April 24-26, 2021 On to Norfolk

 Saturday, April 24, 2021. Day 139.

We were up early, 6:30am, and it was a chilly morning with a modest sunrise (we have seen such amazing sunrises and sunsets; the bar has gotten very high). We had told Henry, the dockmaster, that we would be leaving at 8am and he assured us he would be there. Captain Roland was getting nudgy, so at 7:48am, I called Henry and he said he would be right over to help us off the dock.

Our visit to Belhaven had been fun; we enjoyed River Forest Marina both times we had stopped there. We cruised on the Pungo River until 9:20am when we entered the Pungo - Alligator Canal (man-made to connect the two rivers as part of the AICW). It was a narrow canal and the steering was challenging. We went under the Alligator Swing Bridge with three or four other boats and the bridge tender was great; she waited for us to open. I’m not sure the other boats were happy to be hanging around for the extra 2 or 3 minutes it took for us to get there. The Alligator Bridge connects to the Outer Banks but wasn’t too busy with car traffic when we went by; not yet the season, we guessed.

At 5:30 pm we arrived at our anchorage at Buck Island. There were a couple of boats at the anchorage by the time we arrived, which was rather late. The day had been rainy and gray and visibility was muted. The charts were not have helpful re: the depth, so the captain had to guess. The first location he selected he didn’t like and moved to anchored elsewhere. Finally, at 6pm, we finished anchoring: beer time. The captain was tired, the weather was gray, and there were no sunset views.

We all showered before dinner and Captain Roland made grilled lamb loin chops, “smashed” lemon potatoes (a new recipe), and grilled asparagus, with a little chocolate for dessert; all good. We went to bed early hoping to leave the anchorage early Sunday morning.

Mike and Gail have been a tremendous help on this trip. This time together, although challenging at points, has given Gail and me an opportunity to discuss our communication, both of us striving for improvement and to understand each other better. We are a work in progress.

Sunday, April 25, 2021. Day 140.

Gail and I were up early. It was still gray and was raining off and on. Captain Roland and Mike were up soon after, planning an early start. Not a great cruising morning: rough seas, heavy winds, brown water, and a choppy ride. At 10:45am, we reached protected water which was much nicer. At 11:40am, we entered North Landing River. It felt like cruising through a wilderness; very few boats, and we noted that we were one week from home. We passed a myriad of old wooden sunken boats, some completely submerged and others with only parts still exposed. We reached Chesapeake, Virginia at 1:35pm, waiting for the 2pm bridge opening, and saw “Jeremiah” (a KK we had met in Stuart, FL, in January). We called out our hellos to each other and caught up a bit.

At 2:30pm we were through the lock, which went down only a foot and a half so it was easy, without a problem. Captain Roland had gathered the crew for lock instructions, and we all took our positions: Gail at the bow, and Terri and Mike at the stern. Mike had to stand on the door step to lasso the cleat, but he managed beautifully. This was Gail 's and Mike’s first lock; it was fun and gentle. All went well.

At 3pm, we passed the entrance to the Dismal Swamp; maybe next time, said Captain Roland.

We passed Casablanca, a KK 58, anchored right before Hospital Point, which is at the end or the beginning, depending on your direction, of the AICW, in Norfolk, VA. We radioed and tooted the horn to say hello. At 3:50pm, we entered the Elizabeth River.

We had a T tie up at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, but unfortunately, it was Sunday and late, so no pump out until tomorrow (not good). They told us we could use the dockmaster‘s office and bathroom.

The dockmaster was working to tie up Balero (we had seen them several times over the last few days, at various places on the ICW, and we were looking forward to meeting them now that we were both in NYCC). The dockmaster sent the security guard, Alex, over to help us dock and he did a great job.

Unfortunately the Norfolk Yacht Club had just changed all of their power posts to new GFI compliant posts, which meant that we were out of luck (like Vero Beach). We had not had an opportunity to deal with the problem, although we had done some research and collected some information. I was again becoming agitated that we did not jump on this faster and again annoyed that the surveyor hadn’t warned us and checked it out so we could have done the required modifications before we started our cruise. (see note below re: GFI issue).

So there was no power from the dock that night. Fortunately, we have a generator. We decided that instead of spending two nights at the dock, we would leave in the morning for an anchorage; there was no point in staying without electricity.

The crew and captain watched TV while I took a shower, and unfortunately, but not really shockingly,

after being on the boat together 24/7 for several days, there was a disagreement and a meltdown. It had been an intense and difficult two days and nerves were on edge in this crowded space. Things were tense.

Monday, April 26, 2021. Day 141.

I ran for 2 miles around the yacht club neighborhood with Gail on a fast walk. I then ran and walked another 2 miles after she went back to the boat. While I was running, Nancy and Chris from Bolero, came over to chat. Chris was a baroque musicologist hence the boat name. Their boat, a 52 foot sailboat, was purchased new by them and built to their specifications which, they decided, already needed modification. They felt they had made a big mistake. They have 2 water tanks and one fuel tank.....they planned to convert a water tank to a fuel tank. Ahhhh, more nautical units! They don't know what they were thinking! They are going north in the summer and planning to stop in Atlantic City at Farley Marina, so maybe we will connect this summer.

Last night's meltdown: Apologies were offered and excepted and we all moved on.

At 11am, we moved to the pumpout dock. It was an easy move, no wind, no current, a straight T dock, and no boats around with plenty of people on board and a dock hand on the dock to help. I was very disappointed that I didn’t get the opportunity to practice docking then and there; another missed opportunity! I wanted to try docking, And I believed that with an experienced crew, like Gail and Michael, on board, it would be the best time. I need to be on top of this issue.

At 11:30am, I took a pill, put on wristbands, and hoped that these precautions would be unnecessary. At 12:30pm, we entered the Chesapeake Bay. It was rough, there were white caps, we were moving against the current, and the wind was about 12 knots on our nose......not easy.

Gail and Michael steered most of the day; it was rough, but not awful for me. We passed the entrance to Yorktown at 2:30pm. Again, another time, no side trips this week, we needed to get home.

It was sunny but crisp, in the 60s, and about 3pm, it became calmer as we cruised towards our anchorage. It took two tries to anchor, the first one didn’t take, and at 4:30pm, we were on the hook in Mobjack Bay, in the Northwest branch of the Severn River.

It was windy, but there were no bugs (yay!!); and Mike grilled a great steak dinner.

Boat names:

I loved Boleros first name for their first boat which was “Going Baroque“”, but Nancy said most people didn’t get it.

I think one of the most honest names: “Going Broke”

We all agreed that the name “At Anchor” caused nautical confusion (on the radio when people addressed the boat they called “at anchor”, and boats on the hook thought the radio call was for them)....... …..“Knot Thoughtful” is how I would describe it.

NOTE: After many calls to various experts, and lots of research, one easy but pricey solution to the GFI failure was to install an isolation transformer. At dinner with our PO (previous Owner), in early June, we learned that Magic Moments HAD an isolation transformer. Yeah! So maybe the surveyor didn't mention the GFI issue thinking it was not a problem. And, I was grateful to our PO....they too thought it wouldn't be an issue.

So now, it is still an issue. The latest plan is to check the cord ends.....hopefully, that is the answer.....we are planning to test the ends and if that is the problem, the solution is easy and not financially outrageous.

My negative feeling towards the surveyor somewhat reduced. And maybe this summer, the solution will be found!