Deltaville to Great Bridge | 9.3 Hours | 61 Miles
As we prepared to turn off the lights last night and get some sleep, neither Barry nor I could think of anything else that we needed to do. We were more than prepared for our morning departure. We awoke to the sound of rain on the cabin top, but the shower had moved through by the time Barry went out to disconnect the power cord at dawn's first light. I brought the docklines onboard and we were out of our slip right at 7:00. We left the festively decorated sailboat, symbolic of winter, in our wake and enjoyed one final look at the Stingray Point Lighthouse as we exited the marina. The temperature was pleasant with no need for multiple layers. The wind was calm and so was the water. These conditions were perfect for one thing ...
Fog! Pea soup fog had settled over the area. Channel markers remained hidden until we were nearly upon them. A barely-visible fishing boat followed us out of Broad Creek and into the Rappahannock River. A short time later, we made the turn south into the Chesapeake Bay. Again, the water was disturbed by nary a ripple. All things being equal, I'd choose warm and calm over visibility.
On a few occasions the sun teased us with its veiled appearance before ultimately fading back into the haze. The neutral gray combination of sea and sky provided a perfect background for photos. The bright colors of my sweatshirt and flag really popped. The first four hours of our trip were comparable to a run on a treadmill. I knew we were making miles, but the scenery never changed. Shortly after crossing the Hampton Roads Tunnel, we were contacted over the radio by the cargo ship Seaspan Loncomilla which had left port and was headed to sea. We watched on our chart plotter as we passed each other on the beam.
Only a couple hundred yards away, all we saw was gray fog. What we should have seen was a bit more impressive. As we continued south on the Elizabeth River, the fog finally began to lift. (The water in the river was warmer than that in the Bay making for less favorable fog conditions.) Boats and cranes began to emerge from their gray cloak.
As we approached Norfolk, the familiar sight of Navy ships returned. The Portsmouth Christmas tree stood over by the waterfront. The vibrant colors of the Welcome to Norfolk mural glowed at Waterside. We made quick passage through the commercial district and bridges. As we neared the Great Bridge Lock, a small, dreamy patch of fog hovered just above the water.
We timed the lock perfectly and pulled directly into the chamber for the 3:30 passage. The eight inch drop was drama-free and we exited with only a short wait for the 4:00 bridge opening. A newly-erected sign welcomed us to Chesapeake. We pulled into Atlantic Yacht Basin and filled Crossroads with diesel. At $3.65 a gallon, their price is the best in the area. (I'll let you do the math.) Interesting how the pump does not show your running dollar total. What you don't see doesn't hurt as much? Even with their high-speed pump, it took half an hour to fill our two tanks. Across the way, the still water displayed a perfect reflection of the Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation building where we elected to tie up at their free dock for the night. There is no electrical service, but it is warm enough that we'll be comfortable onboard while saving a few dollars.
A heavy rain began to fall as I prepared a comforting dinner of chili and cornbread to celebrate both the end of a good first day and New Year's Eve. I doubt we make it to midnight for the official celebration. Our plan is to get underway tomorrow at first light and knock out another big chunk of miles. Mother Nature will cast the deciding vote in the morning. We're hoping for no more fog.
In response to my Mom's request, below are a few interior pictures of Crossroads while clean and ready to go. She is a very comfortable home away from home for the two of us.
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