As You Wish - Our Adventures: June 10, 2026 Change of Plans

Wednesday June 10, 2026 Coinjock to Lafayette Creek Anchorage 56 Miles and 7.5 Hours

Good night's sleep after that big prime rib dinner last night. Opted for a 7:30AM departure today. Light overcast skies but warming up to 90 degrees. Heat wave here over the next few days into the mid 90's. Couple of hard stops today. After leaving Coinjock we need to hit the North Landing Bridge on the half hour. Then make it to the Centerville Bridge for their opening on the half hour. And then hit the Great Bridge Bridge and Lock for their opening on the top of the hours. Plan A was to just stop at a free dock we've used in the past at Great Bridge. There was room for us, but we got there in time for the noon opening so decided to push on. Considered stopping in Norfolk at one of the marinas as Plan B just to be able to grab power for the A/C system. But again, still plenty of time in the day to keep moving. Finally opted to continue on and use Plan C. Anchored in a new place on Lafayette Creek just past Norfolk. Pretty good decision as we had one of those typical Chesapeake area strong afternoon windy thunderstorms blow through after we got anchored. This location offered great protection. Residential area all around us which was surprising as the industrial Norfolk waterfront is just around the corner. Plan A to Plan C took us from a 3-1/2 hour planned initial trip to a 7-1/4 hour day on the water but sets us up for some relaxing times before hitting Baltimore.

Back to the initial trip. Coinjock to Norfolk. After exiting the cut, you head out on the open water of the Coinjock Bay and Currituck Sound. This passage again looks like wide open waters but it's all skinny except in the marked channel. Cross over from NC into VA while on the sound and then up the narrower meandering North Landing River. Still very rural at this point with marsh and trees.

Another one of those Valhalla boats. Believe this is a 46 SY. They were docked
in Coinjock and I noted power was quad 600HP V12 engines. CRAZY!!

GPS unit clearly showing the narrow channel despite the visible open waters.

Arrive at North Landing Bridge a few minutes early with 3 other boats. We all left Coinjock Marina about the same time and traveled in a pack. From there it was a spirited run to get to Centerville for their opening. Finish with a slow cruise to Great Bridge where we line up and idle for half an hour for the bridge to open. A few more boats join us and we all make way under the bridge and to the Great Bridge Lock. Locking through is completely drama free event for us having done probably 200 passages by now. The lock drops us an unimpressive 2 feet!! Then we're on our way to Norfolk and the start of the industrial and military complexes along the waterfront.

Waiting for the North Landing Bridge opening

Passing through the open Centerville Bridge

Great Bridge Bridge raising. Open space available at the free dock on the right

Tied to the wall. Really nice blue hulled Sabre behind us.

Slow traveling through Norfolk. Just lots of commercial traffic and a No Wake Zone through downtown. Tugs, barges, cargo ships, naval ships of all sorts. Scoot right alongside some of the docked ones just to stay out of the main shipping channel. Surprised at the reduced number of naval ships compared to several of our past trips along here. Amazing variety of vessels either passed us or we passed by them within just a few miles.

Have no idea what these are for, but it's a big construction project

More parts for that construction project arriving by ship

Considering the anchorage is just a short jog off the main channel it is amazingly serene. Nice open place all to ourselves. A bit shallow with 7' waters but that just means we need to put out less anchor chain. We weather the thunderstorm that passes through without issue. Nice heavy rain did a good job washing off some salt and grime. Brought in some cooler air but we'll have to see if it holds overnight. Greeted by an awe-inspiring rainbow and sunset once the storm passed. Just never know what each day will hold. Jumping dolphins one day and double full length rainbows the next.