A Good Day!!!!!

SHIP'S LOG:

This morning I listened to the weather on the radio, read it on three different sites online, and as crappy as it was supposedly going to be, I decided to leave Willoughby Bay and make for the ICW. I figured that if it was really bad, I would anchor off Hospital Point, the start of the ICW.


From 9- noon, I would have said that the weather people(that means NOAA) were right in their predictions. I had to get the anchor up by motoring ahead, hauling in the rode, motoring ahead a little more, bring in more rode, and again and again, until I got the whole deal on board. It was not a lot of fun in that wind. But the wind was the key as I got out of Willoughby Bay and headed south under Jib and Mizzen. Passing the Newport news shipyard, I went by some incredible big naval vessels, including a couple of carriers. You just can't imagine just how big these ships are. Thank goodness they were not moving at the time. They were simply impressive.

When I got to Hospital Point, the wind had not really died but shifted to its favorite position on this trip, right on the nose. So it was sails down and motor on and into the ICW. Initially it was very disappointing. It smelled like Northern New Jersey by the refineries and both shores had docks and wharves in various states of disrepair. After awhile however, the land turned more "pastoral" and under developed and it became more like I expected the ICW to be. It was actually quite lovely but I had to be careful not to wander from the center of the channel less I go aground.

I had to do the hurry up and wait at two bridges, waiting for them to open. At one I was joined by two military rubber boats armed to the teeth with soldiers for what purpose I don't know. The strangest thing is the lock at Great Bridge which does not lift you up or down but rather is intended to keep the salt water of the Chesapeake out of the ICW. One side of the lock has rubber bumpers and the other side is steel and concrete. The rubber side requires you to do your own tie-off while in the lock, the "hard side" has helpers. Nothing really much happens. You go in, they close the lock door bind you, then they open the lock door in front of you and you leave. I am not sure how effective the whole process is as the water flowing by my boat as I sit dock south of the lock is toward the lock!

There are two free docking areas on either side of the Great Bridge. The one north was "filled" with boats. There would have been room for more but everyone was spread along the dock with generous spacing which, if kept to a reasonable amount would have allowed several more boats to dock there . . .like me! So I tied up on the south side . . .the low class neighborhood. Heck, when you close your eyes, its all the same.

One the south dock was a couple from Texas in a Has Christan 38. Mounted on the bowsprit was a Canadian Goose Decoy. When I ask the lady on board its purpose, she said, "It keeps the elephants from walking on the deck!" Obviously she has been sailing much too long!

I really have no idea where I am going tomorrow except south. Or even if I am going tomorrow. I'll just have to wait and see. It ia hot and humid and I have no schedule!