Mother Nature Is Best Observed From The Water

Great Bridge to Camden Point  |  6.9 Hours  |  42.5 Miles  

Happy New Year! Barry and I did not stay awake long enough last night to celebrate the arrival of 2023. Early to bed, early to rise. We were up in time to see Mother Nature usher in the new year with a dazzling display of light and elements. Little did we know at the time that the display would continue all day. As I untied the docklines the sky off our stern was glowing a bright orange with only a hint of hovering fog. From the bow, our dock at the Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation building and the Great Bridge bridge seamlessly met their reflection. The water served as a mirror to the land and sky.  

Our departure was quick and easy. A short distance downriver, a barge approached us from out of the thickening fog. It turned out that this barge was the only other vessel we would encounter all day. The sky shifted to pink hues as the sun rose above the horizon. The soft pink lighting, wispy fog, and reflections combined to form a fairytale background for our first bridge opening of the day at Centerville Turnpike. We arrived just prior to the 7:30 opening and called the bridge tender. He laughed and said he couldn't see us, but trusted that we were staged and ready for passage.

The fog continued to thicken as the sun rose up over the trees. The perfect reflections begged for double-takes as my mind tried to make sense out of what I was seeing. 

As we approached the North Landing Bridge, the sun had risen to the top of the tree canopy. The sunlight filtered through the fog and shown through with golden rays. Along the way at Marker 63, we crossed into North Carolina. Moments later the sky cleared as we exited into Currituck Sound. 

We could not have asked for better conditions to cross this body of open water. A half dozen eagles were spotted today -- most of them high is the trees, but this one close enough for a up-close portrait. The high sun gave our new solar panels a good test. Barry was pleased with the 550 watts generated by our new setup. The ripples of our wake were the water's only disturbance.

We have made this trip several times and feel very familiar with the turns and sights along the way. What does it mean, however, to have a favorite stump? As we exited the Currituck and neared Coinjock, I grabbed my phone (camera) and shouted, "There's my favorite stump!" This unique downed tree was the subject of a favorite photo taken last year (also in fog). Some people may respond with "Get A Life," but my argument is that life is pretty good when you come to know Mother Nature in this manner. The day passed quickly and at 1:30 we were pulling off the North River into our calm anchorage at Camden Point. By 2:00 we were settled and partaking in our celebratory New Year's beverages saved from last night. 

We did a few chores and I read a bit in the sunny pilothouse until the day faded into an orange glow accented by pink clouds. Tomorrow we'll work on the same schedule and make our way to the anchorage at Belhaven.