So this past Monday we left Hampton VA and crossed the Hampton Roads shipping channel, then cruised past the Norfolk navy facilities (largest in the world!). Here is the USS George H.W. Bush, last of the Nimitz class super carriers (cost = $6.2 billion) :
Notice the Navy patrol boat keeping a close eye on us as we passed. Maybe I shouldn't have broadcast 'praise to Allah' on the VHF as we approached.
We wound our way through Norfolk/Portsmouth VA, bought 100 gallons of diesel at Top Rack Marina ($3.39/gal which is a great price), then turned down Deep Creek to enter a lock to raise us 8 ft onto the Dismal Swamp Canal. Here are some pix:
In the lock with 3 other boats.
Mileage sign indicates that we have far to go.
Katie Bopp relaxes as Spray is lifted...
While Riggs supervises.
The lock gates open.
And we cruise down the canal.
After 15 miles or so we cross from VA into NC then shortly after stop at the NC welcome facility, which is unique in serving both a highway and a waterway. We tied to their wall overnight.
On Tuesday we get an early start to complete the final 5 miles of the canal, then at 9 am we lock down to approximate sea level again on the Pasquotank River. The next 15 miles were winding through beautiful cypress swamp until we arrived here in Elizabeth City NC.
They really mean that hospitality stuff as they have much free dockage for transient boaters which was important to us since as soon as we arrived the weather turned nasty: cold with strong north winds. It actually snowed some last night and this morning we had ice on the decks. Nice to be securely tied up and not have to deal with the dinghy.
We've been returning their favors by hitting restaurants and bars (which have heat!). I went to a nearby gym yesterday for a hot shower, and Sheila got a southern style (think big hair) haircut today.
Right now our new best friend
is cranking away, trying to heat our salon.
Tomorrow we leave at first light to head south and cross Albermarle Sound. We should be anchoring in one of the remotest spots on the entire ICW.
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