Monday, 27 October 22.4 SM
Steadfast follows the foam trail left by Modaki.
“It’s Silly Hat Day! Everybody put on your silly-looking hat.” So orders the young mate aboard Funny Duck, a Fales Navigator 32 from Rhode Island bound four Charleston, SC. She sports a knit cap with earflaps tied under her chin. Not that any on the Dismal Swamp Canal this morning needed encouragement to don a warm, i.e., “silly-looking” hat. Watch cap, ski cap, mountain-man hat, whatever. Forty-one degrees, says Accu-Guess, and never has 41 felt so cold. Brrrrrr.
At 0730, the sun is up but not nearly enough to turn on the heat under the leafy canopy that covers the canal. The forecast promises something in the 70s but not here, not now.
The bridge rises to welcome boats to Elizabeth City.
Timing is everything. Steadfast is part of the parade this morning that pulls away from the Welcome Center on its way to the 0830 opening at South Mills Lock and, once through, sundry harbors beyond. Sovereign leads the way, Steadfast follows with others close behind. Once through the lock, Steadfast falls to the side allowing those with more “horses” to move ahead. It’s not long before all that’s seen of them is the foam from their wakes.
Much of Elizabeth City takes you back to the 50s.
The harbor-of-choice for Steadfast this day is Mariner’s Wharf, the municipal pier in Elizabeth City that’s among the most favored for Snowbirds. The reason has less to do with convenience than price. Dockage is free for 48 hours. And then there are the Rose Buddies.
Rose Buddies patrol the pier at Mariner’s Wharf.
The Rose Buddies are a tradition that started in the mid-80s, a volunteer welcoming party that prowls the pier from sunrise to sunset, with helping hand for each visiting boat and a rose for each lady aboard. They’re great.
But instead of the Buddies, it’s Pat and Richard of Sovereign who catch the stern lines for Steadfast when she eases in about 1400. That left time for a brisk walk around town before the dockside “happy hour” hosted by the Buddies. There was a spiel in support of local merchants and for the Albemarle Museum, along with a bit of local knowledge for transiting the Pasquotank and crossing Albemarle Sound. Refreshments, of course, too.
But with the sun warming the wharf, no need for silly hats.
Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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