Sheet Music in Norfolk; Bum's Rest in Dismal Swamp

Sheet Music is at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk tonight. Bum's Rest is staying in the Dismal Swamp.

We left Coinjock at 7 a.m. Winds were from the Northeast and calm, and we were soon motorsailing with just the jib out. Winds increased to 23 knots in Coinjock Bay and through Currituck Sound. Water was splashing over the bow onto the dodger window! Soon we were in the North Landing River.

Seas were 2 ft. over the starboard beam and it was rough. It certainly was a far cry from the Dismal Swamp and Chuck was having a blast.

At 9:25 a.m., we crossed the Virginia state line. As we crossed Statute Mile 35, leaving the big water, the winds died down to 10 knots and it was like a lazy day on the river.

We saw lots of sunken boats. Wanderer's Rest called us on the radio and said they liked our boat name. The are moving a friend's trawler from Stuart to Philadelphia on a six-week trip.

We passed a fuel barge that was filling up on our way to the next bridge.

We arrived at the Centerville Turnpike Bridge about five minutes after the noon opening and had to wait for 25 minutes for the next opening. We were waiting with S/V Shining Star and talked to them as we circled around. The bridge tender called us at 12:30 p.m. and told us he was waiting for the fuel barge to arrive before opening the bridge. Fifteen long minutes later, the barge arrived and we followed him through the bridge.


Then we pushed on to get through to Great Bridge, only to wait again for the barge to go through the lock alone.

A big motoryacht, Lady Barbara, offered for us to tie up to them. The gentlemen were so nice. They were from Erie, Pa., and go to Trump Marina twice a year for a few days on their way to/from Florida.

The lock opened for us at 2 p.m. and four sailboats and four motorboats went in. There's a 2.7 foot difference between Albemarle Sound and Chesapeake Bay, so the gates closed, the water dropped, and the gates opened to let us proceed. The next bridge was 2.8 miles and opened on the hour, so we had plenty of time to get there for the 3 p.m. opening. The Dominion Blvd. Steel Bridge is a double bascule. Then there was a 65 ft. bridge and a double bascule, which closed 3:30-5 p.m. for rush hour, so again we were off to the races to get there, which we did.

There are lots of railroad bridges in Norfolk.

We saw a scrap yard for big boats.













At 4:10 p.m., we arrived at Waterside Marina. It's right where the action is. We can hear music from the boat.

We are still waiting for Felicia Smith to deliver her baby. Poor girl has been in labor since 11:30 a.m. yesterday and is only 1 cm dialated, so they don't expect her to deliver until tomorrow. Her brother, Neil, came to Sheet Music to visit for a couple of hours. It was good to see him. We're looking forward to his and Julie Probst's wedding next month.

We saw Red Head, a boat that was at Coinjock with us. It looks like an old military boat that was made into a cruiser. They are here at Waterside too.

I noticed that the sail cover is torn on our main sail now. Guess we'll have to get out the old rescue tape. We'll send it out to be cleaned at the end of the season and get a Captain's Navy sail cover to match the new jib. Luckily, it's in-mast furling, so it's only a small triangle of suncover needed.

The name of the sailboat next to us is Varmint. I took this picture for Wayne. He calls Sailor "Varmint" all the time.

I made Caesar salad and steamed U-peel shrimp for dinner.

Tomorrow we hope to meet up with Bum's Rest in Little Creek.

More photos from today:

The Great Bridge before the lock.

Inside the lock.                                                                

The Great Bridge before the Great Lock.