To Mile Zero? Well not quite.

Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Sun 20 May 2012 11:56
 

 

Our position is 36:43.216N 076:13.926W
 
12 miles to go on the ICW
 
Nothing about midway Marina was great but we were not inclined to make another early start. The weather forecasts did not encourage ambitious plans.(even Kay texted to say we might like to stay put, but in a marina with no beer?)  On sober reflection it was the complexity of the bridge opening times, as one approached Norfolk, that changed our ambition to reach mile zero, and settle for a stop 12 miles earlier at Atlantic Marina (the Atlantic is, literally and figuratively miles away)  A A needed fuel so we went over to Coinjock (our outfit did not do diesel or beer) to refuel before moving on.
What a grim day. It never stopped raining, the visibility was never better than poor with the cloud down to the deck all day. Quite early on  A A went on an agricultural adventure, escaping by unfurling the headsail in the stiff breeze to drive their head into deeper water. The wind had seriously reduced water depth in our part of the ICW
I ran the radar but it was little help. Another Adventure was a permanent feature just ahead, other vessels came and went ahead and astern, a ferry appeared out of the murk to port, gave one whistle turned to starboard, went behind, and disappeared into the murk, but only the lit markers are steel so the majority of the nav marks had no echo.
Travis and John did a good job of planning the bridge strategy, speeding up and slowing down as appropriate, so as not to hang around too long. I stopped doing paperwork when it all got too soggy. It was just a long wet haul to the marina. How do these places get away with it $1.75 per foot for what?
Travis cooked a super meal and after a sufficiency of red wine this cruising lark seems ok again.
 
 
 
                        
Refuelling at Coinjock                                                                My view for the day ( unless I was prepared to get wet)   
 
 
 
                
 
 
Pungo Ferry Bridge.                                                                           Moorglade follows Another Adventure through North Landing swing bridge.