To Tidewater Marina

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 21 Jun 2011 22:54
From Top Rack Marina VA to Tidewater Marina, Norfolk, Virginia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We only have to travel 5.8 nautical miles today to complete the ICW so we treated ourselves to a lie-in. The workings opposite just added to the sound of a certain someone's snoring, but he did get up quite a bit more upbeat this morning and cooked me boiled eggs. WOW.
 
 
 
 
 
Bear's knee is still very stiff but the nerve pain that has been giving him jip has settled a fair amount. At least he has a smile on his face this morning AND he managed to slowly do the ropes as we pulled out of this odd little marina at ten past eleven. This was a cheap place for fuel, easy access, free water and as there are no anchorages was the best deal we could find.
 
 
 
 
 
Despite entering an industrial area it was pleasing to see the allocation for the osprey continues
 
 
 
 
 
Our first bridge has been raised to over seventy feet, no problems for us then, except I had to wiggle around a tug and platform. Workmen were 'fiddling' around with something. Right on the bridge fenders was an osprey nest.
 
 
 
 
 
The next bridge we had read was an 'on request' but the lady said her next opening was at half past twelve, a wait of forty five minutes. Luckily this tug and massive platform wanted to go through so we were allowed to trot on after it. It only just fitted through with a few inches one side and scraping the other. We thanked the bridge lady profusely. She told us the next bridge had been taken down - so that’s it for bridge openings.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Next it was the Hunt sisters, Patricia J. Hunt and Hunt Girl, I was in my element
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For a girl who loves her men and machinery big, this was wonderful for me to be passing through working docks AND deep water
 
 
 
 
 
Chums and happy workmen who stopped to give us a salute and a cheery wave
 
 
 
 
 
The biggest crane we have ever seen - with a crane on top
 
 
 
 
A faithful old lady at the end of her Naval career and a brand new girl at the start of hers
 
 
 
 
 
A few surprises
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suddenly we went from a vast area owned by the US Navy to high rise hotels and apartments
 
 
 
 
 
 
And finally entering the Tide Water Marina at mile marker 0
 
 
In twenty four journeys, covering 889.78 nautical miles we have done the Intra Coastal Waterway from West Palm Beach, Florida. We have travelled through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina to Norfolk, Virginia. The tally for 'sailing on the spot' is seven to me and eleven to Bear - although it is fair to say I made him take the wheel to get us off a few times, so I guess we are about even. We are proud to say that although we are pleased to have Boat US insurance, we are chuffed not to have had to call them to drag us off the mud.
We celebrated with a late lunch in the marina bar, bought a loaf, settled up and had a game of backgammon. We were visited by Homeland Security who just wanted to say "Hi" and look at our passports. They had thought we had just arrived from International Waters, when we said no just down the road, they went off happily. "No guns". "No, I'd have shot him by now". "Oh".
We carefully looked at the weather - the window looks good for a gentle three day passage to New York, fingers crossed. Bear feels confident that once the girl is set up, it will be like any other 'at sea' journey that sees us sitting and keeping watch doing our normal four on four off shift system, we'll see.
 
 
 
 
Our last visitor - YUCK.
 
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT - THOROUGHLY ENJOYED