Departure day is here and the weather is cooperating at least partly. The winds will be light and on the nose most of the way so we will be motoring, but that's ok.
We are heading to the Dismal Swamp Canal to transit to Elizabeth City, NC. But, the last lock opening is at 1530 which is a race for us to get there and if we are delayed at the opening Gilmerton Bridge, which is frequent, we can't make it to the lock. So the plan is to anchor in Norfolk and head to the canal tomorrow.
We're off and heading south. Its very nice to depart with no wind as we have to take all the dock lines off and take them with us to use in New Bern and later in Florida. With no wind, the boat doesn't get pinned to the dock after the lines are removed. It was an easy departure.
A brisk 52 degrees but sunny and the boat cockpit will warm up with the sun shining.
Three hours later we are passing the Norfolk Naval Base piers. Here's Harry Truman, CVN-75. The HW Bush, CVN-77 was also in port.
Marine traffic was heavier than we are used to with it being the middle of October. We've been departing in January the last 7 years when there is almost no traffic. Lots of other cruisers heading south.
