Did we ever tell you how much we prefer to sail on the ocean rather than the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway)?  On the ocean we wait for a good weather window, head out and keep a watch schedule.  No worries about keeping in the channel, running aground, traffic, radio chatter, and no bridges.  But the ICW route allows us to stop and visit with friends.  And to make progress south when there are no offshore weather windows.

Last post I wrote we had arrived in Norfolk where we tied to a dock in the Portsmouth ferry basin.  Our friends Steve, Heidi, and Addi came to visit.  What a joy to spend time with 4 year old Addi.  Oh yeah, Steve and Heidi too.

Heidi, Steve and Addi come aboard Persephone in Portsmouth, VA

Karen, Addi, Jerry

Then we headed north out of Portsmouth!  Yes, north.  We had word that our friend from St. Thomas, Kari, was flying in to visit her family near Deltaville.  With south winds we sailed north in the 90 degree temperature (our apples are NOT liking the heat).  Nice visit with Kari, her grandson Braxton and Kari’s Mom and Dad.  Another bonus – we stopped at the Deltaville Library and visited with another friend, Tom, who is a librarian there.  

 

Peaceful picture perfect anchor spot in Jackson Creek, Deltaville, VA.

Kari's Mom and Dad, Braxton, Kari

Kari, Braxton, Karen

The day after our visit in Deltaville was the day that the wind was coming from the north so off we head back to Portsmouth.  We were tight on the wind, heeled over to start our 40 mile jaunt (hold on apples!), going 8 knots before turning with the wind on the beam.   An overnight at “our spot” in Portsmouth before heading through Norfolk and the beginning of a series of railroad and vehicle bridges.   Thankfully, most of the vehicle bridges are now 65’ so we don’t have to call and wait for an opening.  Just one – the Gilmerton which has a railroad bridge right next to it on the south side.  The railroad bridge is usually open/up and only closes automatically when a train is coming.  Luckily, after waiting for the Gilmerton to open for us, the railroad bridge didn’t start to close until we were through both!  And listening to the vhf radio we hear that the railroad bridge was in the closed/down position for an hour.  Glad we made it through before that train!

Tied to the dock after the Great Bridge bridge. 

Next through the Great Bridge lock and the Great Bridge bridge (opens on the hour), the Centerville Bridge (broken for vehicle traffic but good for us!), the North Landing Bridge (had to anchor and wait an hour for an opening)…..see!   This is why we prefer the ocean route!  (But no weather window to do so.)

After crossing the Albemarle Sound we anchored in a protected spot (South Lake).  Here we waited while a low pressure system churned off the coast making the wind blow from the north at 25 knots gusting to 30.  Great for heading south but the next bridge, the Alligator River Bridge, is broken!  By Friday, after working on the bridge for 4 days, the bridge engineer scheduled a few openings, and the low pressure system churning off the coast was named Melissa.  Melissa is heading north and east – goodbye Melissa.

Two days of sunshine, warm weather, the smell of pine and little boat traffic to arrive in Oriental.  https://towndock.net/harborcam  A spot at the town dock was open so we pulled in, did 3 loads of laundry and went to the Bean for ice cream!  Lots of visiting here – so many friends we’ve made.  After dark we hear a knock on the hull – it’s Ann (she and Neville have a Cape Dory motor sailer).  She wants to know if we need anything and comes aboard for a visit and stories of her adventures as a single hander in Ireland and England.  Ah!  Nice to be back in Oriental!  We'll be here a few days before heading north.  Yes, back north 10 miles to Jerry and Donna's place on Broad Creek.

Happy Columbus Day

Karen and Jerry