It was enjoyable to set the hook after a 33 hour run outside. Our night’s stay on anchor flanked by the ghost ships was beautiful.
Now we were crossing the lower portion of the Chesapeake Bay and taking the stern of crossing cargo ships.
Today’s route through Norfolk looked roughly like this.
Shortly after getting underway we enjoyed one of my breakfast favorites, “Bacon Hash & Eggs”.
Soon we were passing all the warships docked at Norfolk Naval Base.
After you pass the Navy base you come to the Portsmouth ship yard where you’ll find lots of large ocean going vessels in port for repairs or to unload their cargo. Tidewater marina is located here and it’s a popular stop for ICW cruisers.
A bit further south and we were at the official start of the ICW or mile marker 0.
We rounded a bend in the Elizabeth River and found that the Norfolk Southern Rail Road Bridge was currently in the down position. This meant doing circles while we waited and watched two separate trains go past. One train was leaving with what looked like a full load of coal. The other train appeared empty and inbound.
When we arrived at Top Rack Marina in Chesapeake, VA, we took on 292 gallons of diesel. We had last filled the diesel tanks in Warwick, RI. While we could have saved fuel by pulling back the throttles a bit, we have been making good time ever since we departed Warwick, RI. Warmer weather is in front of us.
Then we moved over from the diesel fill slip to our assigned slip for the night.
With provisions running a bit low, I used my Instacart app to buy groceries for the next week or so of our journey. Instacart grocery delivery is great and our shopper delivered our groceries right to our boat.
We struggled to find all the room in the refrigerator for the large order we placed.
Luckily I have a dometic AC/DC fridge/freezer combo that allows either of the two sides of the chest be either fridge or freezer. We quickly emptied everything from the freezer into a single side and raised the temp from 2 degrees F to 34 degrees F and moved whatever would not fit in the fridge in the newly created second refrigerator.
Tied to the slip with all our provisions put away, it was time for a great meal at the Amber Lantern Restaurant.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s leg to the Great Dismal Swamp!
MV Simple Life 