Truth to tell, the town didn't look all that inviting as we motored down the channel, through the break water, and then to the anchorage. The only other boat was a little used sailboat, mast down and looking forlorn. With First Light secured, the dink went into the water so Deb and Grandson Eldest could go explore our new, temporary digs. I stayed behind. There was something in the air that made me uncomfortable leaving the boat unattended. I am not very good at first impressions; in fact, I am rather horrible at them. So I kept my thoughts to myself as we dropped the Dink into the water and got it ready to travel.
Unlike boats with davits, our Dink sits edge down on the swim platform. The outboard stays attached but all the other stuff, seat, number boards, oars and fuel tank, have to be loaded and unloaded every time it goes in or out of the water. Still far, far better than the hassle it took to launch the dink from Kintala, so no complaints.
After the crew motored away, I settled in for a bit to play some Uke. I was barely warmed up and working through a song I like but the crew isn't so fond of, when the dink bumped into the swim platform.
“That wasn't a very long trip.”
“That's because we are leaving. The dock master was unfriendly, even rude when asked about a laundry. The few locals we ran across while walking into town were not any better.” The town itself is dingy and full of bad vibes. No way we are staying here for a night, let alone two.”
Okay then. Guess I should have listened to my first impression. Nebo logged First Light into Belhaven at 12:51; and out at 14:59. In barely two hours we had anchored the boat, secured the boat, launched the Dink, recovered the Dink, got the boat ready to go, pulled the hook, and departed. Barely two hours after that, we were dropping the hook in one of our favorite anchorages from days past.
Styron Creek at the base of the Alligator / Pungo River is as beautiful as we remembered. It did take two tries to set the hook in the grassy bottom, but we are now solidly attached to Mother Earth and well protected if the 20+ knot winds forecasted for the next day or so actually arrive. There is a singe boat anchored a few hundred feet away.
The vibes are good once again.
But when it comes to Belhaven NC, mark me as unimpressed.
1 comment:
Interesting to hear your impressions. We were through there back in 2016, after Hurricane Matthew, and thought it was that that set our teeth on edge about the town. Maybe there wad more to it? Good for ya'll to listen to your inner voice.
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