Voyage 2013-2014: Chapter 1

17 Sep 2013, Three days in Elizabeth City, 36 17.994 N/ 076 12.642 W

We arrived in our beloved Elizabeth City two days ago with Mike grabbing our lines. We originally planned for a two day stay but the WX suggested we stay an additional day. Glad we did. We got some rest at the Pelican Marina, cleaned the boat, and visited lots of friends.

Today we toured downtown and visited the Arts of the Albemarle where Billy Caudle gave us an update on what is going on. We met Billy on our first trip to EC over 8 years ago. At the Pelican, Earle was kind enough to drive us to the Hess to fill several jerry jugs. Mike and Lisa offered his car to us and Frank was the friendly jefe at the Pelican. Not bad!

19 Sep 2013, Transiting the Dismal Swamp Canal, 36 44.448 N/ 076 20.712 W

At 0715, we left EC where we tried to contact the bridge tender but

he was not talking. We finally heard the ding-ding of the gates closing. And soon afterwards the tender bellowed over the VHF that we had 30 seconds to be ready to go through the bridge. He was a grumpy but we do understand as there is much construction which causes a lot of traffic. So, not bad.

We slowly moved up the Pasquatank so that we would be ready for the 1100 opening at South Mills. Oops. The lock master took pity on a few southbound boats who were struggling at the bridge and assumed that no one was going northbound (even though we announced ourselves 15 minutes before lock opening). So we had to wait in the narrow headwaters of the Pasquatank for over an hour even though protocol had us going first. Still, Frank was being nice to the struggling boaters so not bad again.

We lost an hour so we were a bit concerned that we might not get to our favorite tie-up at the Deep Creek wall (other end of the DSC). At 1230, we were approaching the DSC Park where they installed a pedestrian draw bridge. So we called them, and called them, and called them to request an opening. Nothing! So we started to slow down. Mysteriously the bridge opened but no humans anywhere and no voice on the VHF ever. Not so good! We made it to the tie up at the bridge end of Deep Creek lock before the southbound hordes. The transit was a success. We had a closed Mexican restaurant, a nice Food lion, and a Hardees. We visited the Food Lion for a bit of provisioning.

Today we waited on the wall for the southbounders to transit the lock as is protocol. Afterwards, we entered the canal and Robert welcomed us. We had his undivided attention as we were the only one going northbound. We had a perfect locking. Robert said if we hustled, we could make the next opening of the Gilmerton bridge in southern Norfolk. We are not good hustlers so Bob didn't even try. Ann was not happy and she let Bob know. God and the bridge tender took pity on Bob as the tender said, "If you hurry, I can open the bridge. I have a 10 minute window". We hurried and got through. He erased all of the frustration from yesterday. Good guy.