An Exciting Day

Since our last post we have traveled south towards out destination of Savannah. We stopped over in Oriental and Beaufort, both nice small quaint North Carolina port towns. Beaufort had the most charm with small historic homes that were owned by many a ship's captain. Blackbeard spent some time here. This section of the Atlantic is called the largest ship graveyard of the world because of the many moving shoals that have claimed many a ship. We actually ran aground ourselves. We were fortunate to have a rising tide and traveling with our friends Dun & Becky. We were able to run a line to their boat and have them pull us off. So that was a bit exciting for a while. We also passed through Camp LeJune and you could hear them doing artillery practice in the distance. The place was somewhat in a buzz. We could see them doing touch and go's with helicopters and an osprey. We could hear a navy aircraft carrier warning pleasure craft to stay a one mile distance as they were doing aircraft recovery maneuvers. The coast guard had a boat patrolling the waters and was helping another sailboat that had gone aground. 

After a long day of traveling about 70 miles we anchored out in a cove by the figure eight bridge, which connects to, where else, Figure Eight Island. Snacks, wine and dinner was the order for the night. Our guests the porposes came and gave us a welcoming show as did a local fisherman who came by to chat and even gave us some of his meager catch to cook and eat as an appetizer. It really can't get much better than this!

The Osprey in action

All set for dinner on the hook

Southward Bound

We left Elizabeth City rather early for a long day of cruising. We crossed Albemarle Sound just after sunrise. Albemarle Sound is long and shallow. Any winds can turn it up with steep close waves, so no wind is a blessing. We entered the Alligator River just after noon and made our way to Upper Dowry Creek. We arrived at our anchorage around 4:30 pm. It was a beautiful spot. The waters were calm with a light wind blowing from the west. Once we set anchor, trawlers and sailboats started coming in to rest for the night. We are fortunate to have a shallow draft so we are able to get closer to shore for more protection. As the sun set you could see the silhouetts of the tall masts from the sailboats in the distance. There were thirteen of us anchored out. Once the sun fell over the horizon you could see the twinkling anchor lights among the millions of stars. Dinner was made and the wine flowed. As we settled in for the night the heater was put on to low to get the chill out of the air. All the evening duties were done and into the v-berth we went. Once settled in you are lulled to sleep by the gentle waters lapping against the hull and after a good nights sleep you are ready for the next day. 

Plants take every opportunity to grow. This guy was growing out of the piling where we were docked in Elizabeth City. A spider took the opportunity to make his home there as well!

Sunrise before launching in the morning from Elizabeth City. 

The devil sisters in their 3-D garb

We want wine!!! Here we are, Becky, Dun and I, anchored out at Upper Dowry Creek. 

Out of the Swamp

Today we left the visitors center at 10:00 am for a short ride to the bascule bridge that would not open until 11:00am, which coincides with the lock opening so we can exit the Swamp. The trip down after the lock was very enjoyable and pretty. As we were entering Elizabeth City we were stopped by the Coast Guard for a boarding inspection. I always get a voluntary inspection by the Auxilary Coast Guard and all I had to do was point to my compliance sticker and they said I was good to go, so off we went. The docks at the city marina are free. No water or electric, but it is more convenient than anchoring out and having to dingy in. The town people are very welcoming and they even threw a group of us a welcoming party with food and drink. Now you can't beat that, free dock, food and drink. The winds may kick up tonight so we may have to stay another day. If this place is anything like the town in "Ground Hog Day" (and it sure looks like it) we may get another welcoming party! 

As we waited at the bridge we put our name on the fender wall along with some other passerbyers. Ours  is the small one second from the top.

This was the lock at the beginning of our entry. Notice the wall, we are about 8 feet below the top.

Here is a picture at the other lock down stream, notice we are at the top of the wall. Now they have to lower us.

Here we are riding down the River towards Elizabeth City. You really can't see it in the picture, but many of the trees have mistletoe growing in them.

The dismal Swamp

We left Hampton today for our trek down the dismal swamp. The "Ditch" as they call it was built by the Army Corp of Engineers as one of two routes for traveling the ICW. It is fairly shallow, about six feet depending on rainfall. It is approximately 10 feet higher that the entrance at Deep Creek so a lock is required to enter. It is straight and narrow, but is abundant with wild life and foliage. You can only travel at about 5 knots and passing other boats that are slower can be difficult at times. Tonight we are staying at the Virginia Dismal Swamp visitors center. Free dockage, but no power and we are rated together with about 15 other boats   Quite a flotilla of boats scurrying to get into limited space and trying to help each other in. If you want to get out early, fagadda bout it, it ain't gonna happen. 

Oh, yeah, we visited the Air and Space museum in Hampton!

Passing a battleship on the way to Dismal Swamp

She really is happy! That green stuff behind her is called Duckweed. They have been having an infestation of it at the lock in Deep Water. That is the lock wall. You have to hold yourself to the walls as they raise the water level.

This is the passage through the Dismal Swamp, called the Ditch. Fifty five miles of this!

Here we all are tied up at the wall at the visitors center. You can barely see us behind that big boat with the fly bridge. 

More to come.

Yorktown, VA

Well, we are into day five of our adventure and we have seen a few interesting things. The seas on the Chesapeake can get very steep and close since it is wide open and shallow. Our two days heading south east to Cape Charles and then west to Yorktown were very lumpy to say the least. 

We arrived in Yorktown yesterday and were fortunate to arrive on the weekend that they celebrate the battle of Yorktown. This was a pivotal point point in the Revolutionary War. We are staying here until tomorrow morning since there is so much to see and read. 

An interesting moonrise while in Cape Charles

Passing one of the big boys on the Chesapeake

Watching a cannon firing at the battlefield 

All set and ready to go

Well it is now Thursday and all our plans have been set in motion and we can actually start our cruise. The logistics can be time consuming and definitely keep the old gray matter working. We are traveling with Dun & Becky Smith so we have two boats. We trailered the boats to Urbanna, VA and launched them there on Tuesday. We set and loaded up the boats with provisions. The next morning Dun and I left early in the morning and drove to Savannah, GA with the trailers. We left both trailers and Dun's truck in Savannah and then drove back in my truck.. When we get back to Savannah by boat we will be leaving Illusions on the trailer until after Christmas and we will ride back with Dun and Becky in their truck back to Urbanna and we will then drive back to Connecticut from there. If Abbott and Costello were still alive they would have loved this skit. 

The ladies enjoyed their time on the boats without the captains. We had a strong feeling that we could have been gone a week and not missed! It seemed that everyone in town as well as in the marina knew Jess & Becky! I wouldn't be surprised if there is a big Bon Voyage party tomorrow.

All set in our slip

Crabs and Whiskey, life is good!

New adventure begins

The summer has drawn to a close and the leaves are beginning to fall. This year we have decided to start our journey early and do a fall trip. We are starting from Urbanna, VA to Savannah, Ga. We will be leaving Illusions in Geargia and then head back north for the holidays. 

With us life is an ever changing environment. We are downsizing further and have placed our condo on the market. So between trips we will be purging more of our belongings in perpetration of the sale. 

So for now stay tuned as we will be providing pictures and information on Urbanna to Savannah!