Norfolk area and start of the ICW

Ok, now that I am caught up on posting photos, I am way behind on posting words. So for the time being, words will wait and photos will suffice.

Briefly: we stopped for the night in Hampton, VA. Lovely little town, great calm anchorage. We will probably stop there on our way back next year. On our way in past the Thimble Lighthouse, we were politely asked by the US Navy to move to the side of the channel so a submarine could pass. We obliged.

Then we went down Hampton Roads to Norfolk and got a free dock at the city of Portsmouth for the night. Had a fantastic sail from Hampton to Portsmouth.

The next day we took a ferry across the Elizabeth River to Norfolk the next day so we could do laundry. Misunderstood our friend Siri and ended up walking 200 miles in the 900 degree heat to the laundromat. Super friendly person working there, showed her this blog and answered all sorts of questions. Took an Uber back to the waterfront.

Incidentally, it has been obscenely hot for about a week. High 90s and super humid. Ellen is melting. Moss falls asleep every afternoon (in lieu of falling apart, which mercifully, has not happened much at all). I just soldier on.

Then we headed down the ICW to start our trip down the Dismal Swamp route. It is lovely and calm and a nice treat so far. Anchored at the lock for the night (last lock through was before we got there). At low tide we were in 5' of water. Those who follow our anchoring-madness will be delighted to know that we set out about 35' of chain. The boat, not surprisingly, did not budge in the one knot of current and five knots of wind.

Locked through this morning and now we are staying at another free dock at the Visitors Center.

I'll probably leave the pictures in their current order and just get more organized in the next post.

Enjoy.