23 October 2025
Depart: Hospital Point anchorage Norfolk, VA 8:20
Arrive: Great Bridge Free Dock, Chesapeake City, VA 12:15
Distance: 10 nm
We had a busy day planned for today with some challenges expected at the Great Bridge Bridge which currently offers only limited openings as opposed to the usual hourly openings. We had two objectives for today - 1) get fuel at Top Rack Marina which offers the best prices around and 2) grab a spot on the free dock near Great Bridge to run into town for a few provisions. The first of those was routine; the second was a Hail Mary hoping for a spot on the free dock.
 |
| Sunrise at Hospital Point anchorage |
Yesterday we got to gawk at all the naval vessels located in Norfolk.
 |
| Looking back at Norfolk, VA |
Today we traversed the more industrial section of the Elizabeth River as we left Norfolk.
 |
| Naval guard boat outside of Naval Station |
 |
| Interesting conveyor belt resembled a section of a rollercoaster |
Yesterday, I saw "Gladiator" coming in with tugs. Today I saw the vessel tied up at a loading dock.
 |
| Majuro Vessel "Gladiator" at dock |
The industrial structures come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
It is hard and nearly impossible to pass through this section of the Elizabeth River and not get stuck waiting for a railroad bridge. As we approached the Belt Line RR bridge, we heard that it would be coming down in the next few minutes. We were traveling a strictly enforced No Wake zone, so options were limited. Fortunately, we made it through that one with time to spare.
I took a picture "looking down the tracks" here knowing I would see no track.
Just after we passed under the bridge, we heard a boat we knew were in front of us hale the Belt Line Bridge to say there were now clear. Either we were confused by which bridge was the Belt Line, or they were. A quick check verified that they were confused. Whatever bridge they passed under was not the Belt Line. Some bridges here have numbers like #5, #6.
We heard, "Belt Line Bridge going down momentarily." I looked back and watched as the bridge came down. I was surprised at how slowly it descended.
 |
| Belt Line RR bridge |
The next bridge challenge on this river is always the Southern #7 RR bridge. It is a rare day when we do not have to sit and wait for an opening of this one. It stands side-by-side with the Gilmerton Bridge. We do not need Gilmerton open, but almost nothing can get under Southern #7 when it is closed.
These two bridges are around a bend in the river from the bridges we just passed. Approaching the bend, a boat, going faster than the required slow-speed, haled us to say they wanted to pass us on the port side. Clark told them to go ahead.
Coming the other way around that bend was the tow "Island Fox". We had heard him on the radio and knew he was there. The guy passing us got a bit of a surprise when they got to the bend and quickly scurried over to the far side of the river passing in front of the tow to get out of the way. Apparently he was in a hurry to get to the closed #7 RR bridge, because immediately after rounding that bend, we both had to sit and wait for several minutes for the #7 to open. His boat "paced" back and forth in front of the bridge anxious to get going.
 |
| "Island Fox" Tug |
 |
| Impatient boater waiting for the RR bridge |
 |
| Train passing by |
 |
| Gilmerton Bridge down with Southern #7 bridge currently going up |
I find the architecture of the various bridges interesting - the way they are designed as well as how they open. Some lift like an elevator, some swing to one side, some raise up like an arm being lifted in the air. As we passed under the Gilmerton Bridge, I snapped a picture of the underside of the bridge.
 |
| Gilmerton Bridge (looking up from underneath) |
Passing through the Norfolk area, we always see an interesting variety of boats from the huge naval vessels all the way down to kayaks.
 |
| Tug on a lifted dock |
 |
| Kayak |
 |
| Small fishing boat |
 |
| Motorized Kayak? Fully loaded with fishing gear and an electric motor |
 |
| Boat for Sale. Interested?? Looks well used. Phone number painted on side! |
We also passed a tow going the opposite direction to us. The load he pushed had a cover over it.
 |
| Tug "Vengeance" |
 |
| Covered tow |
The slog through Norfolk at slow speed always takes a long time. Finally, we arrived at stop number one on today's adventure. For comparison purposes, when we got fuel on the C&D canal, the price was $4.90 a gallon for diesel. At Top Rack, the price was $3.33 including tax. Some places advertise their prices without tax, so care has to be taken when deciding if the price is a good one or not.
We had two dockhands helping us with fuel and pump out of the holding tank. One of them was "Mister Mike" from the Ukraine. We were underway from there at 10:20 with an empty holding tank and a full fuel tank.
With those chores done, our next challenge was to navigate the Great Bridge lock as well as the bridge. We had read online about a boater who recently had a collision between the lock and the bridge. He claimed it was poor management of the situation by the bridge / lock. Others claimed he was reckless and to blame. Regardless, I hoped we did not have any unpleasant incidents as we made our way through.
Having left Top Rack when we did, Clark worried that we would (or had) missed getting into the lock for the 12:00 opening of the bridge. If we missed that, then we would have to float around until the 2:00 shift passed through. Normally they have strict deadlines for shutting off entry to the lock. Clark did not know whether to slow down because he could not make it anyway or speed up to see if he could squeeze in.
As it turned out, we ended up in the middle of the pack. We got in line and made it in for the noon bridge opening. It took quite a while to load the lock. We heard the lock master hale a couple of boats outside the lock to tell them they would have to wait for the next lock through as there was no more time. A big boat, "Grey Goose", haled us on the radio and asked if they could raft up next to us to make this locking through.
Clark said yes, of course, and we spent the next few minutes figuring out how to tie their big boat to ours. We had to put out fenders and grab their lines. Unfortunately, the first bow line they threw us was too short, so that had to be thrown back and an alternate deployed. The captain was all business - fine when talking to us but a bit gruff with his crew. If Clark severely reprimanded me in front of others like he did his female crew member, I would be getting a lift home and leave him to it.
Anyway, by the time the lock gate closed, we had about 16 boats in there locking through with one lone boat sitting outside the gate. This lock is unlike many we traversed when on the Great Loop. The trip down is no more than one foot as opposed to multiple feet as on the Erie Canal, for example. It is a lot of fuss and bother to get situated for such a small drop.
When it was time to leave, Clark and I were so busy disconnecting ourselves from "Grey Goose" that we almost forgot to disconnect ourselves from the lock wall! Whoops! I got a job to do and better get to it. We were on the starboard side and were told to exit first then the port side of the lock would follow. We better get moving!
We came out the other side of the lock and had to station keep with 15 other boats for 45 minutes waiting for the bridge to open. Meanwhile, the lock operated another time for the now two boats that did not make the same lock through as us. When Great Bridge bridge opened at noon, 18 boats paraded out. Clark said the traffic on the Battlefield Blvd was backed up for a huge distance.
As the bridge tender instructed the boaters to get a move on, staff at the Atlantic Yacht Basin yelled at the boaters to slow down! What a zoo!
The captain on "Grey Goose" said they planned to go as far as Coinjock Marina today. Since they would be ahead of us in line approaching the bridge, Clark asked them to give us a call back on the VHF radio to report on available space on the free dock on the far side of the bridge. Given the chaos between the bridge and the lock, Clark wanted to be on the south side of the bridge if at all possible so that we could leave in the morning when ready and not have to deal with a bunch of other boats waiting for the bridge opening.
If they said there was no room on the far side, we would tie up to the wall between the lock and the bridge. They reported back that we would have plenty of room to tie up at the Museum's free dock! Other than one sailboat, the dock was empty.
 |
| Tied up at the free dock near the Museum |
 |
| Sailboat at free dock; Great Bridge bridge in the distance |
We left the Norfolk anchorage at 8:20 and tied up here at 12:25 having traveled 10 nautical miles in 4 hours. That is approximately 2 miles per hour (statute miles). Even though it was only noon, it already felt like a long day.
Shortly after we left home, I realized that I had no brought along as much bread as I should have, so I was happy for the stop at Great Bridge as it is a short distance to the Kroger food store located here. To get there we walked through the museum grounds and then crossed over the bridge. It felt good to get some exercise. Since we were out, we also visited the Auto Zone located here for a diesel additive and the Dollar Tree to pick up a replacement napkin holder for the one that broke on this trip.
After stowing my food provisions, I decided to take a stroll through the museum grounds and learn about the importance of Great Bridge during the Revolutionary War and the battle that took place here on December 9th 1775 - this year they will celebrate the 250th anniversary of this event.
Later, as the sun was rapidly setting, I heard some yelling outside of the boat. It turned out to be three rowing teams going by us at speed, and the yelling was coming from each of the coxswains.
It seemed surprising that they were out in the almost dark with no lights, but I expect that they had the water to themselves at that particular time so they could just move in a straight line at speed. Cool!
24 October 2025
Depart: Great Bridge free dock Chesapeake, VA 8:00
Arrive: Alligator River / Sandy Point anchorage, NC, 4:00
Distance: 62 nm
Yesterday, early on, Clark had said we could stay at the free dock for 2 nights if so desired. However, later in the day, he said that foul weather is approaching beginning of the week, so we should keep moving to take advantage of the dry days. This morning, he said he wanted to leave at 8:00. When he told me this, it was already 7:40, so I told him we would have to forgo breakfast until we were underway to get off the dock in time to meet that objective.
At just before 8:00, we pushed off from the free dock. It was so cold on the boat last night (57 degrees in our stateroom), I was happy to be moving in a southerly direction. My nose felt like I had an ice cube sitting on my face!
Shortly after we started moving down the waterway, the bridge opened and a fleet of boats came out! I could see one sailboat and many power boats coming up behind us.
 |
| Here they come! On the "Virginia Cut" |
The whole parade made its way through both bridges. At the second bridge the tender was telling captains to pick it up as he could not hold the bridge open for too long. He managed to keep it open until the last one made it through!
The various boats dispersed over time. We planned to anchor near the mouth of the Alligator River. "Grey Goose" from the lock planned to spend the night at Coinjock so turned off as we passed there.
Besides traps, there is not much to look at in this anchorage -- few structures along the shore and that is about it. We were the loan boat in the anchorage.
 |
| Sunset on the Alligator River |
