TUESDAY JUNE 22ND

Early morning at the Alligator River Marina.

The 3 guys walking into the store in the photo heard our engines firing up as they came out of the gas station and wandered over to check things out. You can see the Oddysea to the left of the gas station.



We left shortly after sunrise and it is already hot and steamy out. We had to cross the big water of the Albemarle Sound so wanted to leave early while the seas are calm. They generally pick up as the day wears on and we didn’t want to deal with. The sound is around 13 miles wide so it can whip up some good waves.














Ross reports that the water temperature is 86 degrees. What little breeze we had when we started out, died. It became dead calm and water like glass. You could see the color of the markers from a great distance as they reflected in the water.

You may have to click on the photo and enlarge it to see all the fish traps. They were everywhere! As far as the eye could see. With the water being as calm as glass, they really stood out.

We noticed that the landscape had changed again. The grasses along the shoreline were more of a cattail type than salt marsh. And there were trees growing at the waterline. We figured the water must be fresh. Which would also explain why we hadn’t seen any dolphins or pelicans.

Had to laugh as we saw these guys checking their traps. They had 3 hairy helpers. The one with his back to us in the photo was checking out what they brought up in the trap. Looks like a good size fish. We’re guessing they get an occasional treat.

This picture clearly shows Virginia on the left side of the marker and North Carolina on the right!! (ha-ha) We have entered our 14th state since leaving Minnesota.





We went through a number of swing and lift bridges today so had to time things as they only open on the top of the hour or half hour. It is too hot to sit for long and wait, so we tried to arrive at the bridge with a minimum time of waiting. We also had a lock to pass through today, which seemed very odd. It’s been a long time since we’ve encountered a lock. This lock’s purpose is to control the water on the down-bound side of the lock, which is fresh water.

It was a scenic trip until just before Norfolk, Virginia. But at this point it was an assault to our senses! Noise, smells and activity everywhere!

The Norfolk Navy Shipyard is here.

There was the sound of metal on metal. Beeping sounds. Cranes running. Helicopters flying over. Grinding and screeching sounds. Industrial smells. Smoke. You name it.

This crane was unloading coal.



















We came the closest to these three ships being worked on. Two of them were in dry dock.

This is the HSV SWIFT. It’s an Australian tri-maran being leased by the Navy for testing new military technology. It has a wave piercing; aluminum hull and can travel 53 miles per hour and has a 4000 mile range.

This is the USS MAHAN DDG-72. It’s a destroyer and its homeport is right here in Norfolk. Its motto is:  Built to Fight!






It was a very long, very hot day. But we made it to Portsmouth where we will stop for a few days. Very glad to have air conditioning on the boat and pizza delivery close by!