2022-06-12 Leaving the dock, travelling north, Harborfest show in Norfolk

We left the dock after our last packages came in on Monday.  Docks are sticky things - they are convenient, and sometimes hard to pull away from.  

Leaving dock.  Sojourn and What If still at dock.

We anchored for the night at the same anchorage as last year, where the snake tried to board the boat.   Luckily no snakes this time. 

Motoring up Alligator - Pungo canal to south end of the Alligator River

 Dean did some baking, while motoring in the canals.   

Deans cinnamon rolls are awesome.

Wee had a couple of good sails heading north.  We used our spinnaker, and tried out our new spinnaker sheet extender - which worked great.

Flying the chute with our new extender.  Sheets don't rub on lifelines now.

Doing 7.7 knots in 9.8 knots apparent wind flying the spinnaker.

We made it to Elizabeth City before noon, so we finally had time - with no Covid restrictions and could go through the Albemarle Museum.  The museum is free, and was interesting, but not very large.

Display of a Moth boat in the museum.

Museum of the Albemarle

After the museum, it was off to Big Boss Burrito's, a place we discovered last year, with huge burritos.

Our lunch/dinner stop in Elizabeth City

Big burrito - this was dinner and lunch

Dean opted for some good tacos

After one night in Elizabeth City, we continued north, with a typical motor up the Dismal Swamp.  

Looking back on the Dismal Swamp canal.

This trip had some excitement.  At the first lock, in South Mills, we were with a powerboat, which was behind us.   He called out - "Is that a bunny swimming by your boat?"  It was a bunny, and with a little effort, we got him aboard, and released him back on land.  He/She seemed a little tired of all that swimming, and a bit wet of course.    It started munching on grass, and then finally scampered off.   Good deed for the day done !

At the lock.

Rescued bunny

Feeling better, eating some grass and moving around

We stopped at the north lock on the Dismal, and tied up to the side wall for the night, and had a dinner of pizza.  The north lock at Deep Creek is right next to a Food Lion grocery store, and a pretty good pizza place.   So it was grocery and pizza night.

Feasting on dinner.

Left at the first lock the next morning to head to Norfolk.  The trip between the Dismal and Norfolk is not exactly scenic beauty, but mostly industrial.  Always interesting though.

Industrial view

Usually see tugs moving barges around

Always interesting passing by the navy shipyards.  Ships in varying states of repair.

We happened to get to Norfolk during their annual Harbor fest celebration, so we decided to stop and enjoy the activities.  

Start of the parade of boats

All sorts of boats in the parade

Police boats out in force

More of the parade boats, yes the little one in front is in the parade as well.

Cruise ship in background gives good size perspective

Only the one navy boat in the parade.  Hot day, felt sorry for the guys on deck at "parade attention"?

Later in the day, was a Coast Guard operation demonstration

USCG Helicopter, and 40' tender below.  Diver went in, and rescued dummy for demonstration.

 Anchorage was crowded, and somewhat crazy, but gave us plenty of interesting  people/boat watching.

Pretty little line of sailboats

Crowded anchorage.  Luckily we were here early so have rights on most boats here.

Deans birthday was on the 11th, so Kris arranged a fireworks show in celebration.   (Or it could have been part of Harbor fest - but we like the first story best).

One of the better fireworks shows we have seen.

We head out Sunday morning early, and start heading north in the Cheasapeake Bay, stopping to check out different places we might want to use to haul the boat this September.