Obsession anchored in Hospital Cove waiting for an early morning call from Purdy Suite that the Kady Krogan in front of him was vacating a free dock in Portsmouth.
When we left Hampton, VA we knew we were going to hunker down in Portsmouth for a day or so to wait for gale force winds and heavy rain to pass
We were at a free (for 24 hours) dock for 48 hours. Free meant just that-no amenities. Just easy access to a small town with a Farmers’ Market, a small movie theater and a Ferry to take us across the river to Norfolk.
Obsession was docked where the red boat is. The blue boat is the ferry to Norfolk.
We enjoyed the movie “A Star is Born” at the renovated Commodore Dinner Theater on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
The next day we hopped aboard the Ferry to Norfolk, stretched our legs walking around Waterside and enjoyed The Patriots Game on a big screen tv while chowing down on ribs and a beer.
Monday was the perfect day to head down the ICW (Virginia. Through and under many bridges to Coinjock, NC and a prime rib dinner.
FIrst Bridge-ALL CLEAR!
Second Bridge -ALL CLEAR
Third Bridge (Gilmerton Bridge) -TROUBLED WATERS. We had to wait for 45 minutes for 3 trains.
More Bridges-ALL CLEAR
LOCKS (Great Bridge and Locks)-ALL CLEAR
It was like a parade. The Boats that had been sitting out the bad weather were moving as fast as they could wanting to get down the Virginia Cut portion of the ICW ASAP.
For me it was a beautiful and exciting trip.
Coinjock Marina was something to behold with all boats literally parked along side the river, sometimes rafted 3 deep. Excellent and courteous dockhands worked their way down the docks, over the maze of boats to help arriving boats tie up.
Dinner at Coinjock Marina means prime rib and meeting other cruisers headed in the same direction, for same and sometimes different reasons. Trawlers, cruisers, momohulls, catamarans. It is a moving parade of boats.
When we left the next morning it was foggy and cold. Mostly ground or what you might call swamp fog. An eerie experience. We were happy to be in the middle of a parade.
Finally, the fog lifted and the narrow waterway opened up and we skirted across the Albemarle Sound to the Alligator River Marina.
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Docking at the Alligator River Marina was an experience-thankfully the Best Catalina 42s’ Cavalry arrived, armed and ready to help Obsession into the “slip” between poles.
It was a treat to arrive at a destination before the dinner hour and be able to relax a bit. We did just that, and prepared for another bridge opening experience and a motor sail down the Alligator-Pungo River Canal and up to Belhaven. After an early start we were stalled for 2 hours waiting for the Alligator Swing Bridge to be repaired.
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
We all anchored in Belhaven for the night and said a temporary good bye to Half-Baked and Purdy Suite before they headed to Oriental. Obsession chose to go to Washington, NC to sit out the storm and visit with nephew Kenny Tysor. Gale force winds and periods of rain are predicted. And since we arrived at a fairly early hour we took a walk along the beautiful town dock boardwalk and in town. A few nice restaurants, a bakery and lots of antique shops. The harbormaster told us that during Florence the water was over the boardwalk.
From here we will travel through Goose Creek (to avoid Pamlico Sound) to Oriental and then Beaufort, NC. (Pronounced BO-FORT)
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Let me tell ya ‘bout
Our life on Obsession
And the friends we have made
And the places we have been
And this thing called “CRUISING”
It’s been 2 months since August 20 when we were in Cuttyhunk enjoying a last Raw Bar and meeting the first of many Catalina 42 friends, Steve and Deanne on Outbound.
A month later (September 20) we had traveled all the way down Long Island Sound, through NYC, and halfway down the Jersey Coast to Atlantic City. I call it the city with lights all night. So Obsession added to the brightness of the night.
October 20 we are in Hampton, VA preparing to actually enter the ICW. We’ve come a long way baby!
Hampton is a welcoming harbor for transient boaters/cruisers. We also met up with high school friend and classmate Toby Barrett and his wife Rachel for a delicious Greek Dinner. Not to mention the provisioning trip Toby facilitated.
Let me tell ya ‘bout
The sunrise and the sunset
And the quaint harbor towns
And the quiet peaceful coves
And this thing called “CRUISING”
A Purdy Suite sunrise in Solomon’s.
A serene and quiet sunset in Rhode River
:
AND A NORTH PACIFIC 43!
A ride around Jackson Creek revealed more beautiful homes, docks of crab pots, garages for boats and a unique office/job location.
When we search the Navionics app
We can find the way to go
Then the Windy app and the weather channel app
Make it easy to plan.
We have downloaded Navionics to our iPhones and iPad. It is a powerful tool, helping us navigate in tight areas. But our trusty Garmin 2010C is still getting us from place to place. It still provides reliable information in a familiar and easy to use format.
Windy and the weather channel are must haves also.
With Windy and the Weather Channel apps we were able to plan our “lay over” in Solomon’s at Spring Cove Marina for Hurricane Michael. Not to mention Hurricane Florence that we waited out in Port Washington a month earlier.
Let me tell ya ‘bout the sun and the clouds
And the wind and the rain
And the hurricanes we’ve sat out
And this thing called “CRUISING”
Waiting for Hurricane Michael at Spring Cove Marina in the Solomon’s wasn’t TOO bad. Until 1:00am when the wind changed direction, piped up to 40knots and the rain pounded the decks. All was bright and clear and bright enough for Dave S. to go up the mast of Half Baked.
Let me tell ya ‘bout the laughing and the crying,
And the planning and deciding
And each new destination
And this thing called “CRUISING”
LAUGHING:
Chuck showing off his musical talents on the “drill”
David and I trying to take a selfie while on a dinghy ride. Our new Mercury engine is making our “gunk holing” and exploring fun.
CRYING:
(No pics-I wonder why)
We may have shed a few tears though when we bid adieu to the 8hp 2 stroke Tohatsu outboard Engine when it but the dust in Annapolis, and when our pocketbook was hit with a major adjustment to pay for the new Mercury 8hp 4 stroke. We aren’t crying anymore!
When we raise the main and jib up high
And turn the engine key to “off”
We feel we’d like to sail away
And never look behind.
Sailing like this. A beam to broad reach, 15-20 knots of wind, favorable tide, 1-2 foot seas. Seeing the knot meter hit over 8 knots. This may have been our last day of sailing as we prepare to enter “The Big Ditch” THE ICW!
Let me tell ya ‘bout...
Let me tell ya ‘bout
Our life on Obsession
And the friends we have made
And the places we have been
And this thing called “CRUISING”
It’s been 2 months since August 20 when we were in Cuttyhunk enjoying a last Raw Bar and meeting the first of many Catalina 42 friends, Steve and Deanne on Outbound.
A month later (September 20) we had traveled all the way down Long Island Sound, through NYC, and halfway down the Jersey Coast to Atlantic City. I call it the city with lights all night. So Obsession added to the brightness of the night.
October 20 we are in Hampton, VA preparing to actually enter the ICW. We’ve come a long way baby!
Hampton is a welcoming harbor for transient boaters/cruisers. We also met up with high school friend and classmate Toby Barrett and his wife Rachel for a delicious Greek Dinner. Not to mention the provisioning trip Toby facilitated.
Let me tell ya ‘bout
The sunrise and the sunset
And the quaint harbor towns
And the quiet peaceful coves
And this thing called “CRUISING”
A Purdy Suite sunrise in Solomon’s.
A serene and quiet sunset in Rhode River
:
AND A NORTH PACIFIC 43!
A ride around Jackson Creek revealed more beautiful homes, docks of crab pots, garages for boats and a unique office/job location.
When we search the Navionics app
We can find the way to go
Then the Windy app and the weather channel app
Make it easy to plan.
We have downloaded Navionics to our iPhones and iPad. It is a powerful tool, helping us navigate in tight areas. But our trusty Garmin 2010C is still getting us from place to place. It still provides reliable information in a familiar and easy to use format.
Windy and the weather channel are must haves also.
With Windy and the Weather Channel apps we were able to plan our “lay over” in Solomon’s at Spring Cove Marina for Hurricane Michael. Not to mention Hurricane Florence that we waited out in Port Washington a month earlier.
Let me tell ya ‘bout the sun and the clouds
And the wind and the rain
And the hurricanes we’ve sat out
And this thing called “CRUISING”
Waiting for Hurricane Michael at Spring Cove Marina in the Solomon’s wasn’t TOO bad. Until 1:00am when the wind changed direction, piped up to 40knots and the rain pounded the decks. All was bright and clear and bright enough for Dave S. to go up the mast of Half Baked.
Let me tell ya ‘bout the laughing and the crying,
And the planning and deciding
And each new destination
And this thing called “CRUISING”
LAUGHING:
Chuck showing off his musical talents on the “drill”
David and I trying to take a selfie while on a dinghy ride. Our new Mercury engine is making our “gunk holing” and exploring fun.
CRYING:
(No pics-I wonder why)
We may have shed a few tears though when we bid adieu to the 8hp 2 stroke Tohatsu outboard Engine when it but the dust in Annapolis, and when our pocketbook was hit with a major adjustment to pay for the new Mercury 8hp 4 stroke. We aren’t crying anymore!
When we raise the main and jib up high
And turn the engine key to “off”
We feel we’d like to sail away
And never look behind.
Sailing like this. A beam to broad reach, 15-20 knots of wind, favorable tide, 1-2 foot seas. Seeing the knot meter hit over 8 knots. This may have been our last day of sailing as we prepare to enter “The Big Ditch” THE ICW!
Let me tell ya ‘bout...
