May 21st through Wed May 24th

PICS:

New friends on Monday Sal, Bruce and David, they helped us dock

Coinjock Marina with bulkhead

Sunset on South Lake before Albemarle Sound




Sat:
We left the anchorage of South Lake( not really a lake) at 8:00am with the Veritas for company.

The wind was out of the W on the Albemarle Sound which meant on our beam (side). At 15-25
with 2-4 ft waves and occassionaly some over 5 feet to say it was uncomfortable is putting it mildly. We let Veritas know that we were turning around. Turning was no fun and heading back into it wasn't very nice either. But we got to the sanctuary of the anchorage and tucked snuggly in toward the trees on the West side which protected us nicely from the wind. Ian and France called later and reported that we had made a good decision considering the conditions. We knew we had done the right thing but that didn't make it any easier to stay behind. We are anxious to get this water behind us. We relaxed as best we could, made dinner and went to bed.

Sunday:
We got up early ...........by 6:20 we were underway. Weather report said the wind was out of the N 5-10 with 1-2 foot waves. That would have been perfect. However, it was more like wind out of the NE 10-15 with 2-4 footers. Very bouncy but it was on the bow and so not so bad. The weather here must be very difficult to forecast. We crossed the Albemarle sound over into the Virginia cut today. We've taken the Virginia Cut as apposed to the Dismal Swamp. We passed through Coinjock, a quaint little town with real houses on the banks, with swing sets, and dogs barking. Only 1 sign so far that the condo/trophy house virus has bitten.
I watched an Osprey glide in front of the bow and rise up about 20 feet over the water. Then it picked its target, dove toward the water and expertly stopped just short of the surface, clutched a fish and was off. I never thought to grab the camera. Grrrrrr... It's 4:44 as I write this and we are racing for a bridge or we'll have to wait in the channel for an hour. We have 16 minutes.We have arrived in Great Bridge Va!!. Just as the bridge opens and you go through, there is a bulkhead directly on your left and its a free dock. No electric or any Marina facilities but a great place were you can walk to reprovision, get laundry done, get off the boat and take a walk with the dog, grab an ice cream etc. As we pull in we see France and Ian on another boat. When they see us they, and the men on the other boat come over to help us dock. Turns out to be Ians friend from a long time ago. So Bruce, Sal and David gave us the tour of their lovely boat and also some ice from their ice machine! A lovely chat ensued.

We've passed Troublesome Point, Gibbs Point, Walke Point, Green Point, Back Creek,Walnut Island Creek and The Launch...etc. And we're still not in RI!!! :)

Monday: This morning we all walked to the little cafe for breakfast. It's right by the launderomat. Great place but the change machine is broken. A walk to the bank will take care of that. We got together with Joanne and Toby on the "Moon River". What a gorgeous 46 ft trawler that is to.

Tuesday: Gary changed the oil in the boat. I took my bike down and rode back and forth to the store and the laundromat. Good to be moving. Another BBQ on the bulkhead tonight and we're more than ready to move on. Who was it that said," After being anywhere for 3 days the anchor starts to go sour". How true that is to.

Wednesday: Gary and I got up about 7:30 and I wanted to walk into town one last time before getting underway. We stopped and got a cup of tea and coffee respectively at 7-11. Then headed back to the boat. The preparations to get back on the "road" again have begun but not before Eddie got himself into trouble with one of the local Canadian Geese families. Eddie started his morning off by clearing the bulkhead of geese for a member of the local Marine VFW or some such organization. The guy was quite pleased and all the geese flew promtly in the channel babies of all sizes and all! Eddie was quite proud. However, just before we were getting ready to pull the lines and catch the lock, Eddie chased the wrong Canadian goose. This big male and his aggressive "wife" opened their wings and put their heads close to the ground and chased Eddie away from the boat. Now he couldn't get back to the boat because they were standing their ground. All of their goslings quite safe. Well now Eddie starts a run for it to get past them and they chased him right off the dock into the drink! Gary (who was just recovering from a pulled muscle in his neck from diving with Willy in Oriental) runs to Eddie's aide, pulls him frantically to shore and reinjured his neck. Hopefully not as bad. I'm just recovering from a pinched nerve in my left leg from sitting in one spot too long while underway (I guess). I went to Eddie's aide and slipped, taking a hit on my left shin. A jar of cold pickles substituted for ice. Whew, what a pair. Anyway we made it into the lock just in time. The bridge opened on our stern side and the boats started coming just like a parade. So we had to get into the lock first to guarantee that it didn't fill up, and we get left behind to wait an hour. We are antsy enough to get going.

Gary is up on the bridge and notices this guy in another boat and thinks he recognizes him. So he gets on the radio and hails him. They move up to another channel. Come to find out they worked together 3 years ago and Dave R. has since retired. Funny who you run into on the water.

We arrived at Hospital Point and dropped the anchor. I had just showered and was getting ready for my 5.00 steak dinner at the Holiday Inn here in Norfolk. We are anchored right across from where we were last year at Waterside Marina, also a great place. That's where we met Moose, and the people on "Jade", the little pirate on the 31st of Oct, and Gary saved a bike with our grappling hook. After dinghying(sp?) into the marina we hooked up with "Moon River" and "Twin Spirits". Then we met a new couple. Dolly and Joe on "Gypsy"and they had Herman a Marine Electrician with them. The whole group walked together to the Holiday Inn chatting and getting either aquainted or reaquainted. I had forgotten the camera so Laurie let me take the pictures if I carried the camera, which I did. Pictures will be long in coming but we have them. The meal was very good(steak, baked beans and cole slaw) and there was a live band that played classic rock. They were very good also. This deal starts at 5 and ENDS at 9:30. Then a younger crowd shuffles in and the music changes and all the baby boomers leave. Oh and between 5 and 6 some drinks are a buck. Gary exclaimed, "You can't beat that with a stick!!" We left after an evening of dancing and yelling at each other (cause of the loud music) and got home by 9:30.

Keep us in your prayers, your in ours
XXOO
Victoria's Perspective