After 8 months of preparations on the boat and on the skipper, we finally shoved off today for Florida.
9 hrs later we had made it through the busy Norfolk waters, 8 bridges and 1 lock (getting through the restricted bridge 45mins before it closes for rush hour traffic) and arrived for our first night enroute at Great Bridge, VA. Norfolk Naval Base was full with 4 carriers in port.
It was a dreary, rainy day but there were a couple special events that make boating so enjoyable. As we approached the Hampton Roads / James River narrows, with a max ebbing current flowing at 3kts, we spotted a whale (probably a right whale) feeding along the edge of the channel where the water upwells from the 45ft deep channel to the 15ft shallows. We saw the whale blow several times and were able to get one photo. This is the first whale we have ever seen inside the Chesapeake in 25yrs of boating.
The other rewarding event was that, in spite of the rainy conditions, we were able to sail for several hours down the bay at 5-6kts with steady westerly winds. It was a chilly and damp ride but not so bad inside our full enclosure which blocks the wind and rain. Rivah is enjoying her trip, as long as Sue is alongside keeping her warm.
Tomorrow it is off to Coinjock, NC, as the trip continues. Supposed to rain all day - but temp in the 60s.
9 hrs later we had made it through the busy Norfolk waters, 8 bridges and 1 lock (getting through the restricted bridge 45mins before it closes for rush hour traffic) and arrived for our first night enroute at Great Bridge, VA. Norfolk Naval Base was full with 4 carriers in port.
It was a dreary, rainy day but there were a couple special events that make boating so enjoyable. As we approached the Hampton Roads / James River narrows, with a max ebbing current flowing at 3kts, we spotted a whale (probably a right whale) feeding along the edge of the channel where the water upwells from the 45ft deep channel to the 15ft shallows. We saw the whale blow several times and were able to get one photo. This is the first whale we have ever seen inside the Chesapeake in 25yrs of boating.
The other rewarding event was that, in spite of the rainy conditions, we were able to sail for several hours down the bay at 5-6kts with steady westerly winds. It was a chilly and damp ride but not so bad inside our full enclosure which blocks the wind and rain. Rivah is enjoying her trip, as long as Sue is alongside keeping her warm.
Tomorrow it is off to Coinjock, NC, as the trip continues. Supposed to rain all day - but temp in the 60s.
