Norfolk to Onancock Virginia

Garth & Zeke 

Zeke loved these fountains

Finally made it out of Norfolk. The rendezvous was over on Tuesday, we got some great information on the route and also on "boats". We rented a car on Wednesday, picked up some oil for the oil change production and spent about three hours trying to find a vet for his majesty. He woke up Wednesday morning with an eye infection and we wanted to get it dealt with before leaving. We arrived in Onancock about 3 ish and walked throughout the town/village. A few antique stores, a gourmet store which seems out of place here and a few restaurants. Not a lot going on, but I have to say the people are very nice and friendly. Not sure where we are headed tomorrow - North??

More Navy ships on this side of Norfolk

This one was on its way in

Lighthouse at the Norfolk entrance

Spring flowers

Entering Onancock

The Liars Bench, Onancock Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Navy presence is everywhere.

 The Loopers are arriving en mass. The rendezvous starts tomorrow and we or at least I am looking forward to hearing about the sections that are coming up.  The weather is supposed to be miserable for the next four days so it'll be good to be inside and not out on the waterways.
At present we are being entertained by a group right outside our door. Unfortunately it is a little chilly so I don't think they are getting the crowd they anticipated. Tomorrow there is a beer fest in the park right beside us. Always something going on.

Will resume the blog next week.

Norfolk, Virginia

A Norfolk Mermaid

Another one

Wow, what a nice little city. We walked around the downtown yesterday, Toronto has the Moose and Norfolk has the Mermaid. The city is clean and prides itself on that. Kind of like Toronto used to be.  Zeke is in heaven as there are fountain spouts right outside the door and a green space. Lots of boats here have dogs but he is more interested in the fountain and playing ball.

Can you imagine trying to dock this vessel!!

Looks like inflatable runners on the side.

The little tug does all the work

Ready to move forward

Garth watched the show from the top of 

Algonquin.

Pictures from May 10th

Crossing the Coinjock River

Follow the leader 

This one is rusted open

Zeke is ready for the lock

Patiently waiting for the lock

The **##@$% Gilmerton Bridge

An old style bridge

Busy busy harbour

Huge navy base

Giant ships everywhere

Coinjock NC to Norfolk Virginia

I must say as much as I like North Carolina I was beginning to feel like it was never ending!  Although we only travelled 50 miles today it took from 7:45 until 2:30.  We did our first lock and it went very well - it was only about a 60 cm rise - no gushing torrent of water and no boats swaying- like the locks we did in France. We were aiming to get to the first bridge opening at 11 and we actually made pretty good time and caught the 10:30 opening but still we were limited to the 12 o'clock lock. It all went well until the Gilmerton Bridge.
 We arrived at 1:25 for the 1:30 opening but the bridge tender had to wait for a train to go through. The train came and went and still no opening, turns out another train was coming so we sat and waited forty five minutes for the train to go and the bridge to open. Not an easy task considering there were 4 of us and not very much space to float in.

Norfolk at first glance appeared pretty dismal with all the industry and barges then as we rounded the corner we saw all the navy ships and the next corner presented downtown. Looking forward to exploring tomorrow cause it seems like a very nice city. We are staying here for a week, attending the Loopers Rendezvous.

The Erie canal is closed and at this time not scheduled to open until the week of May 23rd. So there is no reason to rush!

Garth loves it!

Will post some more pics tomorrow of our travels today, the computer is not cooperating!

Alligator River Marina to Coinjock - still North Carolina

Woke up this morning and we had a newspaper on our deck -- I tell ya, that Shell station was a good stop! First time we have had a newspaper delivered to the door.

We crossed the Albemarle Sound, spent most of my time watching for crab pots - they were everywhere and it took both of us to spot them. I think the fishermen who use black floaters on the end of their pots are just asking for them to be run over!!

Checking the crab pots - what's left of them!

We entered the North Carolina Cut arriving in Coinjock about noon. Only about a three hour day but we wanted to stay here and get an early start into Norfolk tomorrow so that we can time the bridges and the lock. When I was in Fort Lauderdale a women in a bookstore told me we had to stay here and have their prime rib - it is of course world famous!! We are both looking forward to it.
Not a very exciting day!
Today we are at Mile 50, since Fort Lauderdale we have travelled 1065 miles - WOW!

Coinjock, North Carolina

Our last night in North Carolina, tomorrow we arrive in Norfolk, Virginia where we will be spending a week.

Alligator Pungo Canal to Alligator River Marina

The Captain hard at work!

All alone in the Alligator Pungo Canal

A cold and wet departure this morning, our first rain in a long time. Not pleasant but by 10:30 it had cleared and the sun came out.  We did not see any deer or bear, the only wildlife we saw was an eagle. Not as big as the eagles in Alaska but still impressive.  Dan and Judy stayed here a few weeks ago and we read on their blog that the food was ok in the restaurant so Garth and I tried it. The shell gas station/convenience store offered both casual booth dining or back room plastic table cloth dining. We choose the back room, the best fried chicken I have ever had ......simply delicious! It was served on plastic plates but the utensils were real! We meet two other couples in there who are on boats and one couple is finishing the loop tomorrow, the other couple still has to go all the way to Michigan.

Stressful day for Zeke!

100 miles to Norfolk, Virginia

You see everything on the waterway!

Our home for the night.