We untethered early this morning in order to make the 1:30 lock opening. On the way the generator kicked in long enough for us to make coffee, which was good because there were four boats ahead of us, and we waited a good while before getting our position in the lock. Lock operations were smoother this time, and the lock operator was quite the character - he treated us to a short conch concert... The ride up into Norfolk was uneventful, and we were snugly tied up in the Waterside Marina by 1 pm. Downtown is a short walk, and the weather was fine until a short while ago, though the thunderstorm seems to have gone around us.
This is our thirteenth marina, and they have run the gamut from mega funky (Lambs in Elizabeth City) to kind of posh (Lightkeepers Marina in North Myrtle Beach) . This one is under performing - the WiFi does not work and there is no laundry as advertised. But the location is excellent. Our next slip neighbor is named “Realty”, so we cannot be far astray!
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
In the Dismal Swamp
A bit more about Lamb’s Marina: it was right off the highway into Elizabeth City, but tucked back so far off the entry to the Dismal Swamp on the water side, it would be easy to miss. The marina store offered the usual collection of candy, snacks, beverages, and random stuff, but the attached restaurant was closed. To the left of the dock where we tied up was an RV parking area where a half dozen or so disheveled “homesteads” with beat up pick up trucks were parked. The other boats in the marina were a motley collection of junkers for sale or ragged live aboards. The building with the toilets and showers offered a large lounge with couches and an uninteresting collection of books and dvds. The bathrooms were worn and clean enough. The motion-activated towel machine bore a water-stained magic marker sign scotch-taped to the front: Do Not Use to Dry Your Body.
We awoke to a steady rain that had begun in the middle of the night. In order to time our arrival at the first lock at the southern end of the Dismal Swamp for the 1:30 opening, we did not leave Lambs Marina until 10:30. We arrived at the lock a bit early, though the lock keeper opened the lock before 1:30 as we were the only vessel traveling either north or south. Once in the lock, we waited for a half hour while the lock keeper struggled to get the lock to close. It was still raining steadily 😂.
The northern lock gates finally opened and we motored slowly up the several miles to the visitors center where we had to “raft up” to another boat, an unusual way to tie up for the night. We have had little contact with our tethermates and will hope they do not want to leave before us in the morning. Turns out the generator stopped working again, so we could not use the stove, but the rain did let up enough for us to use the grill, so we enjoyed a fine meal of sirloin steak and asparagus!
Off tomorrow morning for a relatively short trip to Norfolk, VA, and hopefully a relief from the rain!
We awoke to a steady rain that had begun in the middle of the night. In order to time our arrival at the first lock at the southern end of the Dismal Swamp for the 1:30 opening, we did not leave Lambs Marina until 10:30. We arrived at the lock a bit early, though the lock keeper opened the lock before 1:30 as we were the only vessel traveling either north or south. Once in the lock, we waited for a half hour while the lock keeper struggled to get the lock to close. It was still raining steadily 😂.
The northern lock gates finally opened and we motored slowly up the several miles to the visitors center where we had to “raft up” to another boat, an unusual way to tie up for the night. We have had little contact with our tethermates and will hope they do not want to leave before us in the morning. Turns out the generator stopped working again, so we could not use the stove, but the rain did let up enough for us to use the grill, so we enjoyed a fine meal of sirloin steak and asparagus!
Off tomorrow morning for a relatively short trip to Norfolk, VA, and hopefully a relief from the rain!
Monday, April 23, 2018
To Elizabeth City
Actually left our funky Aligator River Marina at 7 am and slogged up to Elizabeth City by lunch time. It was a rough ride across the Albemarle Sound, though the new chart plotter tracking feature with the auto pilot were a great help. We are tucked away in an even funkier marina, Lambs Marina, a ways outside of Elizabeth City. We had time to give Finally a good exterior cleaning and for Gordon to fix the generator again - hopefully for long enough to make it through the Dismal Swamp where we will have no marina power - and for showers and laundry. The marina manager, Bill originally from Newfoundland, a real character, drove us to the Food Lion and the ABC store for provisions.
Enjoyed an excellent dinner at a real NC restaurant (marinated rib eye steaks, NC barbecue platter, chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, slaw, and cucumber salad.) Made a successful foray to the Dollar General next door for a new bucket and miscellaneous little stuff.
Finished off the evening with the fourth episode of Collateral on Netflix.
Enjoyed an excellent dinner at a real NC restaurant (marinated rib eye steaks, NC barbecue platter, chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, slaw, and cucumber salad.) Made a successful foray to the Dollar General next door for a new bucket and miscellaneous little stuff.
Finished off the evening with the fourth episode of Collateral on Netflix.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Rough Ride This Morning
Not sure why this video will not play... but the experience was somewhat like riding a bucking bronco.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)