We enter the Intracoastal!!

Yesterday, Nov. 13th, we left Willoughby Bay, in Norfolk, Va., to head for the entrance of the Intracoastal Waterway. As we made our way through Norfolk's sea of navy ships, our gps went dead. We think it was due to the military. Our tv did REALLY wierd stuff while we were anchored in Willoughby Bay. So I, as first mate, had to get our laptop powered up. We have navigation software loaded onto it. That, along with our chart, got us by until the gps came back online.

We then crossed under three bridges, two lift bridges that are along railroads, and a drawbridge. The railroad bridges are timed openings. The drawbridge will open on request, except during rush hours. After the bridges, we made a starboard(right)turn, to enter the Intracoastal Waterway, via the Dismal Swamp Canal(more on the canal later).

At the entrance to the canal, you must pass through Deep Creek Lock. Again, there are timed openings. We waited with two other boats for the 11am opening. Once the gate is opened, you tie up to the wall of the lock, and wait for it to fill. We waited for a last minute, late arrival, so there were four of us total...three along one wall, one along the other. The lock tender, Robert, is very friendly, as is his dog, U-turn(yes). Once the lock is full, and you are at the height of the water ahead of you, Robert opens the gate at the other end of the lock. He then tells the boats to hover, while he jumps in his truck, and drives a mile down the road to open the drawbridge for us.

Scott and I skipped the bridge yesterday, and tied up to a free pier immediately after the lock. We'd heard about a good Mexican restaurant closeby, and we love Mexican food, so we stopped. When we called Robert, to ask specifically how to get to our dinner destination, he offered to give us a ride after his last opening. We happily took him up on the offer, as it was raining cats and dogs! Once 4pm came around, the rain had mostly subsided, so we walked over to the lock house, to get our ride. There was a large catamaran in the lock, and since he was the only one there, Robert was letting him use the hose to fill his water tanks. We found out the George and Pat planned to tie up for the night just on the other side of the drawbridge, right next to La Familia...so we hitched a ride on their boat!

La Familia was nice, a good chance to get off of the boat for a bit, and enjoy some margaritas. We walked across the street to the Food Lion for a few things, then walked back to our boat. Robert had loaned us a dvd, so we watched that before turning in. Last night was probably the most quite night we've ever had onboard. There are no currents in the canal, no fisherman or pleasure boats going by, so no wakes, and even the wind doesn't affect the water here. It was dead still and quiet - a good night's sleep!

Check out our photos for the day(Norfold military stuff, bridges and the lock)here.