Day seven: 11/23/1999

We woke up around 6 and I watched it get lighter, but no sun.  Because of the warmer air temps and cool water temps, it was very foggy and the wind was out of the northeast.  Visibility fluctuated between 10 yards and 25 yards all day.  We talked about whether or not to brave the 6 or so mile paddle across open water with such low visibility.  However, with the wind direction and paddling direction, at least if we veered from the course, we would be pushed closer to land and not out further into the Pamlico Sound.  We packed up, ate nothing (still feeling sick), and started paddling.  Since I had the compass, I lead the way.  Checking readings every 5 minutes we continued to paddle.  Through the fog we were able to see 2 water marker type structures, but we could not discern what they were with Eric's map.  I was paddling with a purpose,  I was more than ready to get to land.  Paddling over open water with such low visibility leaves a lot to be desired.  After 2 hours of paddling in a cloud, we finally could make out some structures though the fog.  We paddled toward them and as we got to a beautiful beach, with a 20 foot driftwood ornament and the residue of a discarded fish camp, complete with nets on off the beach, the fog lifted and the sun came out.  It was a very nice beach, and with binoculars, we could see the low causeway type area of hwy 12 that leads out to the ferry.  As it turns out, we were only 1.5 miles from our target destination, I felt pretty good about my navigational skills at this point.  We fixed coffee,  and had a light snack.  We then tried to use a creek to get us over to the ferry, rather that paddling all the way around the point, but to no avail, the creek ended in grass.  We took a leisurely paddle around the point and was able to stop on the south side of Point of Grass, where we walked a short distance over to the north side, where we were in plain site of the Cedar Island Ferry.  Eric spotted a loggerhead sea turtle skull, and I kept is because he already had one.  I was elated to be so close.  We then paddled through a portion of the landmass into the north side of the Cedar island point of grass, and around to the ferry through shallow water.  Some dragging was required.  We dragged the kayaks up onto the beach and walked up to the information building for cedar island ferry.  Where I called Jill and informed her that we were fine and where we were.  This was the first time I had the ability to call anyone.  We walked over to the camp site office and paid to camp there.  We had decided to camp there rather than in the bush for ease of pickup by Jill the next day, and also for the ability to take a warm shower (the first since Greenville).  We dragged our boats up to a grassy lot, and unloaded armfuls of supplies and walked them over to the campsite, to lessen the drag load on the boats during the drag across the street to the campsite.  It was nice to be able to take a shower and to have a store in which to buy fresh supplies.  I bought a 10 pack of hot dogs and buns, and ate loaded hotdogs all night.  I called Jill and confirmed the pick up site for the next day and gave her more explicit directions.  Eric and I stayed up late talking about the trip and reminiscing.