Today started out on a bright note when Striper ate a little bowl of spaghetti and meatballs (one of her favorite people dishes) for breakfast.   Last night she had eaten 4 small bowlfuls of spaghetti and we were beginning to think she was on the mend and that we could restart the antibiotics. But it was not to be.

About an hour after breakfast this morning Ralph found another large tick on her belly and removed it.  She became quite lethargic and her nose became dry and warm and she laid down wearily.  She drank water throughout the day and we tried all her favorite foods:  a raw egg, a scrambled egg, her treaties, a piece of baked ham, a bit of apple and she didn't want anything.  Later we tried some beef broth and she drank a little of that and ate half a can of tuna but laid back down.  We are at a Catch-22 here.  She needs the antibiotic, but has to take it on a full stomach the vet said, and she won't eat; therefore, she is not receiving the benefits of the food or the medicine. :(

We traveled 13 hours today for a distance of 102 miles -- the most we've traveled in one day on this leg of our adventure.  We crossed Pamlico Sound, went through the Pungo River and the Pungo Canal and the Alligator River.  It is at the junction of the Alligator River and Albemarle Sound that mariners must make the choice to travel through the Dismal Swamp or take the Virginia Cut.  After reading the comments on Active Captain about Dismal Swamp being loaded with deadheads and other debris and boats having to travel slowly to keep from damaging their hulls and props by all this stuff popping up unexpectedly, we opted for the Virginia Cut.  We crossed Albemarle Sound and are anchored at North River near Coinjock, NC.  It was a long day, especially for Captain Wonderful.  Thank you, honey.

So we anchored here just at sunset which was beautiful (as they all are) and Striper perked up.  She came down from the fly bridge without being called and sat by the fridge in the galley.  I offered her the leftover tuna from earlier today and she ate it all, so I opened another can and she ate half of that, 3 little meatballs from the leftover spaghetti, 5 treaties, and 4 slices of baked ham.   Then she went down to her little bed and is now sleeping upside down on her back.  Her little nose is cold and wet.  

We will see how it goes tomorrow.   Our plan is to go to Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge, VA and our friend will make a few phone calls on our behalf to get us transportation to a veterinarian in the area.  Thank you, Jeff, for your above and beyond kindness.  We have decided not to give her any more of the antibiotics until she has returned to normal eating habits for another whole day.  So we will see what tomorrow brings.

Here are a few of today's photos:

Leaving Campbell Creek, Aurora, NC

Crossing Pamlico Sound

Pamlico Sound

Pungo River

Captain Wonderful

Striper spent most of the day tucked into this corner

Droopy :(

"Canalligators" in the Pungo Canal

Pungo Canal

A delicious tomato/basil/cheese and pepperoni pizza for lunch

Alligator River

Alligator River on the chart plotter

Alligator River Swing Bridge -- the bridgetender held up about a mile of traffic on either side of the bridge waiting for us.  God bless him!

Southbound tug and barge

We continue Northbound

Cars waiting for us --we are grateful for the bridgetender who waited for us

Albemarle Sound -- taking the Virginia Cut

Tonight's back yard