OK – We left Stingray Point Marina, Deltaville, Virginia at 7:30am on Oct. 15, with Lenny & Debbie and Dick & Anna waving us off. It was 52* and a beautiful morning. We had a nice motorsail. Sailed into Norfolk that afternoon, past the Navy base. There were three aircraft carriers in port, as well as many other Navy ships, plus a Carnival cruise ship (figure that one out!!). The USS Wisconsin is permanently tied up in downtown Norfolk, for touring. We anchored at a place called Hospital Point, and appropriately named because we were right in front of the hospital. We had downtown Norfolk on one side of the water and Portsmouth on the other. I will try to post a picture of sunrise from this location. You all are going to get tired of my sunset and sunrise pictures!

The second day out was a slow one. We had to wait for several bridges to open and a lock. The bridges have very strict opening times, as does the lock. Many boats left the anchorage before we did this particular morning – apparently they didn’t realize the first bridge would not open until after rush hour at 9:00, because they were all jammed up at the bridge when we got there at 8:45. After waiting for several bridges we then had to wait for over an hour for the lock. There were so many boats going south that we had to wait for the third lock through before our turn, and then we only dropped down 9 inches! Hardly worth the trouble!!! Not quite like locking through on the Tennessee River.

Third day out – we crossed over the N.C. line at 11:35am.