December 23, 20007 Belhaven, N.C.

This the "winter scenery" along the Alligator River. When we went through last fall there was still autumn leaves on the trees. The tall golden sea grass and leafless tress contrast against the Evergreen trees. The air temperature was in the mid fifties so we were able to strip off some of our multiple layers and longjohns as we head further and further south.







This is a beautiful "mansion" in Belhaven, North Carolina which is part of the marina where we are currently docked. The first owner was a wealthy businessman who was VP of the southern Norfolk-Carolina railroad. This was a "Put together made to order Sears Catalog house." The second owner was the Heinz ketchup family and currently it is a "bed and breakfast-restaurant-marina". Today the temperature is supposed to hit a high of 70 degrees. We plan to head south tomorrow after the cold front comes through this afternoon. We should have favorable conditions to make fifty miles and then anchor at Summer River before proceeding to Beaufort, N.C .on Christmas Day.

Sunset in "Little River" which is an anchorage we took to avoid some unfavorable winds on the Albemarle Sound. It was a quiet anchorage with little white cottages along the shoreline.