabethan Gardens and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site for “The Lost Colony”, America’s longest running outdoor drama (I think that refers to the number of years it has been performed, rather than the length of the performance).

Weather continues good, although it is a little hot today. With the AC running in the marina, it doesn’t seem so bad, however, and we have WiFi access through the town’s WiFi system! Nice touch.

Will write next time we have a chance.