Anchored at Pungo Ferry bridge; Alligator River Tomorrow

I made banana-nut pancakes for breakfast before we readying the boat for launch. We left Norfolk at 8:25 a.m., expecting to make the Gilmerton Bridge opening at 9:30 a.m. That was to be the first opening of the day and it would open every hour thereafter. So if you miss it, you have to wait another hour. It was 5.8 miles from our marina and we go 6-6.5 miles an hour under motor, so we should have arrived with time to spare.

We reset the odometer to Mile Zero, which is at red lighted buoy 36 in Norfolk. We watched the Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Bridge, which is “almost always opened” close for a long train to go over it. Damn. Not a good way to start the day. There were about 15 boats waiting with us. I guess the bridge tender at Gilmerton Bridge works with the RR bridge tender, because he let us all through when we arrived at 9:40. Things were looking up!

I read online reports of cruisers having overheated engines and clogged strainers in the Dismal Swamp this week, (thanks to the Waterway Guide updates and my friend, Mike Loch, thanks Mike!) and there was lots of bantering on Channel 16 about it, so we opted to go through the Virginia Cut. We did see two sailboats head to the Dismal Swamp, but the rest of us chose the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal Route to the Virginia Cut.

About 15 boats all lined up on the walls of the Great Bridge Lock. I held the bowline and the skipper held the stern line while the water lowered a foot and a half. Then the gates opened and we cruised on through. There was another sailboat called “Sheet Music,” but they were forward in the line and we never did catch up to get a good look. We did see they were a blue hull though.

Chuck wanted to anchor tonight and not push it to Coinjock, so we’ll try to stay there on the way home. The wind picked up a little before the last bridge for the day, so it was a little harder to “hang” waiting for the bridge opening because the wind was trying to push us sideways. We were near the back of the “line” so it wasn’t too bad though.

We went under 13 bridges today!

We’re anchor at marker 42 just south of the Pungo Ferry Bridge, where the water is 4 ft. at low tide. There isn’t much tide differential. We only draw 30” with the swing keel up, so we’re good. There are two other boats anchored here. One gentleman rowed his homemade dinghy over to speak with us. He’s on a beautiful sailboat that he also built and is moving it to Oriental for the winter.  The other is a retired couple. They have a miniature poodle onboard. Too bad Jazzy didn’t get to meet her.

Chuck rowed around the anchorage, while I read. I made panko pan-fried chicken cutlets, mashed potatoes, corn and salad for dinner.

Tomorrow: Alligator River

Waiting for the railroad bridge to open.

Finally! We could go through. Now the race to Gilmerton Bridge.

The turnoff to the Dismal Swamp Canal. 

Entering the Great Bridge Lock.

Leaving the lock after being lowered a foot and a half.

Tonight's anchorage.