Sun. May 19, 2024 Elizabeth City to Chesapeake, VA 9.1 hours - 76 miles
Despite forecasted rain that would have been a washout for the NC Potato Festival, it simply remained cool and cloudy with an occasional mist. Nothing to dampen the town's spirits or festival attendance. Richard and Terrie on Avalon were among the many looper boats here, so we got together for flights and dinner on Saturday. They will be taking the Dismal Swamp route. We are taking the Albemarle - Chesapeake route. Just don't want to expose our running gear to logs at this stage in our travels and without the protective full keel we had on the old As You Wish it just seems prudent. It means we'll be exposed to more weather - wind and waves. 15-20 knot winds and 2' seas are showing for today, but at least just cloudy and not rainy.
 |
Friends Richard and Terrie from Avalon take a selfie with
As You Wish in the background leaving Elizabeth City |
We head out a little after 7 ready for a long day. Down the Pasquotank is a non-issue. We're riding small waves from the NE on the port stern. Then we turn onto the Albemarle and rolling 2' waves are hitting us on the beam. Time for the stabilizers which tame things down. Eventually a turn up the North River. Same 2' waves but now on the starboard bow. Pretty consistent 3-4 second period, so not terrible. The issue is the constant spray after each wave from the 20 knot winds. The spray covers the windshield in heavy sheets requiring the wiper to clear. But the wave period isn't synchronized to allow keeping the wipers on. It's a continuous activity to reach for the wiper switch. Turn them on, turn them off, turn them on, turn them off. We finally get a little break through the cut at Coinjock but then are out again into Currituck Sound for more waves and water. Finally enter the Albemarle - Chesapeake canal and protection. We get our timing right to arrive for the half hour only openings at North Landing Swing Bridge and again at the Centerville Swing Bridge. Finally pull up to Atlantic Yacht Basin for fuel and a pump out and are greeted by friends Jamie and Trish on No Rush. We're convinced to stay at AYB. They have a car, so we make plans for a flight at Big Ugly Brewery (made it just in time for Sun. 6pm last call - phew!!) followed by dinner at Lockside Restaurant.
 |
What to do after beers and dinner?
How about ice cream from Uncle Tom Carvel? |
In the morning, we move over to the free dock across the waterway. It's finally a pleasant sunny day and we decide to just relax, enjoy the day, do some walking, plot the next few days on the Chesapeake, watch a parade of big boats going thru the bridge and lock every hour, and arrange for dinner again with Jamie and Trish. Unfortunately, Jamie is fighting a stuck kidney stone and trying to get it handled medically while in Norfolk. Not quite so easy or convenient when a transient boater.
 |
This monster came through Monday morning -
dwarfing everything else around |
 |
| Nature walk - lots of baby geese |
 |
| Nature walk - waiting for an errant goosling? |
 |
| Nature walk - turtle minding a log and enjoying the sun |
 |
| Trying to figure out the rules for the game of Rummikub. |
 |
| Journey for May 19, 2024 |
Tues. May 21, 2024 Chesapeake to Mobjack Bay- North River Anchorage. 7 hours - 59 miles
Beautiful forecast for today. Sunny by mid-day, lower 70's, light SE winds and nary a ripple expected on the Chesapeake Bay. We pull away from the free dock and enter the queue with five other boats for the 8AM bridge and lock opening. A powerboat, two sailboats, us and then two more powerboats. I can only assume it was the first ever lockage for the two sailboats. Never seen any boats move so painfully slow and cautious. Even the lockmaster helping to grab lines was trying to usher them along. All for an uneventful 2' ride up!! Out the lock and around the sailboats and we were on our way.
 |
| Preparing to leave Great Bridge lock |
Well - until we hit the Norfolk Southern #7 bridge which is supposed to be up except when in use. It is down with a sailboater waiting. It's the same small sailboat with an older couple we have passed several times this trip and who we saw pass thru the 7am lock opening. No telling how long they have been waiting. We grow concerned as we've been stuck at these RR bridges for extended periods before. Today goes better. In just a few minutes, an Amtrack train rolls by and we get the announcement over the radio that the bridge will be going up. Lucky again at the next two RR bridges are in the up position.
 |
| Norfolk Southern Bridge 7 opening for passage |
 |
| The second Norfolk Southern RR bridge |
Then it's just a slow run through Norfolk and all the Navy yards and sub-contractors at work building, refitting, etc. Many of my tax dollars on display as we pass 5 aircraft carriers docked and multiple other ships. Lots of activity in the harbor - tugs, dredges, cargo ships, cruise lines, patrol boats, ferries, etc.
 |
| Navy boats from the biggest to smallest on full display in Norfolk |
Once things open onto the bay we're greeted with the promised sunshine and flat calm seas. Such a pleasant day of cruising after our ocean voyage, Alligator River and Pamlico Sound journey and then the Albemarle and Currituck Sound days. We head into Mobjack Bay to anchor. We've stayed here before, but this bay has several tributaries and we're going up the North River branch to explore a new option aside Back Creek. Beautiful estate homes nestled along the shoreline. We drop anchor in a picturesque little cove that provides protection from the slight SE breeze and settle in for the evening. A slight breeze, sunshine, comfortable temperatures and no bugs. Perfect.
 |
| Flat calm blue waters on a sunny blue-sky day. Perfect!! |
 |
| Journey for May 21, 2024 |
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment