New Sights Along A Familiar Path

Hampton to Great Bridge  |  4.7 Hours  |  22 Miles  

Darkness transitioned to dawn as we prepared to get underway this morning. As we unplugged the power cord and readied our docklines, a light snow fell and accumulated on our fender covers. That was a definite sign that we needed to get further south. We eased off the dock and exited the Hampton River  with a careful watch to avoid obstacles of all sizes -- from a floating log to the inbound bulk carrier Odysseas 1. We calculated the speed we needed to maintain to reach the 11:30 lock opening in Great Bridge and were happy to have a few extra minutes available for unforeseen delays.

Although pretty to look at, the darkness and heavy cloud cover conspired to limit photo opportunities. The best I could do with my phone were silhouette shots of the Navy aircraft carriers and cargo terminal cranes. Soon the cloud cover burned off and we were able to enjoy more detailed looks at the Navy ships moored along the banks of the Elizabeth River, including the USNS Oscar V. Peterson (formerly known as the USNS Harvey Milk). 

Outbound cargo ship traffic was heavy. As we waited for the ZIM Mount Rainier to cross us word came over the VHF radio that all three of the railroad bridges ahead of us were preparing to close. Yes, all the possible unforeseen delays were now in play.

We continued south and were passed by a departing wind farm support vessel. Components sat loaded on ships awaiting transport to Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project which is currently on hold while Dominion battles the federal government's project suspension in court. Norfolk's Waterside district is always a favorite spot. Across the water, Portsmouth's Christmas tree had me thinking of how the Christmas Eve festivities of just a week ago feel so distant.

The USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) sat at the BAE Systems Norfolk Shipyard while getting repairs. Good news -- as the Beltline Railroad Bridge came into view, it was in the up position. Similarly, the No. 5 and No. 7 railroad bridges had also reopened by the time we arrived. Luck was on our side today and we pulled into the Great Bridge Lock right at 11:30. We had the whole chamber to ourselves as we rose about six inches before exiting and making the noon opening of the Great Bridge Bridge. 

We made a quick U-turn and eased onto the City of Chesapeake's free dock in front of the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways Museum. As a bonus this year, we were able to plug into power. (Yay! We will have heat tonight without running the generator.) The day had turned out to be quite pleasant so we went for a little walk and found the museum was open. In all our prior stops here, the museum had always been closed. Our docent Carol led us through the eight galleries with interactive displays highlighting life in 18th Century Virginia. Of note, December 9 was the 250th anniversary of the crucial Battle of Great Bridge in the Revolutionary War. Lord Dunmore's forces were crushed, ending British royal authority in Virginia and forcing the governor's evacuation. The major Patriot victory boosted morale and showcased the militia effectiveness, solidifying the Revolution's start in the South. 

Barry and I wish everyone a Happy New Year! We will celebrate at Boater's Midnight (9:00). As Auld Lang Syne plays (and fellow Wahoos instinctively sing the words to The Good Old Song) we will be asleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow as we cross into North Carolina and stage to cross Albemarle Sound on Friday. 

 

Leaving The Dock and Heading South

Deltaville to Hampton  |  6.5 Hours  |  42 Miles  

True to the forecast, the wind laid down overnight. It was a chilly, but not frigid, morning as we prepared for departure. At 6:55 we unplugged from shore power and by 7:05 we had exited our slip at Stingray Point Marina. As we made our way to bigger waters we took a good look at our home base for the past eight years. When we return in the spring, major renovations will have been done as floating docks will replace some of the aging fixed docks.

Our departure coincided perfectly with the morning's high tide. It is always reassuring to see dry piling above the water level and know that we have an extra foot of water to keep us afloat. The morning sky glowed bright orange as we exited Broad Creek and peered beyond Stingray Point to the east. The sun peeked above the horizon as I finished bringing in all of our fenders. One of my all-time favorite shots is of the sunrise (or sunset) alongside its reflection in the pilothouse windows.

A tighter view captured the elegant glowing peaks of the cloud bank. We set our course and headed south, settling into cruising mode. We were the only boat on the Chesapeake Bay except for a single northbound container ship. Our ride was smooth and the miles clicked away as we passed familiar sights. Before we knew it, we had turned into Hampton Roads where the wind picked up, gusting to 25 knots. The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse on the grounds of Fort Monroe heralded the final stretch for the day. The structure is looking a bit like North Carolina's Old Baldy these days as her normally brilliant white paint has been removed in preparation for a fresh coat.

Our only real excitement came in the final 100-feet of our trip as we met a tug pushing a large barge on our approach to the fuel dock at Bluewater Marina. After a slight diversion and delay, it passed and we eased ourselves onto the floating dock to end our first day of travel. We filled up our diesel tanks with 439 gallons and then turned on the heat. I settled into my favorite spot in the sun-warmed pilothouse and took a well-earned nap. The days and weeks leading up to our departure have been very busy. It is often said that getting off the dock is the most difficult part of cruising. I'll sleep to that.

In a Blink of a Crinkling Eye, We're Back to December

 

In a Blink of a Crinkling Eye, We're Back to December

Deltaville, VA   

Our seven months on land were busy and flew by. We traveled to some new areas and spent a lot of time with friends and family. Crossroads lounged for six weeks at the spa where she received some upgrades and scheduled maintenance. In a blink of an eye it was time to start preparing for our annual trip south. On December 1, I brought onboard the first car-load of provisions. Once everything was stowed away, that process was repeated two more times. Every nook and cranny is now occupied to full capacity. Barry and I spent Christmas with both my Virginia and North Carolina families. We returned from North Carolina yesterday afternoon, quickly took down the Christmas decorations at our house, and packed the last load of "stuff" into the car.

When we hit the highway this morning it was a pleasant 64 degrees, but we knew that number would drop quickly and drastically. By mid afternoon a stiff breeze was blowing through the marina and the temperature was indeed dropping. We moved my car to long-term storage and covered it. Crossroads sat ready for departure as we walked back to her. The sea grasses against a bright blue sky cast a false impression of a warm summer day. The dinner-time weather report captured the true scene -- wind chill of 35 degrees, wind gusts of 42 knots. As I write this while watching the UVA women's basketball win over SMU, the wind is howling and the dock lines are squeaking under tension. The forecast says the wind will lay down overnight. We hope that's the case and we'll leave the dock early tomorrow morning and head south. 

Thank you for following along with us on our journey. As always, we welcome your questions and comments.