June 10-12 Leaving the Norfolk Area

Up early to be ready to go about 7:30 and get in line for the 8:00 bridge opening, followed by the 8:10 Locking and the 9:00 opening of the next bridge. Success! We did have to stop for one railroad bridge but only for about 10 minutes; mostly while they lowered the bridge and locked it into place.

Cruised thru the downtown Portsmouth/Norfolk area - the waterside of what we had seen a few days earlier. Past Hospital Point, the Naval Station Norfolk and close up views of all the ships we could not take pictures of on our tour!  We then said good-bye to Lois and Mike as they headed into Hampton for a few days and we headed into the Bay.

My magenta line is gone! (the magenta line is just that - a magenta line on the charts that shows you were the Atlantic Intercostal Waterway route is. Just like a street map, and you basically follow the line.) In the Chesapeake Bay, there is no set line/pathway/"street"/road to follow - you have to plot your own. Good thing we had spent some time with the charts the day before plotting courses and locations. We were prepared, but a little piece of the security blanket went away.

Any member of our family remembers Dad turning into Captain Bligh: and the heat and humidity caused him to make a limited appearance today. But with Judie's help and some progress, he went back into hiding.

After 20 miles of running in the open waters of the Bay, we turned into Mobjack Bay and then the Severn River off its south shore. We found (from the software program Active Captain) a nice quiet anchorage. Fixed a "too nice" dinner of pork chops, corn-on-the-cob and sweet potatoes (should have kept it cold and simple meal). Had a few drinks on the bow, and after a cool shower, hit the sack.

Next day we launched the dingy and motored into several creeks to look at houses and property. Saw lots of water fowl, turtles and a wide variety of homes. That afternoon was naps, reading, and re-wire the new fan for a 12 volt plug-in connection.

The morning of the 12th, we awoke to light fog, overcast, and a light wind from the east. The forecasts were for clearing, a partly cloudy sky and our anchorage was expose to the wind from the east, so we decided to head for Deltaville and the Rappahannock River. The first two hours were wonderful as we eased our way back into the Bay. Fog was lifting, wind was 5 mph and we were happy. BUT as soon as we turned northward, with the wind on our beam, the wind began to build and eventually went to 15-20 mph and 4 foot waves. An hour later, the fog decided it had lifted enough and was returning to the surface and visibility went to patchy and 1/4 mile at times. Ok we are making good time rocking and rolling and have seen only one boat all morning. BUT, an hour later the rain decided to join in the fun and the next 1 1/2 hours was a pain in the ass.  We got wet thru our fowl weather gear, a little woozy from the rocking and cold and hungry. We had made the decision earlier to stay on the fly-bridge rather than move to the inside steering station because of the better visibility from the fly-bridge. Judie was a real trooper, making, what seemed to be, at least 100 trips below for "stuff" in really poor conditions. She learned how to butt scoot!

About 12:00 we finally made the entrance channel to Dozier's Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville, only to miss a turn to port, and ran softly aground. Simply reversing the engine, increasing the throttle, and being calm got us right off. Got a little help tying up in the rain and as soon as we finished by our selves, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the words hazy, hot and humid became a reality.

Inch-n-along showed up about an hour later and we all went into town via a courtesy car for a late lunch and a little touring to get acquainted with the town.

Slept like babies.

An open railroad lift-bridge

Building and re-fitting ships.

A marine assault ship

Stealth??

Ship??

Our first Bay light/marker.

June 5-9, 2014 Norfolk Area

We are at Atlantic Yacht Basin in Chesapeake VA. A working and maintenance marina with lots of service going on. Weekdays there is a lot of activity pulling boats out of the water, doing maintenance, and mechanical repairs. They do a wonderful job with wood and make it look fantastic. Most of their permanent slips are under covered sheds and the marina is fresh water with no tide or currents. May keep R Island here for the winter.

June 5: Inch-N-Along (Mike and Lois) are here with us. This is where they bought their boat and we are, more correctly, here with them! Mike rented a car a few days and we loaded op late morning and headed to Norfolk to tour. First stop was the Navy Base where we took a 45 minute bus tour of this 43,000 person facility along with the 13 piers/docks. Saw, but could take no close pictures, 3 submarines, 2 Marine assault ships that hold helicopters and boats, cruisers, and an aircraft carrier.

After lunch at Hell's Kitchen (no relation to the TV show), we toured the Nauticus Museum and battleship Wisconsin on Norfolk's waterfront.

these girls are everywhere

Unlawful photo - oops!

BAC  (Big Ass Carrier!)

The Battleship Wisconsin

Men's Room at Hell's Kitchen

And the Ladies room

Wisconsin again

another mermaid

Ger and Mike resting.....

Judie taking lessons from yet another mermaid!

June 6: Another field trip - this time the Outer Banks and Kitty Hawk NC the Wilbur and Orville Wright Monument. Those guys did a lot without computers, auto-cad and much help. I was amazed that they built their own engine, sewed the muslin wing material on their mothers sewing machine, and worked out all the calculations for pitch, roll and yaw utilizing data from over 1000 glider flights the previous year. Also, much of their time was in Ohio and they were at Kitty Hawk for only 4-6 weeks per trip a few times each year. I guess I should have paid closer attention in school 50 years ago!

On recommendation from the office manager here at the marina, we went to the small town of Manteo for lunch. This older waterfront community has several restaurants and boutique shops in an older restored setting rather that many of the newer buildings closer to the ocean drive.

Stopped at Coinjock Marina on the way back and were treated to a parade of beautifully restored boats (up to 80 feet in length) from the early 1900's that were on their way to Norfolk for a festival.
Also stopped at a farmers market to stock up on fruits and veggies.

Beautiful and accurate reproduction

The glider that provided all the info!

the kitchen in their "camp".

they slept in bunks hung overhead.

Overlooking the area from up on the monument. Note workshop and camp building. markers on the left indicate flight distance from the first marker for the 4 flights that day 125-850 feet.

The balance of the stay at AYB is being consumed by laundry, grocery shopping, engine routine maintenance, washing the boat and other miscellaneous chores. Judie and Lois did take a few hours on Saturday to go out to lunch and do some shopping - girl stuff!

June 3-4, 2014 The Dismal Swamp.

June 3: With a little help from Mike, Bill and his crew, and Judie, we squeezed R Island from her slip and into the channel. Beautiful cruise up the head-waters of the Pasquotank river to the start of the Dismal Swamp. Very few markers but really only one way to go.      

Traversed our first lock of the trip, an 8 foot rise into the canal. All went well, but need to remember to keep our fenders horizontal when locking and get large "ball" fenders.

Tied up at the "Dismal Swamp Visitors Center" adjacent to a rest stop for Route 17. Nice facilities but no boater showers or power. Had picnic lunch at a table under the trees that line the canal. Later crossed a floating bridge to the State Park and toured the exhibits. Spent much of the afternoon visiting with two guys traveling on a sail boat that we met at Alligator River Marina and some passing motorist with no "Off Button" traveling to Fernandina Beach FL. Had "dock-tails" and munchies at 5:00 with Judy and Bill from Seaquel, Inch N Along and the sail-boat guys. Lasted until about 7:30.

Quit water - silence.

The churn from the engines - tannin causes the water to turn brown in the rivers.

 the Amazon!

From lock to bridge

 

typical of the route

R Island and Inch N Along at dock

the floating bridge being opened for Seaquel

Animals of the Swamp

...and friends.

June 4: First 3.5 hours were 5 MPH going down the Dismal Swamp Canal. very isolated most of the way - almost "Amazon-like". probably only 50-80 feet wide, 6 foot deep, and lots of trees. Saw a Great Blue Heron with fish in his mouth, Summer Tanager bird, and a deer searching for food.  As we neared the north end, it got a little back to civilization with a nearby road and bike riders and hikers - all friendly! At the north lock, Seaquel gave us a little scare when she released her stern tie way too early.  Loaned Rick on Persistence our new 24" pipe wrench to fix his jammed anchor - success.            

The crew performed well today thru 2 locks, three lift bridges, docking for fuel and pump-out, and finally docking into slip. Only went about 20 miles today - but took 7 hours (a lot of slow going and waiting). Took very welcome showers, turned on the A/C, had spaghetti and meatballs, and died!

Leaving the dock with Persistence and Seaquel rafted up.

You can read this sign either way!

Bambi

May 30 - June 2, 2014 Oriental NC to Elizabeth City NC

May 30, Happy 44th Anniversary to us! Not underway until about 9:30 as we needed fuel and a pump-out. Lots of boats headed north, always someone passing us or us passing sailboats. First 18 miles was typical ICW channels and narrow waterways. the last 5 were open waters of the Neuse River. Stopped at Oriental Marina and Inn about 1:00. Small marina and adjoining small hotel with a good restaurant and Tiki Bar. Visited with Don Charland at Pecan Grove Marina about winter storage. Great facility, nice docks, and a long way from the Chesapeake. Nice casual afternoon and evening in a small town claiming to "have more boats than people".

Colorful house along the way

Oriental Marina and Inn view from our slip.

The mascot!

View to the River.

May 31. Got away cleanly at 7:30, in spite of boats at public dock crowding us a little. "Private Idaho" was there and we met them later that evening. 20 miles of big water on the Neuse River, then 10 miles of ditch-like waterway, then 20 miles up the Pungo River to Dowry Creek Marina near Belhaven NC. At a happy hour get-together sponsored by the marina, met up with Mike and Lois aboard "Inch N Along" whom we met at Brunswick GA, and the folks from "Private Idaho" who gave great reference about Pecan Grove Marina.

Away early in the day.

June 1. Got away before 7:00 in order to beat the afternoon wind; but it started when we did. After a nice 5 mile run up the Pungo River, had 10 more miles of a straight ditch with only 2 minor turns about half way thru. Entered the Alligator River and had 25 MPD winds on the nose for the next four hours, 2-3 foot waves, and spray hitting the fly-bridge at times. The boat performed great and the crew did too. The worst came as we turned 90 degrees west to enter Alligator River Marina just north of the swing bridge, and the waves were on our beam causing the boat to roll sideways. Judie did a great job of holding on and getting the dock lines ready. Had a group dinner with Bonnie Rover (Merritt and Vicky), Ninkasi (Dick and Donna) and Inch N Along (Mike and Lois) at the Marina restaurant/Shell Station. Good value for the dollar.

Leaving Dowry Creek Marina

Sometimes not so pretty - but easy to see the effects of logging.

Guess where the "road" goes!

June 2. The good Lord smiled on us this day. The final 4 miles of the Alligator River and the 14 miles across Albemarle Sound were easy in one foot waves and a light breeze. The run up the Pasquotank river was in glass-like conditions - no waves and only a very slight occasional breeze (really mild Bill Moyer). Passed Elizabeth City by about three miles to another small rustic marina at a gas station _ Lambs Marina. Nicest folks ever - gave us the keys to a loaner car for the afternoon so we could visit town and enjoy the area. The town has built a nice waterfront to attract boaters (but no water or power) and the homes in the area are well kept or being renovated. Nice walking tour of downtown and adjoining residences. Had beer and Nachos at the Waterfront Café for dinner. Stopped at a Lowes to get wrenches to adjust the stuffing box on drive shaft.

 

"Inch N Along"

Smooth water and very little breeze.

Lambs Marina