From the Alligator River in North Carolina, its two long days or 3 short days home with a stop in Elizabeth City. We got underway from our anchorage and, for the first time since leaving Fort Myers, there was rain in the forecast. We got our raingear ready and got to use it as one single heavy 20 minute shower passed over us, and with Murphy always present, it blew over us exactly as we were passing through the Alligator River Swing Bridge. Visibility was way down but the bridge operator timed our passing perfectly and we transited through in the pouring rain with no problems and no delays. Ten minutes on the other side of the bridge the sun was back out.
I read on the internet ICW website that there was a free dock north of the bridge in Elizabeth City. We checked it out and confirmed an ideal spot to tie up with great protection. The dock belongs to Jennette Brothers trucking firm who encourage boaters to tie up there for free in return for dining, and completing a survey form, at an Elizabeth City restaurant. You check in with the company in their office right at the dock. It was a 5 min walk to town. The only problem was positioning the boat to avoid hitting the tree limbs - and a cockpit full of leaves to clean up.
The next morning we were off early, 0600, to make the 0830 lock opening at South Mills in the ICW. With the Pasquotank River current against us at 1 kt, it was a real push. We arrived at 0835 and took our place as the 3rd sailboat entering the lock. That works in our favor as the inrushing water is most turbulent at the front.
From the South Mills Lock it is only a couple hours up to the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center and another great place to stop, especially if you haven't been to their nature center. In addition to the displays of wildlife inside, we got to see a mother deer and her children who hang out alongside the center.
The Dismal Swamp is not so dismal on a bright sunny day. Its one of the prettier sections of the ICW. Sue got this photo that looks like a magazine shot.
The Army Corps of Engineers is operating a dredge in the canal to deepen the shoaling portions. We passed the dredge north of the Visitor Center. At first it looked like he was blocking the channel and we saw a "stick" between him and the left shore right in our path. As we got close, we saw that there were two poles with red and green paint to denote the channel and there was just room to pass between the dredge and the red pole to his portside. No problem and we were on our way to the Deep Creek lock.
Soon we were up at Deep Creek lock and Rivah got to sightsee on deck as we passed through the lock. There is no turbulence when you are going down in the locks and we were soon on our way.
We had planned to stop and spend the night at Portsmouth since we were in no hurry but when we arrived there, the first basin was full of boats and all the docks in the second basin were taped and posted off-limits under construction. The one boat tied up appeared to be checking out the docks. We passed by and proceeded for home.
We kept motoring up the Elizabeth River in the light winds and sunny skies, up past the Navy Base and finally over the Hampton Roads bridge/tunnel, past Fort Monroe and into the Chesapeake.
As we entered the Chesapeake and turned to the northwest towards home, the wind came up at 16-18 kts from the east. Perfect sailing conditions. We sailed the final 4 hours home to Chisman Creek in ideal (if not a bit boisterous) conditions sailing at 7kts. We anchored in Chisman Creek for the night and pulled back into our home slip early the next morning before the wind came up.
It was a fairly quick trip home, only 18 days from Punta Gorda, even with the stops to visit friends and family along the way. We used a bit of fuel, about 80 gallons, motorsailing most of the way in the light winds. But not having to stop at night at a marina to plug into shore power for heat, we only spent $25 on marinas the whole trip home (one night on the mooring ball at St Augustine). And, we caught one Mahi-mahi which will provide a dinner for two, so that makes more than up for the mooring ball fee.
The boat performed exceptionally well for being in storage for over 2 years before we departed. We had only 3 noteworthy maintenance items: replacing the scupper hoses that we knew was an issue before departing; replacing the fresh water pump which was 15 yrs old, and refurbishing the washdown pump with new pump vanes ($13 in parts). Otherwise, all systems worked properly throughout the trip.
Back home now we have a long list of normal upkeep and maintenance tasks to keep us busy this sailing season.
I read on the internet ICW website that there was a free dock north of the bridge in Elizabeth City. We checked it out and confirmed an ideal spot to tie up with great protection. The dock belongs to Jennette Brothers trucking firm who encourage boaters to tie up there for free in return for dining, and completing a survey form, at an Elizabeth City restaurant. You check in with the company in their office right at the dock. It was a 5 min walk to town. The only problem was positioning the boat to avoid hitting the tree limbs - and a cockpit full of leaves to clean up.
The next morning we were off early, 0600, to make the 0830 lock opening at South Mills in the ICW. With the Pasquotank River current against us at 1 kt, it was a real push. We arrived at 0835 and took our place as the 3rd sailboat entering the lock. That works in our favor as the inrushing water is most turbulent at the front.From the South Mills Lock it is only a couple hours up to the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center and another great place to stop, especially if you haven't been to their nature center. In addition to the displays of wildlife inside, we got to see a mother deer and her children who hang out alongside the center.
The Dismal Swamp is not so dismal on a bright sunny day. Its one of the prettier sections of the ICW. Sue got this photo that looks like a magazine shot.
The Army Corps of Engineers is operating a dredge in the canal to deepen the shoaling portions. We passed the dredge north of the Visitor Center. At first it looked like he was blocking the channel and we saw a "stick" between him and the left shore right in our path. As we got close, we saw that there were two poles with red and green paint to denote the channel and there was just room to pass between the dredge and the red pole to his portside. No problem and we were on our way to the Deep Creek lock.
Soon we were up at Deep Creek lock and Rivah got to sightsee on deck as we passed through the lock. There is no turbulence when you are going down in the locks and we were soon on our way.
We had planned to stop and spend the night at Portsmouth since we were in no hurry but when we arrived there, the first basin was full of boats and all the docks in the second basin were taped and posted off-limits under construction. The one boat tied up appeared to be checking out the docks. We passed by and proceeded for home.
We kept motoring up the Elizabeth River in the light winds and sunny skies, up past the Navy Base and finally over the Hampton Roads bridge/tunnel, past Fort Monroe and into the Chesapeake.
As we entered the Chesapeake and turned to the northwest towards home, the wind came up at 16-18 kts from the east. Perfect sailing conditions. We sailed the final 4 hours home to Chisman Creek in ideal (if not a bit boisterous) conditions sailing at 7kts. We anchored in Chisman Creek for the night and pulled back into our home slip early the next morning before the wind came up.
It was a fairly quick trip home, only 18 days from Punta Gorda, even with the stops to visit friends and family along the way. We used a bit of fuel, about 80 gallons, motorsailing most of the way in the light winds. But not having to stop at night at a marina to plug into shore power for heat, we only spent $25 on marinas the whole trip home (one night on the mooring ball at St Augustine). And, we caught one Mahi-mahi which will provide a dinner for two, so that makes more than up for the mooring ball fee.
The boat performed exceptionally well for being in storage for over 2 years before we departed. We had only 3 noteworthy maintenance items: replacing the scupper hoses that we knew was an issue before departing; replacing the fresh water pump which was 15 yrs old, and refurbishing the washdown pump with new pump vanes ($13 in parts). Otherwise, all systems worked properly throughout the trip.
Back home now we have a long list of normal upkeep and maintenance tasks to keep us busy this sailing season.
