From Portsmouth, VA, to Coinjock, NC

After a lovely book event and signing at Studio One, Riverview Galleries in Portsmouth, we headed south.

Leaving Portsmouth, VA
Leaving Portsmouth, VA

 

We love the ICW, the quiet of the water, the shoreline. What we don’t like are the occasional sport fishers who think slamming past a sailboat at 20 knots and kicking up a big wake is a good way to say hey.

It was cold when we left and cold during the day, so we paused for the night at Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge, VA. Friendly and helpful folk, and one of the best deals in dockage and fuel on the entire trip. Here’s the view out the companionway. (And yes, I had to sweep the deck of pine needles this morning, but it was worth it.)

view out companionway
view out companionway

We only had two unhappy boaters to contend with today, the bridge and lock tenders were courteous, and certainly all the sailboats heading south were manned by folk who were friendly and happy to be out there.

There’s something about people who travel by a slow sailboat: the whole point is the journey. And isn’t that how we ought to live every day — instead of blowing past at high speed?

Early this morning. Love the mist.
Early this morning. Love the mist.
Mist along the ICW
Mist along the ICW
First signs of fall
First signs of fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The froth on the water is from one of those not-nice captains (a female, this time) whose impatience made her a menace.

 

 

Waiting for the half-hour and the last bridge on this part of the ICW
Waiting for the half-hour and the last bridge on this part of the ICW

 

 

And she still had to wait for the opening of the North Landing Bridge along with the rest of us.  It must have killed her, all that effort to put the fleet off her stern, only to be stopped at the bridge like all the lesser folk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re now back in Coinjock, NC, at Midway Marina. And tonight? Dinner at Crabbies!