October 18-26, 2020 – Departing our long-time home marina at Herrington Harbour North, on Oct 18, we started our fall migration, joining for the first time the seasonal movement of boaters heading for warmer climes, many to Florida or beyond.
The West Marine in Deale was stocked to overflowing with shrinkwrap materials, and other winterizing supplies; pallets of pink and purple antifreeze (for freshwater systems, and raw-water cooling circuits) crowded the aisles.
Not for us!
It felt great to be underway, with a purpose, again. Our first jump was modest, down to Solomons Island to see our friends’ new boat. They were still in acquisition mode when we last visited, and now they are well on their way to gaining familiarity with the boat that will take them on their Loop when the time is right.
Doug and Susan returning past our Mill Creek anchorage after a day trip in their Bayliner 4788, Suz Inn.
Underway for 30 minutes by the time the sun is up
Then, taking advantage of terrific weather conditions for a week, we really pressed the miles, over the successive week, before finally pausing in Caroline Beach for two nights, before making a ‘pit-stop’ to refresh the bottom-paint on the boat. We took advantage of ‘first light’, the time before actual sunrise to lift the anchor and get underway, to offset the shortening day-length of the fall season.
After stopping at Hampton, VA, we headed out early in some mild fog past the Norfolk Naval Base. We passed one of the carriers as the flag was being raised, and we could hear the loudspeakers playing ‘To the Colors’; Ben stood at attention.
Morning flag ceremonyAs we passed by the civilian part of the Norfolk port, this ship was being assisted by two tugs as she got underway.Hmmm, seems we’re part of something here ! We were the last ones to squeeze into the chamber for the last morning lift of the Great Bridge Lock. Otherwise we’d have had to wait another hour.After stopping in Coinjock, the next morning was pretty foggy. Visibility at first a mile, later dropping to about 1/2 mile. These two boats followed us out under the bridge into the Albemarle Sound.Fish nets beside the channel. Don’t go there !The previous week the Alligator River Swing Bridge was broken down for a few days. We held our breath this morning until it was open wide enough to follow another cruiser through the opening.This beautiful classic 1930s yacht passed us shortly after we lifted anchor. Even the modern satellite domes are color-matched to its canvas.These trawlers are lined up next to the RE Mayo Seafood Company. You can buy fresh seafood there, but we didn’t stop this time.This trawler, near Morehead City, is in a whole different class than the ones up in Hobucken.As we neared Camp Lejeune, we began to see quite a lot of military activity.This calm scene at Mile Hammock Bay belied the hours and hours of night-time flight operations by V-22 Ospreys and other helos that we would be entertained by tonight. The next day the boat was filthy, either from engine exhaust or from the dirt they stirred up.When we got to Carolina Beach, we took a mooring ball for a few nights, and took our dinghy ashore, to walk two blocks over to the ocean side, where we enjoyed strolling the beach.Being taken out for a bottom tune-up.
We moved ashore into an AirBnB apartment for a few days, while work was being done, and we will wait for the windy conditions from tropical storm Zeta to abate, before continuing our journey south.
