The outlook was unsettled when the time came to leave Beaufort so we decided to go up "inside" through the Intracoastal. We had settled on going via the Pamlico Sound just inside the barrier islands to minimise the number of low bridges we had to get under but at the last minute a couple of guys who had fuelled us said don't go that way - you are certain to get stuck due to silting up. Going under a 64' bridge with a 63'6" mast was really scary but we had not expected the water to rise by 2' as we went North (there's no tide but wind & rainfall make a difference). There's not always a gauge but a couple of bridges later a 65' bridge had only 63'6" showing - it would have been better not to have known! Turning back would have meant retracing our steps for 200nm & then waiting for better weather offshore so we crept under reconciling ourselves to the fact that we might shear off the masthead light (I'd already turned the radio aerial upside down). Approaching Norfolk we had to negotiate a lock which seemed strange as there was no matching lock to the South, & then after 3 days we were in Virginia. Norfolk is the home of the US Navy & scene of the first of the battles for independence (we lost).
I visited the USS Wisconsin, an awesome 1944 battleship in preservation after 56 years service, while Christene got some retail therapy. We we're finally on the doorstep to Chesapeake Bay & do not expect to see the Atlantic Ocean for another month.
Love to all from Peter & Christene
