Day 2 - Norfolk, VA to Coinjock, NC

Following a beautiful day yesterday traversing the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk, VA, this morning we awoke to cloudy, rainy skies and lower temps. Not a great day for boating, but not a complete washout either. So, as planned, we dropped our lines promptly at the scheduled 8:00 am departure and staring working our way toward Coinjock North Carolina (more on that later).

Norfolk is home to a huge naval base, marine operations center and gigantic repair yard. We past all manner of military ships at dock -- from small patrol craft, to destroyers, to massive aircraft carriers. It causes you pause (and pride) when you see the USA's naval might up close and personal.

As is the case every year at this time, there is a parade of pleasure boats moving south for the winter. Big mega yachts, large cruisers, sailboats, and the occasional "what the hell is that" boat? While I always enjoy the boating eye candy along the route, I sometimes find (well, often find) the slower moving vessels a little frustrating. There are some common well known "rules of the road" for faster boats (me) passing slower boats (most everyone else), but unless everyone plays by the same rules of overtaking, slowing down, and active radio communication, it can be most annoying. But, what me worry -- we're not that in that big of a hurry anyway!

As part of today's rainy travel we had to navigate 4 separate low bridge openings and pass through the Great Bridge Lock. These openings do not occur "on demand" so you either sit and wait if you arrive too early or try to precisely time the speed and distance to match -- today, we did a little bit of both. Regardless, while only a distance of 50 miles from Norfolk to Coinjock, it is a day of fits and starts that takes almost 5 hours.

Now, about Coinjock. Wedged in a narrow canal between Currituck Sound and the North River is a long 1,000 foot face dock marina and restaurant that due to its location, is an almost "must stop" for fuel, food and a chance to mingle with fellow transient boaters -- mainly because you are stacked in really tight with each other with your anchor bow pulpit overhangs the next boats aft deck. But the real star of the Coinjock show is the famous Coinjock Restaurant's prime rib offered in either 16 or 32 ounce portions. Not exactly a heart healthy meal, but it's what you do when you're in Coinjock!

Unfortunately, we may get a chance to spend two nights here this year if the current weather forecast holds for tonight and tomorrow. The National Weather Service has posted a gale force wind warning overnight and into tomorrow. That means winds between 39 and 54 miles per hour!! And the path to our next destination takes us across three of the notoriously nasty bodies of water -- Albemarle Sound, Pamlico Sound and the Neuse River (Rachel's "favorite"). Not to mention, there is a bridge on the Alligator River that we have to have opened which won't operate in winds of excess of 34 mph -- and there is no alternative route around that. But more on that in tomorrows update.

For now, I've got to go see if I have enough Pepcid AC in the medicine cabinet for tonights dinner.

A rainy day on the ICW

Crossing Currituck Sound

Stacked in at Great Bridge Lock

The Admiral handling the lines --- in the rain!

Endless Summer tightly docked among "friends"

Coinjock Marina and Restaurant -- a "must" stop

What will tomorrow bring???