What more could one ask for? We are on our way south so I will save you from my complaining as I know it will fall on deaf ears. Very grateful to be out here enjoying whatever comes our way……oh and yes we had plenty of that too.
We anchored last night at Hospital Point in Norfolk. It is a desired anchorage for most headed south prior to entering the ICW. The lights that were on display across from the anchorage at Waterside were just beautiful and we were amazed to only find four or five other boats whom had already dropped anchor. It is a good spot to grab a nights sleep before getting an early wake up the next morning to start your jaunt down towards Coinjock, North Carolina. As many will recall from prior years we first have to deal with a few bridges and the Great Bridge locks before we get into estimating the time of arrival at our desired anchorage at Camden Point.
We had to share the “road” with the Pacific Star as it was coming headed north and we of course….south. Lucky for him he has all of his entourage to help keep him in the straight and narrow. We have stern and bow thrusters that will keep us out of his wake. Glad to pass him here in the shipyard area than having to pass him in some other tight or skinny area.
Paradigm Shift passes under the Gilmerton Bridge with feet to spare and then we are off to the Great Bridge locks. They open for southbound traffic at twenty minutes after the hour and try to get all boats in and tied up before they close the gates and allow the water to fall two feet. We were the second vessel in the lock and we were tied easily and awaited the drop. When we began our cap rail was at the height of the concrete wall and you can tell from the pictures below that we dropped as the tender had told us about two feet before they opened the gates for us to continue south. Once out of the lock we would wait till the hour for the opening of the Great Bridge bridge. On the other side of the bridge is Atlantic Yacht Basin, a favorite fuel stop for most headed south and a free dock for tying up for a night or two. We would bypass all of the “goodies” this year and keep moving as we are full of fuel and food and just want to get to Camden Point. Most of the fellow sailors or boaters who were behind us would pull over at AYB. There was one or two that stayed with us but as we got to Coinjock, one passed with ease.
It has been a grey day with rain, fog, and of course cooler temps but for the most part, with the exception being the lock, we have stayed nice and warm and even dry. We reached Camden Point at 4:00 and settled in for our afternoon snack and puppy time. Yes…..the boys want some attention.
