Meeting up with the Boat Parade awaiting a bridge opening in Portsmouth/Norfolk, VA.Rafted up at the Dismal Swamp Canal dock at the Visitor's Center.
Bobby backed the "Star" out of the slip Friday, 31 Oct, and we were underway to the Dismal Swamp Canal after waiting for the weather to depart. Our July canal transit was with one other boat. Not this time...it is like being in a small boat parade through the Portsmouth/ Norfolk bridges. Fall is the season to head south on the Intracoastal Waterway. In addition, recent bad weather kept boats holed up in place for three days. Vessels raft up across the canal at the Visitor's Center dock, on Saturday, four deep (12 total) as if attending a family reunion on the waterway. All of us synchronize watches for the end of daylight savings time in order to make the next day's first lock opening on time. Sunday, the parade of vessels meanders through the South Mill locks and into Elizabeth City. Even through it is November, we do see turtles on stumps at the edge of the waterway taking in the sunshine.
In the country/small town regions, you will be without cell phone/internet service most of the time. On Sundays, just about everything is closed, so think about anchoring out.
Due to the weather deteriorating to high winds/rain 3-6 Nov, we motor across a calm Albemarle Sound early Monday morning to hide out from the storm at Alligator River Marina, as it is not as exposed as Elizabeth City. By the time we are entering the marina, there are five of us in a conga line coming in one after the other keeping the dockmaster hopping. Early Tuesday morning, the wind gusts to 40 knots begin (early morning being the time something bad usually happens in the dark). Sometimes it is better not to be out in the backcountry wondering if the anchor will hold.
In the country/small town regions, you will be without cell phone/internet service most of the time. On Sundays, just about everything is closed, so think about anchoring out.
Due to the weather deteriorating to high winds/rain 3-6 Nov, we motor across a calm Albemarle Sound early Monday morning to hide out from the storm at Alligator River Marina, as it is not as exposed as Elizabeth City. By the time we are entering the marina, there are five of us in a conga line coming in one after the other keeping the dockmaster hopping. Early Tuesday morning, the wind gusts to 40 knots begin (early morning being the time something bad usually happens in the dark). Sometimes it is better not to be out in the backcountry wondering if the anchor will hold.
The Boat Pack heading out of the Dismal Swamp Canal - clogged up waiting for the South Mills bridge to open, and in the South Mills Locks (notice we stayed out of the way in the rear).
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