Norfolk, VA

Weather: Rain shower overnight. Didn’t hear the thunder that as supposed to accompany it. We awoke to an overcast sky that brightened as the day wore on, eventually giving way to a partly sunny sky. The temp reached 81 degrees. It was actually warm in Norfolk. The winds were generally light although we did see 10 knot wind for as we traveled the Elizabeth River.

Comment: We were up early (as usual)! Anna Marie made pancakes for breakfast. I worked on routes and waypoints on the GPS. We slipped our lines from the NC Dismal Swamp Visitor Center at 0735.

Hello Virginia!

We motored up the canal in overcast conditions and a temperature of 66 degrees in the bubble. As we motored out of the Deep Creek lock, it was a warm 81 degrees. Our trip in the swamp was over. During the last two days, we spotted innumerable turtles, a few Canada Geese and even two water snakes (Black Rat Snake and what I think was a Copperhead).

Larry's and Fran's son came to take some photos.

We arrived at the Waterside Marine in Norfolk at 1320 hours. After securing the boat and tending to a few boat chores, we met Larry and Fran for appetizers at “Eat at Joe’s Crab Shack.” We always enjoy the fare at Joe’s.

Anna Marie and I walked through the mall. There are several restaurants and the Virginia Store and not much else. It is hard to imagine that there is enough clientele to allow the restaurants to survive.

Looking back at the last brodge openning of the trip.

When we returned to the boat, I changed the oil (with Anna Marie’s help). We met Larry and Fran and their son Paul for dinner at Max and Erma’s (in the mall, two blocks from the waterfront). It was a great pleasure to meet Paul. He is an ICE official (I could tell you what that is but then I’d have to kill you). Suffice it to say he is one of the good guys and he puts really bad people away for a lot of years.

Paul lives in Chesapeake City, near the Deep Creek Lock. He took photos of our boat and “Kallista” from the bridge and the lock area, went home and brought back a CD containing 75 photos he had taken. They are great! He’s quite a photographer.

When we got back to the Marina, we noticed that Sharon and Larry (“Lead Free II”) were in the marina. We shared some cruising stories before meeting Fran and Larry aboard “Kallista.” We listened to and discussed tomorrow’s forecast and made plans for breakfast and departure.

One of the other boaters in the marina is concerned about the predicted three foot waves in the mouth of the Chesapeake. We’ll check the conditions when we get to the bay. We have established contingency plans in case it is too rough.

Finally, and most importantly, we are at “Mile 0.” The end (or beginning) of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (the AIW or more commonly the ICW). We have the Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware Bay, a small portion of the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay yet to go.

We’re hoping to be home by the weekend, weather permitting!

Be prepared, we’re bringing the good (sunny and warm) weather with us!