ElizabethCity, NC – Harbor of Hospitality, Captains Chuck and Susan Report (Statute Mile50.5)
Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 07-23-2013
Elizabeth
City, NC, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is indeed one of the most
cruiser friendly ports of call anywhere in the Southeastern
USA. Many mariners stop here while transiting the AICW Dismal Swamp Canal Route,
which are the next waters to which our aces reporters, Susan and Chuck will
turn their attention. However, it’s well worth the time of year round Tar Heel
cruisers to simply cruise up Pasquotank
River from Albemarle Sound, or
captains in the Norfolk, VA
region, to cruise the Dismal Swamp
Route south, for the express purpose of visiting Elizabeth City. It’s really that special a
destination!
Susan and
Chuck do a wonderful job laying out many of EC’s attractions and services below.
I might just add that one of the nearby marinas that they speak about, Lambs
Marina, is currently the only place you can purchase fuel on the entire Dismal Swamp route. That’s worth remembering if you need
to fill those hungry tanks.
We are once again greatly indebted to Captains Susan Landry and Chuck Baier, owners of Beach House Publications, publishers of “The Great Book of Anchorages,” (http://www.tgboa.com) for providing the superb, in-depth article and copious photographs, contained in the article below. THANKS CHUCK AND SUSAN! Please read on!
We are once again greatly indebted to Captains Susan Landry and Chuck Baier, owners of Beach House Publications, publishers of “The Great Book of Anchorages,” (http://www.tgboa.com) for providing the superb, in-depth article and copious photographs, contained in the article below. THANKS CHUCK AND SUSAN! Please read on!
by
Captains Chuck Baier and Susan Landry
Any cruiser that has transited the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway more than once has at least heard of the hospitality offered to mariners in this sleepy North Carolina town perched on the Pasquotank River. Most boaters are also familiar with the tradition of the Rose Buddies, [and while there have been some changes, the Rose Buddie "receptions" are still taking place when enough boats are docked at Mariner's Wharf on any given night - Editor insertion]. A short detour off the traditional waterway on the Albemarle Sound will bring you to this friendly harbor, and you will still be met at the town docks by a fellow named Gus that has made himself the unofficial greeter and historian at Mariner’s Wharf. Gus will help you tie up in one of the 14 slips at Mariners Park, give you the latest on the town and direct you to wherever you might need to go. It seems that many boaters don’t know that the 14 slips at the park are not the only free facilities offered by the town.
The grocery store and coin laundry is about a mile and a half from the town docks. A taxi or a bike is the best way to resupply or do laundry. The Post Office is about a half mile away. In the downtown area you will find small shops, boutiques, a book store and restaurants. The Cypress Creek Cafe is across the street from the docks and is a local favorite. A short walk of a few blocks and you will find Quality Seafood, a restaurant and market. Have a great seafood lunch and buy some fresh fish to take back to the boat. After lunch, stop in the Museum of the Albemarle and experience the history and culture of the Albemarle region either by self or full guided tours. If you happen to be lucky enough, as we were, to be at the docks on a Saturday, you can enjoy the fresh produce, vegetables, baked goods and homemade wares of the open air market from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This is not your average Farmers Market.
"The Sign Says It All"
Elizabeth City holds several Festivals and Events
each year. July is full of activities beginning with Mariner’s Wharf Film
Festival, a Fourth of July Celebration, Music and Arts Festivals, First Friday,
and many more, just in July. During other months try the Coast Guard Harbor
Nights Concert, First Friday Artwalk, Music on the Green with Classic Country
Bands, and even a tractor pull. There is so much more to Elizabeth City
than free dockage. You will meet some of the most friendly people found
anywhere along the waterfront. If you are a dog person, this is a very popular
place for the local dog-walkers. The dogs are as friendly as their owners. So
often someone would stop by the boat and strike up a conversation. We felt like
we had lived here for a long time and everyone did their utmost to make us feel
welcome.There is a downside, and that is the weather, if it happens to be blowing strongly from the south or southeast. Heavy winds can create a strong surge, and waves coming up the river cannot only make the water levels rise, but make the docks uncomfortable to downright dangerous under severe conditions. This also doesn’t appear to be a no-wake zone and boats speeding up and down the river do create a lot of wakes on occasion. A nearby boat ramps adds to the problem. Under strong conditions from the south, the bulkhead on the other side of the bridge or anchoring beyond the bridge would be preferable. There is a boatyard in town with haul-out facilities, but service is very basic. There are no real services for boaters in the area, so major repairs will need to be done elsewhere. The boatyard does have a surveyor onsite.
Elizabeth City Waterside Farmer's Market (every
Saturday in season) If you might be looking for a marina, there are two in the area. Pelican Marina has dockage with a
pump out and a restaurant onsite. It is across the harbor from town. Just a
little farther north on the river is Lambs Marina, in a very protected basin.
The channel to Lambs has been recently dredged to make access easy. It is some
distance from town. There is plenty of space to anchor, but keep in mind that
the harbor itself is deep. Dinghy access is available at any space along the
town bulkheads or at the boat ramp near Waterfront Park,
next to the small highway bridge.
The Visitor Center offers free loaner bikes to
boaters for those long trips for groceries or laundry. The Visitor Center
is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The gym at the adjacent
Fitness Warehouse offers showers to boaters for a fee of $5.00, if a long hot
soak is needed. Gus has a small pick-up truck that is a two-seater, but he will
often offer lifts to the store if you might need lots of supplies. Don’t be
tempted to tie up for the night and move on. Stay awhile and enjoy true
southern hospitality and a town that prides itself in welcoming boaters and
cruisers. You won’t see 24-hour limit signs on the pilings. Elizabeth City
wants you to come, visit and enjoy. We sure did and we can’t wait to go back.
From Elizabeth City,
we headed north to explore the Dismal Swamp
and all it has to offer.Chuck Baier and Susan Landry
Trawler Beach House
Beach House Publications
