MacGregorSailors.com

I got antsy and took a trip down that way last weekend to explore a little. The new gilmerton is complete and has a reported 35' at High water (looked 37'-40' to me, I have two other 35' bridges I am within inches of, but had an easy 3' at high tide with it) The tender was nice and I heard her reading off the current clearance with tide levels for boats that asked. It was a nice feeling to cruise right under (with permission ) during the rush hour restrictions on Friday afternoon as everyone else circled about Also makes it easy to time the Deep creek lock if you are heading that way. I thought I would be just as slick coming back Sunday but got stuck with a RR closure that put a half dozen of us waiting. Karma I guess. I am half thinking I may just stick to the swamp route to the Abermarle and back this time, watching for power boats and their wakes in the main cut is not near as pleasant.





I anchored up in the deep creek basin for a peaceful night Friday. The bottom was as soft as pudding and I never did get an anchor to set in it, but was protected enough it didn't matter.



I am anxious for my trip now, spring break starts this Friday afternoon giving me 10 days to float about. I am hoping to have a few nice days in the middle to do some sailing on the Abermarle and maybe over to Edenton if the weather is good. (assuming I don't break the mast in the trees trying to get up the feeder ditch to Lake drummond )

Fantastic Seapup! I look forward to your trip report . I'm planning to do the loop in July.

Bob
S/V Syzygy

Nice update Seapup,

This weekend I was just thinking your adventure down the Dismal would be starting soon.
I believe the mast on my is 35' above water + a Windex15 (2' I think), I might have to take it off.
Running the Dismal both ways doesn't sound so bad. I'm tempted as well but I think for the first time, weather permitting, I like to try the Carolina Loop. I am a little apprehensive about the Abermarle. I keep hearing it can get really rough out there during frontal passage.
I'm planning on May 31st and hoping the bugs aren't too bad by then.

I wish you good weather,
TFlight

The MacGregor specifications shows a mast height of 35' above water, but it does not specify whether that is with the ballast full or empty.

Ray

I believe the mast on my is 35' above water + a Windex15 (2' I think), I might have to take it off.
Running the Dismal both ways doesn't sound so bad. I'm tempted as well but I think for the first time, weather permitting, I like to try the Carolina Loop. I am a little apprehensive about the Abermarle. I keep hearing it can get really rough out there during frontal passage.
I'm planning on May 31st and hoping the bugs aren't too bad by then.

The openings are every hour on the half except rush hour so I would just time one. I was just bragging a bit for the over the half dozen other cruisers waiting during the 3 hr rush hour restriction. I have sailed the abermarle a few times, its fine under 15 for our boats. It does get rough quickly above that. Doing the loop you are covering 3 directions at the southern tip so unfortunately it is a good one to hit early in the morning and motor through quickly if the afternoon forecast is unfavorable. I am looking at 15-35mph for the next week except saturday, so thinking take the swamp down and play it by ear next week which way to come back. I am itching to go and packed way too much into the waterbago and moved on to make leg 1 tonight, staging it a whopping half mile across the river at portsmouth city landing for dinner with a buddy who is letting me leave my truck at his house. Its a bit rolly and busy at the landing but its a beautiful evening otherwise. Tomorrow I will probably anchor at deep creek since won't be able to leave until afternoon then try to slide up the feeder ditch to lake drummond saturday, (hopefully for a day or two of kayaking and fishing) then visitor center for a night, and anchor at the turner cut split or goat island for a night and then on to Elizabeth City to see what the weather front is doing. You can do each stretch in a day, but I am looking forward to taking my time and spending a week poking along and finding every nook along the way

I am using a piece of PVC pipe as fender board right now and its doing the trick. Normally I run all the fenders horizontal for the public piles&locks. I hung a 10' piece of PVC this time (thought it would be too long but its not) and it spans the piles perfect with good cushion and let me pull up and tie off with no fuss.



Next post somewhere south

Sitting in off the NC visitor center. Been a perfect 4 days so far, wind is picking up though and clustering the cruisers together. Long distance wifi is reaching the visitor center here. Had last night to myself off the feeder ditch and a night to myself in the deep creek basin before that. Found out lake drummound is out. Several trees completely across the ditch, otherwise its OK. Took my paddle board the 3 miles up to the lake anyway. Was a nice peaceful evening. Met three families all paddling up to the lake to camp sat night and had a chill evening at the dam before floating back at dusk. Debated casting off this afternoon but floated the 8 miles down to the NC visitor center. Had a fun evening aboard a wetsail 32 heading north and swapped stories. Now have to decide where to go next. Winds are to build to 30-40 tomorrow and come with rains and drop 30 degrees. Either have to hide out here for a few days or head home tomorrow....Pics to come if the internet here will allow!A

Deep Creek Locks Singlehanding




Internet is slow here, so this is the album link if it loads overnight:

http://s173.photobucket.com/user/Chaosp ... t=3&page=1

Finished out the trip last weekend. The rest was pretty uneventful. The weather went straight downhill Tuesday and I ended up staying in the swamp canal all week. The bike which I mainly took to ride from where I had to park my truck turned out to be a lifesaver. The weather was cold but I was still able to be mobile everyday and get out and around to explore. No boats were going anywhere. I met back up with the boats that all left the visitor center last Monday, they were all still pinned in Portsmouth as of this morning a full week later. Overall it was still a great trip, very restful and lazy, exactly what I needed.

View for much of the second part of the week



View of the waterbago, spent a few nights at this dock all by myself, there are no roads or towns nearby, only the bike trail which was deserted.



The dog found a spooky shack and few dozen old cars and tractors completely overgrown in the middle of nowhere one afternoon. Thought maybe some ghosts would follow us back and told the dog he had to keep watch at night since he led me to them, but he was useless and just slept under the covers where it was warm and dry



Looking forward to doing it again and keep heading south someday...

Oh, The word from the lock keeper is that in a week or two they are scheduled to bring the barge up to completely cut all the trees away and clean the feeder ditch for the first time in 5 years. May be worth asking about at the locks when you come through.

Hi Seapup,

Although the weather wasn't perfect, it stil looked like a fun and relaxing time.
I take it you didn't have the chance to do any sailing or I would ask how your bike faired up on the bow. It looks like you where prepared with all you toys.
Thanks for all the great pictures and info.

My compliments - very interesting reading.