Short and Sweet -- Before the Storm

Our original plan for today had us going from Coinjock NC to Cape Charles, VA on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay just north of Norfolk. That, however, was soon revised after reviewing both the current Bay conditions and the forecast for the next 24 hours. We are expecting a major storm front to come through area later tonight and into Tuesday morning and thought that it would be safer (and certainly more comfortable) to ride that out in a nice secure marina like Tidewater Yacht Basin in Portsmouth, VA.

Coming into the Norfolk - Portsmouth harbor is always interesting as it is filled with a large military presence including US Navy Warships, an extensive Coast Guard station, an Air Base, and all manner of commercial vessels, tugs and barges.

But today was a first as we approached the harbor and were hailed by a Coast Guard cutter who said they were escorting a 590 foot LPG (liquid petroleum gas) tanker and that we had to "stand down" and be "shadowed" by a patrol boat as we passed. Not just any patrol boat but one with a guard on the bow standing behind a rather intimidating machine gun! Guess they didn't want anyone messing with a tanker full of explosive gas.

While that experience was certainly one for the memory bank, today was also a significnat milestone in our trip. We have now officially completed the designated Intracoastal Waterway at mile marker "zero" in Norfolk, VA. While we have traveled 900 miles since leaving Cocoa last week we still have another 545 miles to go before reaching our final destination in Essex, CT.

We shall see what the winds and waves tomorrow morning bring before deciding if we make way for Annapolis or not.