Monday October 19 finds us taking a lay day in Elizabeth City, NC.

On the dock at Elizabeth City

We left Deltaville Friday October 16^th early in the morning facilitated by having been on their fuel dock the night before (by permission!). We had a big “ bon voyage party” the evening before out in the “Mosquito House” with all our friends – Thomas, Sabine, John (single handing from England), Justin Smith (young world boat entrepreneur!). We are hoping that Thomas and Sabine will be catching up to us along the way.

Bon Voyage Party (clockwise left to right – Janet, Justin, Thomas, John, Alan, Sabine, Joan)

And don't forget Gracie!

We went from Deltaville to Norfolk, VA on a very “lumpy” downwind motor-sail – the seas were very confused but we made good time. We go past all the navy ships at Naval Station Norfolk which is one of the main Navy bases in the US. According to Wikipedia “ it supports naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command and those operating in the Atlantic.” We anchored that afternoon at Hospital Point which is mile marker 0 (zero) for the inland ICW.

    Some of the navy ships we went by

 

    Anchorage at Hospital Point

   Look who came in just across the channel from us at night!

Saturday October 17 we lined up with about 30-40 other boats (motor, sail, and one tug with barge!) for the 9am bridge opening that then began our travels down the inland ICW. At mile 7.3 we make our turn to depart from the Virginia Cut of the ICW and go down the Dismal Swamp route.

    Go this way.

  The Great Dismal Swamp locks

    

   First day in the Dismal Swamp

     

We were going to stop that afternoon at the Dismal Swamp Welcoming Center but it was quite full – boats were rafting up 3 deep so we decided to see if we could make it to the last bridge/lock at South Mills. We got there just in time for the bridge opening and stopped for the night on the bulkhead wall in between the bridge and lock! Trapped like rats! And it got cold that night – I was showing 38F on the outside thermometer but there was some frost on the grass and bimini the next morning.

  Anchored between the South Mills bridge and lock.  

 Second day in the Dismal Swamp - it was beautiful!

  How Whit does the Dismal

     

   How Gracie does the Dismal - resting
  

   On guard.

We finished up the Dismal Swamp the next day and anchored Sunday night just outside of Elizabeth City, VA. Another very cold night at anchor – down to about 34F! The next day we moved from the anchorage over to the bulkhead right at downtown Elizabeth City.

   

Today (Tuesday October, 20^th) we leave to cross the Albemarle Sound. This will be a short day because we need to stage our passage through the Alligator River in one long day because there is not really any good place to anchor and get ashore with Gracie. So we are headed to the Alligator River Marina at the north end of the river.