Yeah Buoy

X-ing File #6_A Gulf Stream Crossing & the Atlantic ICW

Belhaven to Norfolk

All this...and in pink. Still it is a deep water frontage with a lighthouse...

Having previously visited Belhaven, and with our sites firmly set on reaching Virginia at the start of May, planned side trips to historic cities dotted along the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers and up Albemarle Sound were slated for “another” day.  We plugged on through the long and stumpy Alligator-Pungo Canal, wondered at the number of bridges offering openings only on the hour and dodged more commercial traffic than we’d previously seen.  For your edification, Captains of commercial traffic advise either "a slow pass" or "meet me on" the one whistle (or tap) indicating a pass to port.  Two whistles (or taps) indicates starboard.  Fascinating reminder or times before radio communications.   We watched and felt for a hot water boat that managed to impale itself on an underwater stump just outside the channel; fortunately reversing off. 

View back along the stumpy Pungo

Another black river adding colour to WJ3's moustache

At least these stumps are not floating...yet

Passing a big tow "on the two" & taking
the Captain's advice so as not to snag a stump

Winds piped up for our crossing of Albemarle Sound; WJ3 found her sea-legs enjoying the romp.  We set the hook in the open waters of North River rather late in the day but otherwise celebrated our arrival at the Virginia Cut.  We were only 57 miles from Norfolk, Mile Zero.

Green 37. Most importantly, MILE 100! Yes!

The next day’s run took us through Coinjock, having to give the famous 32oz prime rib a miss, before finally crossing into Virginia at Pungo Ferry.  At Great Bridge we were “spoken to” by the bridge operator for not responding on VHF Channel 13.  We had no idea that he was even calling us, his accent quite broad and southern…  There’s a plethora of bridges in this section of the ICW, and as the weather was extraordinarily warm, we called it quits and tied up to the free dock before the Great Bridge Lock.  Better to take the next 10 miles in the morning.  Besides, families of geese were out taking their babies for walks and a swim.  And the local rowing team were dodging canal traffic like professionals during their practice sessions.  Sadly, it was too cold for crabs to be out yet (we caught a nice pot-full last time) so we had to settle for something from the freezer yet again.  The lock continued to be busy; we breathed in when that mini-cruise ship squeezed passed us though, lights blazing in the dark.  Now that’s the way to travel the ICW!

Early morning swimming lessons with mum & dad at Great Bridge Lock

This looked alarming; a school bus teetering on the edge of a cliff;
we think it was a training prop for emergency services though.

Norfolk in our sights

The hardworking end of Portsmouth

So, here we are, sitting on anchor off Hospital Point in Norfolk, feeling very pleased with ourselves.  Its only a day’s run to Deltaville, so we’re having a few days off here in this busy port city (the largest Naval Port in the world) to prepare for the madness of bedding down WJ3.  This will be our last post of the season (unless something really interesting happens in Deltaville), except for the End of Season tallies.  After this long and heroic season (2017 & 2018), we’re thinking of just gunkholing the Chesapeake next year.  Still, that’s 12 months away and anything can (& will) happen…