We woke up and impulsive Jeff started the engine and....ready to go! Yikes, Neala had to scurry around getting all those layers on. Really? Well, she noticed that Jeff was in the cockpit in full foulies....hmmmm, is this the Erie Canal? At least the sun was shining today. And, yes, it was another beautiful morning, but oh so crisp.
Jeff and Neala in full foulies....sure didn't think we'd still be
wearing these in NC! Pretty sky, though, I guess we can't ask for
everything!
We motored for a bit, went under a couple bridges, then came to our first swing bridge, the Centerville Turnpike Swing Bridge.
This is what it looks like for a long way through the Virginia Cut. Beautiful reflections and lots of shoreline stumps that we hope are not anywhere near our prop!
Not all of the waterway looks like the above. There were lots of open spaces, too. We thought this was a interesting shot....a lone tree amid the shoreline grasses.
This was a cool tug we passed in the very narrow Currituck Sound channel. It was carrying a load of scrap metal. Although it appears to be a wider channel, the markers are quite close together and are not actually in it. Veering off to port or starboard means running aground!
More company trying to pass the tug at the same time. Close quarters, but the power boat reduced speed so we didn't rock all over which was helpful. Actually it's a recommended practice on the ICW.
One of many "snags" to avoid.
This is a 46 Beneteau that we were following until we noticed they were stopped! They had run aground on a shoal in the middle of the channel! Even though we were all following the markers, there are unexpected shoals that crop up from time to time. They waved us on and put up a sail to blow themselves off the shoal. We gingerly motored on ahead of them closely watching our depth sounder.
This is a narrow channel that we had to really navigate slowly due the depth on either side of the channel. We thought it was cool that the port side land was named Long Point - like the Canadian peninsula those of us from Lake Erie are accustomed to seeing on our way to Port Dover.
This is Currituck Sound. The ICW is quite wide here allowing for the 25 kt winds we encountered to heap up some following seas.
There appears to be some weather coming tomorrow and perhaps the next day that would prevent us from crossing Albermarle Sound comfortably, so we are currently docked at the Coinjock Marina in Coinjock, NC. And, yes, it is still cold! There are many other southbound cruisers here, too. BTW, Coinjock is an Indian work for the berries they used to pick in this area......most generally considered mulberries!
P.S. You may have noticed our new Spot Tracker at the top of the page. This allows you to locate and track our progress on a map.
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