Heat Wave
16 July 2013 | Barnegat Light, NJ
Sunny, Wind NW@5-8, temp 92F, 102F Humidex
Dismal Swamp Canal
The Coast Guard are broadcasting warnings about heat stroke and advising people to stay in air conditioned places. In a word... HOT!!!
From the Dismal Swamp, we headed in to Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, Va.
After a 5 mile trip down the river, lined with navy facilities of every type, we tied up at Tidewater Marina. Along the river, we saw, among other things, three Guided Missile Frigates and one Aircraft Carrier in drydocks. This is the US Navy's East Coast Base, and it's big!
Ashore, we walked the restored waterfront and the old section of the city. It is a small area of about 15 blocks full of beautifully restored homes. With that, we headed back to the boat and prepared to head off in the morning. The only shopping was for Gin.
Monday morning we woke early so that we could catch the outgoing tide. At Tidewater, we were still 10 miles from the mouth of the river, and another 8 across the bottom of Chesapeake Bay to the ocean. So the strong currents can make a huge difference. When I poked my head out at 0630 hrs, I was surprised and a bit dismayed to see the river blanketed in fog. At 7 am the air temperature was already over 80F, and the wind was calm. A warm day ahead. But by 8:00 when we were ready, it had begun to clear.
Norfolk is a very busy harbor and even with radar, electronic charting and AIS, I still would not set out in a heavy fog.
By the time we cast off our lines, we had 1/2 mile visibility and set out. Down the harbor we passed yet more navy facilities, including three more Aircraft Carriers and countless frigates and ships whose function we couldn't even guess at.
By the time we cleared the Tunnel/bridge and set off on our course, we had been passed by four frigates, one supply ship, three amphibious boats and two hovercraft (right out of GI Joe). And they all blared instructions at all the pleasure craft on the VHF, so that at times we had no idea what they wanted us to do.
Heading up the shore, the wind was non-existent and stayed that way for the entire trip. The only excitement of the trip was a six hour lightning storm off our beam. It was never close to us, but the lightning was fantastic, lighting the entire sky and with huge bolts crashing into the sea. As we crossed the mouth of Delaware Bay, we passed six ships anchored waiting for a berth to unload cargo up the river in Philadelphia.
By late Wednesday we were finally motoring in between the jetties at Barnegat Light, and by 1830 hrs, we were finally anchored and enjoying the quiet without the engine. In a beautiful quiet evening, we watched the sunset as we ate Beef Stroganoff with a chilled Cabernet Sauvingnon.
Tomorrow another overnight sail to Block Island, and with a continued forecast of winds less that 5 knots, essentially calm. The new engine is getting a good workout!
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