Going South
13 November 2013 | ICW
Capn B/ cold and blustery
Going South
October 24, 2013
Day 1 began with leaving Hampton Public Piers around 10:00 AM with a fresh outlook on going south. Met allot of snow birds there and I can not forget Jake the harbormaster. He always had a smile and some kind words to say.
Going south we were able to set sail under about 10 knots of wind and sail out of the bay into Norfolk. To see the massive container ports and wonder where all that stuff goes. We all buy it and they deliver it into ports like these then empty the containers to send to the stores and head back for more. Do we really need all that stuff or can we just have a simple life? I prefer a simple life and am trying to get there.
We came across a naval submarine maneuvering operation. Pretty cool cause we were like 200 feet from the sub along with coast guard escort to make sure all goes as planned.
Then we passed the new aircraft carriers being built plus destroyer ships along the way sitting at a dock. All this is pretty amazing when you look at it. We have a lot of money wrapped up in the protection of our country.
After that we went through the Gilmerton bridge. It is a timed bridge so we were early and had to wait about 40 minutes for it to open. We thought it was an on demand bridge opening. Oh well we will probably not see that one again for a long time.
After the Gilmerton bridge we turned starboard west towards Deep Creek and have spent the rest of the day and night there. Interstate is close cause I can hear it.
Oh and by the way we went aground today coming into deep creek. Luckily we were able to back out and try again. Another sailboat was close to us and tried to go in and found a five foot wide path to cross into this basin. There only only two kind of sailors, ones that have run aground and liars.
Food today was eggs and sausage for breakfast and special macaroni and cheese made in the thermo cooker. Very good meal lunch and supper.
Tomorrow is a big day. We will be going through two locks in the dismal swamp. Deep breaths!!!
Day 2 began with us getting up early eating breakfast then picking up anchor. First stop was Deep Creek Lock two miles away. Our second ever lock to work. It really went pretty well considering everything. We hooked up with loose end lines and watched the boats rise eight feet andwe were off to the dismal swamp.
First things first we had heard about duckweed and how it could clog up your cooling system. We saw some as soon as we went through the lock but after that everything seemed ok.
The dismal swamp is an interesting place. Mystery surrounds its entire area which covers parts of North Carolina and Virginia. George Washington owned shares in part of it at one time. Native Americans and escaped slaves hid in there from their predators. The canal that goes through it which is what we were on was dug by hand. It is just an interesting place and you wonder where the moonshine was or is at in there.
Going through there today made me remember the deliverance movie and the toothless guy setting on the porch playing the banjo.
The second lock was kind of exciting. RuthAnn and I got our wires crossed and both of us ended up off the boat and that is to suppose to happen. All I can say is we survived our third lock.
Goat Island is where we are spending the night. We had it to ourselves but now two more boats showed up. It is a peaceful place in the boonies but I can still hear sirens sometimes so we must be pretty close to civilization. I wonder what the stars will look like tonight.
Maritime mobile network is exactly that. It is for mariners of all kinds who want notify somebody of their position. I call into this at least a few times a week and let them know where I am at. Today I talked to someone from Titusville, Florida and was listening to people from West shores of Africa, Jamaica, Ecuador, and various other places. They offer this on 14.300 MHz from 12 ESD until 10 ESD. Another one I work with is e East Coast Waterway Network on 7.268Mhz. I try these guys every morning at 8:00am ESD.
I wonder how many stars we will see tonight oh and one more thing. I think Ruth Ann is a better driver on the boat than I am. I hit a tree today but she ran aground. We are survivors and no damage!
Day 3- now Day 18
My wife informed me yesterday that this is not day 3 because we left heading south from Oxford, Maryland. Well she is actually correct again. So today is renamed day 18. Thinking back through our days on this boat since then I think we could have probably walked this distance two or three times. We are moving at a snails pace but we are retired and enjoying the scenery along the way.
Now yesterday we woke up to still water and the same two boats that anchored there with us the night before. The stars were beautiful that morning when I went outside. We ate french toast that morning and took it easy. We only had ten miles to travel to our destination we are at now which is Elisabeth City, North Carolina. What a neat place. It is sailor friendly for sure. We arrived early and had an easy docking. A lady by the name of Maja Trig and her dog Jetty walked by and I ask how she was doing. She went onto tell me everything. She grew up on an Iowa farm, moved to California as a vaudeville dancer, owned a 40 foot sailboat back in the day, was a half sister or cousin to John Wayne (I might have this wrong but it was something like that). It sounded as though she had filled her life up with what she wanted to do. An interesting lady.
Now in every town there is something unique about it. In Urbana, it was the drug store fountain shop and old homes. In Oxford, Maryland it was the picket fences, old homes and the boat builder Hinckley. In Hampton, Virginia it was St. Johns Anglican Church which was were Pocahontas was baptized. In this town It is the old homes and the size of them. Wow is what I can say. One house alone built in 1913 was around 10,000-13,000 square feet. Back in the day this was and probably still is a wealthy town. I read where this town and Plymouth were the most populous town back in the day. Elisabeth City is located on the Posquotank River just north of the Albamarle Sound. Today will be church, postcards, finish reading a book and some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day across the Albamarle Sound.
We went to church and normally we leave midnight leashed up outside the church. Today midnight was told to come into the church with us. So midnight got his religion as someone said as we left there today and the church has went to the dogs in a very good way. He got to meet a black lab there also. He seemed happy for his first church service adventure.
Day 19- the Albamarle sound was a smooth crossing so that was good for us. Sometimes it can be real choppy. We met up with some fellow snow birds at the Alligator River 64 bridge and travelled the next 15 miles alongside 10 boats. That evening we anchored at the bottom of the Alligator River at a place called logging camp. It was us and one other boat. Interesting part was that it ended up being an old from Chesapeake, VA that we had became friends with. They had purchased a new boat so we didn't know who it was until they hailed us. It was good to catch up with them.
Day 20 we had a Midnight over board because he liked standing out over the anchor so he fell in. We made him swim to us to learn his lesson. That day we motored thru the Alligator-Pungo Canal and made it to Bath, NC late that evening. Was hailed by Pixus along the way. It was Dave and Rose Ann Finch and they were going to McCotters Marina which is where we were heading also.
Day 21we arrived at McCotters Marina in Broad Creek off the Pamilico River to a good friend named Darryl Mumford waiting for us there and then we started work. We have been here for almost two weeks now and have finished a few things on the boat. A new windvane that will help us sail around without using any battery. We added a whisker pole for downwind sailing. This is a must for the trade winds. Our time is almost up here and it spit some ice here last night so am glad I got heater going.