We have travelled most of the 1200 miles of the intracoastal waterway which runs from Key West, FL to Norfolk, VA. While the waterway provides protection from the Atlantic, there are many areas where the wind and waves are a challenge. We have spent a few extra days in a couple of places, waiting for the winds to subside and waves to "lay down". We are making the most of extra days and while it is windy, the sun has been shining. We expect the next couple of weeks will bring us close to crossing our wake in NYC, depending on how the winds blow.
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| Norfolk is the city of Mermaids - Emilie B at Waterside Marina |
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| Travelling the ICW |
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| Tide swings are 6 feet in this area |
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| In some areas of the ICW, there are limited places to spend the night, this anchorage is adjacent to Camp LeJeune. Ended up with 12 boats, the one in green has gone aground, but will reposition once the tide comes up. The one in red ended up dragging its anchor and running into us in the night. Not fun for anyone, luckily no damage to either boat. |
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| Early morning departure from the anchorage so we can all get through a bridge with limited openings |
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| Passing by areas of Camp LeJeune - wondering how many boaters have an AM radio |
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| Love how the wisteria drapes everything in purple |
It was long, windy, wavy day on the Alligator River - all died down as the sun set at this beautiful anchorage. Happy we didn't have to watch out for any stray boats on this night :)
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| Sunset South Lake |
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| Early departure to make our way across the Albemarle Sound before the winds picked up again |
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| Coinjock, NC - famous for their 32 oz prime rib / we stayed 3 nights as the winds continued to blow |
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| Many of the channel markers are homes for falcons - this is one of the largest nests we've seen |
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| Entering our last lock - the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake VA |
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| Our 157th lock - the last one for us on this adventure |
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| Patrol boat outside of Norfolk Navy Shipyard |
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| Waterside Marina - Norfolk, VA |
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| Touring the USS Wisconsin - we had extra days in Norfolk, rented a car, visited with family and toured Yorktown and Portsmouth. Great area, steeped in history. |
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| Find Emilie B on the right and the draped ship on the left - look at the picture of Emilie B at the Waterside Marina and you can get a feel for how big these navy ships really are |
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| Kyra really likes getting on shore in her backpack carrier |
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| Another Norfolk mermaid |
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| Norfolk mural |
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| USS Wisconsin |
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| So many ships as we head out of Norfolk |
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| Monday morning rush-hour - hard to capture - container ship is going in reverse into their slip, blocking the channel (it is a big channel, but so is a container ship), sailboats, powerboats and another tug all waited for the container ship to clear the channel |
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| Submarine |
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| Aircraft Carrier |
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| Regatta Point in Deltaville, VA - not too much happening in the area, but a great place to wait out gale warnings in the Chesapeake Bay |
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| Progress has felt a little slow with all the weather delays but enjoying discovering this part of the Atlantic coast. |
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| It is hard to believe that we have travelled this path over the past 332 days |
