Publish Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Location: Norfolk, VA to Deep Creek, VA
Coordinates: 36° 44.74′ N 76° 20.46′ W
What a day we had! First we awoke to the news that Barack Obama was still the President-Elect. After the 2000 election one can never be too sure. The three of us are thrilled, and incredibly hopeful he can continue to inspire the millions of Americans he engaged in his campaign to help navigate our country back to financial and compassionate strength.
Ayla marking Mile Zero of ICW in Norfolk
The weather was rainy and quite windy today, and we discussed for quite some time whether to move or not. The boat can easily handle the weather, but could we, along with the many firsts we would be dealing with this day. We decided to go for it, and take it in small steps. Our location in Norfolk marked mile zero for the beginning of the ICW (Intra-coastal Waterway). We decided to go just about ten miles, but these ten miles would have six bridges and our first lock to negotiate.
I finally felt competent enough to handle the radio to request bridge openings, and talk with tug and barge captains about passing etc. Ayla and Dave were quite patient with me as I required complete silence and several practices before talking on the radio. You do get the hang of it after while, but I didn’t want to sound like a complete newbie. All went well once I remembered to hail the bridges on channel 13 not 16, oops.
Tug Boat and Bridge I talked to on radio.
We had two ICW route options leaving Norfolk. Originally we were going to take what’s called the Virginia cut which is larger and deeper. However, after talking to one gentlemen on our docks and doing lots of reading, we decided to go the Dismal Swamp Canal which is steeped in history (but not great water depths).
I am very pleased to report that we successfully made it and are currently rafted to another trawler just inside the Deep Creek lock (no dock space, so we are tied up to another boat). We successfully navigated each challenge, and Dave was masterful handling the boat in steady 20-25 knot winds with gusts up to 35 knots. This can be challenging while trying to hold steady waiting for a bridge to open.
Ayla handling bow line in Deep Creek Canal.
Ayla was terrific handling the lines in the lock (in a steady rain), and felt a great sense of accomplishment. We may have only spent a total of two hours underway, but it felt like an entire day. However, we were all beaming while sipping a cup of hot apple cider and drying out after this adventure. Tomorrow we run the canal….