Plans But No Schedule

Saturday, May 6, 2017

The weather has improved and we are heading north again.  We have plans to spend 4 days getting to Norfolk and have made reservations for marinas along the way.  The Neuse River is still choppy but much better than the past few days.

New Bern from Neuse River

A few hours later, we turn into the wind and start taking spray over the pilothouse.  Fortunately we are running the boat from inside, rather than on the open, flybridge level.  At least we have a favorable current and pass our intended overnight stop too early in the day to stay.

Bay River

We quickly look ahead and find another marina in Belhaven NC, Dowry Creek.  A phone call and we have a reservation for the night.  Looks like we will get to Norfolk a day early!

Dowry Creek, Belhaven NC

Imagine our surprise when, as soon as we tied up, the owner / dockmaster invited us to a Kentucky Derby Party and pig roast.  Fun!  A very happy Boka even got some droppings.

Pig roast

A total of seven looper boats are here for the night; five couples met for the roast pig dinner by the marina's pool. 

Loopers at Dowry Creek Marina, NC

We are now too close to our next planned stop and will need to change our schedule again.  But we have no cell service at Dowry Creek so cannot call ahead to try to get a marina reservation.  To complicate matters, we learn late this evening that a swing bridge about 110 miles north of us has been closed for several days due to high water from heavy rain.  As a result, lots of boats have filled the marinas ahead, waiting to be able to move north.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

We decide to leave early with the hope we can find a place to stay.  If the marinas are still full, we have identified an anchorage we can use.

Alligator River - Pungo River Canal

We finally get a cell signal about noon and learn that the flooded bridge has reopened but the marina ahead is full.  After a fairly rough 1 1/2 hour crossing of the Albermarle Sound (thank heaven for stabilizers!), we stop at a large, protected anchorage with a half dozen other boats.

Camden Bay Anchorage

We enjoy a peaceful night and a nice sunset.

Camden Bay Anchorage

Monday, May 8, 2017

We get an early start as we must time getting to three low bridges for scheduled openings.  The morning is chilly, temps in the mid 50s, but winds are light and sunshine, abundant. 

North River

Soon we will cross the North Carolina / Virginia border - another milestone!

Coinjock Bridge

This is Coinjock Marina, where all the boats were stacked up to wait for the flooded bridge to open.  We heard there was a double line of boats tied up here, with the outside row tied off to the boats along the dock.  Glad we weren't in that mess!

Coinjock Marina, NC

And this is the bridge that was flooded.  Normal clearance is just 3' so it doesn't take much to put it under water.

North Landing Bridge, VA

Lots of boats were delayed in the migration north by this bridge closing.  We are part of a group of boats that will stay with us for the rest of the day as we transit 2 swing bridges, a bascule bridge and a lock.

Waiting for North Landing Bridge, VA

The bridge is opened on schedule, every 30 minutes, and we all pass through.  We have 30 minutes to make the next bridge, 5 miles away.  That requires a speed of 10 mph, which is faster than we comfortably run, but we push the boat hard to get there on time.  If we miss this bridge opening, we will have to wait 30 minutes for the next one and will have to wait almost an hour for the third bridge.

North Landing Bridge, VA

We barely get to the second bridge on time, then wait in our group for the third bridge to open.  Just past this bridge is a lock.  All these boats squeeze into the lock and, 30 minutes later we are 2 feet lower and proceed on our way.

Great Bridge

After 1 1/2 hours, we are in the South Branch of the Elizabeth River and the outskirts of Norfolk.  We begin seeing commercial vessels as we near this busy port.

South Branch, Elizabeth River

We pass an amazing variety of facilities, many belonging to the US Navy.  This shipyard says  established in 1767!

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

One final lift bridge is already open.  Downtown Norfolk lies in the distance.

Belt Line RR Bridge, Norfolk VA

This aircraft carrier was undergoing work in a shipyard.

Aircraft carrier

Another big Navy ship undergoing repair.

Norfolk VA

Our marina is on the Elizabeth River in downtown Norfolk.

Waterside Market and Marina, Norfolk

We are settled in for a week and looking forward to meeting more loopers here and enjoying lots of sightseeing in the area.

At Waterside Marina

Plans for the remainder of 2017

For those of you who may join us on board sometime in the coming months, here is an outline of our plans.  As you can see from our past few days, plans for major destinations are mostly reliable; schedules are another matter.  If you want to meet us in a port or cruise between ports, please get in touch and we will try to provide a better estimate of timing to enable you to finalize trip plans.

May 16, Norfolk to Yorktown VA

May 18 - 19, to Solomons MD

May 20, Oxford MD

May 21 - 22, St. Michaels MD

May 23 - 30, Annapolis MD

May 31 - Jun 3, Baltimore MD

Jun 4 - 7, Philadelphia PA

Jun 8 - 11, to New York City via Delaware Bay and offshore

Jun 11 - 17, New York City

Jun 18 - Aug 15, Long Island Sound / Cape Cod / Maine

Aug 15 - Sep 7, Maine to Chesapeake

Fall - Chesapeake

Winter - Capital Yacht Club, Washington DC