24 October 2010

We accomplished a lot this week. It started in Annapolis and ended in Belhaven, NC.

We went to Solomons Island, getting about 3hrs of motorsailing in before stopping at the dock of Jack and Kathy Locher. Mill Creek is very nice.

From there we went Deltaville, VA. Jackson Creek. It was a 9hr trip with nearly 4hrs of sailing. A very small, narrow entrance but a nice anchorage.

Tuesday we got to Hampton, VA. 3hrs of motorsailing out of a 7hr day. No place to anchor so we got a slip at a marina for 2 nights. 2nd day was forecast to be rainy so we did some laundry, got fuel and water and then took down wind instruments and lights off the top of the mast. We went to the Virginia Air and Space Center. Not the Smithsonian but very good.

Then: a big day. We went across Hampton Roads to Norfolk. Very busy habor and river. This area makes NYC look like the CT River. Many Navy warships and restricted areas. Passed by freighters and barges before getting into the ICW and going under a number of 65ft bridges including one we touched with our antenna. We also went through Great Bridge Locks. Neat. We ended up anchoring just over the boarder into North Carolina. 

Friday we had an engine belt for cooling break. Changed it while underway before we stopped at Coinjock for fuel. Crossed Albemarle Sound into the Alligator River.

Saturday was a long canal run with a 64ft bridge at the end of it. We got under it just touching it with the antenna a bit. Thursday we touched a so-called 65ft bridge and Saturday we had less trouble with a 64ft bridge. We still don't know what we can trust or how tall our mast really is.

Another day of good weather forecast and we hope to be to Beaufort before a rainy period sets in.