Intercoastal Waterway - nicknamed The Ditch

We got an early start this morning, 7:40, and headed South from Hampton Marina.  It took a bit of time but we made it to the the Ditch!  Along this way there were Navy Aircraft Carriers and war ships.  Very large and impressive!  The aircraft carrier reminded me of my late brother-in-law who was on one of these when he was in the Navy

It winds and winds for miles!  We were in VA the whole day!  We got to go through a lock with the boat. 

Notice the coffee color brown under the boat.  This is how the water looked as each boat went through!

 I was really looking forward to this part.  It was interesting but not as exciting as I was anticipating.  Tying up to the lock was a test of endurance.  Dolce Vita has a mind of her own and just wouldn't cooperate with the Captain.   We needed to get the stern close to the wall so the lock master could put the end of the stern line around a cleat, but the stern just wouldn't go there.  By the time we managed to get it all right we had the lock master telling us that if we had not made it that time he was giving up on us!  He was a temperamental man!  We told him we were newbies!  Oh well, chalk one up for experience!

At the end of the Lock

One of the Bridges along the way.

I am so in awe of being here on the Ditch!  I have heard so much about it.  We have been getting so many wonderful tips on how to go down it safely and what to expect and look for and now I am seeing it up close!  It started very industrial on both sides.  It eventually opened up with some beautiful scenery on both sides.  Lots of trees.  It then went to looking very marshy all around us.  Then there are the bridges and this is just the beginning!  So many different kinds...some where a portion of the road or train track was lifted up so the boats could go through, raised drawbridge type. and then there are swing type bridges.  Some of the bridges are 90' feet high so there was no problem going under them.  We were very fortunate today in that we didn't have to wait for any of them.  Sometimes if you don't get there in time you end up waiting a half hour.  Ed has a different perspective than me, but, for now, the experience is still novel and having to wait for a bridge is not bothersome.   Of course,  check back with me after several more weeks of this and I will probably have changed my opinion on this whole idea of waiting is fun!

A Bit of Fall can be seen in the Trees.

Some of the Birds observed.

We have been going from 7:40 am to 4:15 pm.  A long day.  We anchored on Black Water Creek.  There's only 1 other sailboat on this Creek.  A very peaceful place, except when jets were flying overhead.












Tomorrow...    North Carolina!