The Map
| Elizabeth City, NC to Newport, RI |
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June 25th and we depart Elizabeth City early morning, headed
into the Dismal Swamp. We are 1 of 3 boats making the
transit today, including Mystic Breeze. The scenery was lush
and meandering through narrowing Turner's Cut. We reached
the South Mills Lock at 10:30am and hovered waiting for the
11:00am Lockmaster. We have anticipated shallow water's
from here on but did not experience many but certainly had to
watch for floating logs and stumps. Each boat alerted it's
fellow canal mate along the way, thank you. We had hoped to
see a great deal of wildlife but only saw a few ducks, a blue
heron and some Canada geese. This water is the color of
strong coffee, as a product of so much foliage decay. It is a
mixture of freshwater flowing out from Lake Drummond into
the salted tidal rivers headed to the Atlantic. We
overnighted at the Welcome Center, which doubles as a rest
area for Hwy 17, and visited with the Wade-Gledhill Family
some more. No facilities here other than a small dock to hang
on to but the nature around was quiet. Lamb chops aboard.
There is rain coming in for tomorrow.
into the Dismal Swamp. We are 1 of 3 boats making the
transit today, including Mystic Breeze. The scenery was lush
and meandering through narrowing Turner's Cut. We reached
the South Mills Lock at 10:30am and hovered waiting for the
11:00am Lockmaster. We have anticipated shallow water's
from here on but did not experience many but certainly had to
watch for floating logs and stumps. Each boat alerted it's
fellow canal mate along the way, thank you. We had hoped to
see a great deal of wildlife but only saw a few ducks, a blue
heron and some Canada geese. This water is the color of
strong coffee, as a product of so much foliage decay. It is a
mixture of freshwater flowing out from Lake Drummond into
the salted tidal rivers headed to the Atlantic. We
overnighted at the Welcome Center, which doubles as a rest
area for Hwy 17, and visited with the Wade-Gledhill Family
some more. No facilities here other than a small dock to hang
on to but the nature around was quiet. Lamb chops aboard.
There is rain coming in for tomorrow.
Monday and we departed at 7:00am to catch 11:00am opening of
Deep Creek Lock. The morning was rainy and cool and again not
much wildlife except floating stumps. The verdant green foliage,
with scents of honeysuckle and mimosa, and the beautiful
reflections were awesome though. Our path crossed into Virginia
along the way. We rafted up to a small pier waiting for the
bridge before the lock. As we exited the lock, serious dark
clouds with thunder were approaching from behind. We came out
into the Elizabeth River about noon, approached two lift bridges
with lots of other traffic and the sky opened up! You could hardly
see the bow of the Rose. It thankfully stopped raining as we
approached our destination, Ocean Marine, Portsmouth, and we
successfully tied up to the face dock next to our fellow
travelers. Everyone soaked! The rain abated about 2:00pm so we
walked the dog and got the lay of the land. We joined some
dockmates for stories and libations, then welcomed a quiet
evening with TV and air conditioning. We have reached Mile Zero
of the Intercoastal Waterway.
Deep Creek Lock. The morning was rainy and cool and again not
much wildlife except floating stumps. The verdant green foliage,
with scents of honeysuckle and mimosa, and the beautiful
reflections were awesome though. Our path crossed into Virginia
along the way. We rafted up to a small pier waiting for the
bridge before the lock. As we exited the lock, serious dark
clouds with thunder were approaching from behind. We came out
into the Elizabeth River about noon, approached two lift bridges
with lots of other traffic and the sky opened up! You could hardly
see the bow of the Rose. It thankfully stopped raining as we
approached our destination, Ocean Marine, Portsmouth, and we
successfully tied up to the face dock next to our fellow
travelers. Everyone soaked! The rain abated about 2:00pm so we
walked the dog and got the lay of the land. We joined some
dockmates for stories and libations, then welcomed a quiet
evening with TV and air conditioning. We have reached Mile Zero
of the Intercoastal Waterway.
Tuesday June 27 and the rain is here to stay so this will be a
quiet day. Penny did laundry, Richard paid a few bills and then we
borrowed the loaner car to go to West Marine and the local
Grocery store to re provision. Our biggest project for the day
was to unclog the aft head....oh joy! This became a 4 hour ordeal
but was thankfully successful without having to disconnect and
reconnect some very long and stinky hoses. Otis had a wet but
long and happy dog walk with lot's of visits from his friends,
Emma and Libby. The rain is projected to pass tomorrow.
quiet day. Penny did laundry, Richard paid a few bills and then we
borrowed the loaner car to go to West Marine and the local
Grocery store to re provision. Our biggest project for the day
was to unclog the aft head....oh joy! This became a 4 hour ordeal
but was thankfully successful without having to disconnect and
reconnect some very long and stinky hoses. Otis had a wet but
long and happy dog walk with lot's of visits from his friends,
Emma and Libby. The rain is projected to pass tomorrow.
Wednesday and the rain has indeed passed so we
head to Hampton VA where we will wait for our new
mainsail and anchor and the arrival of Richard's
brother, Peter. We cross Norfolk Harbor, at the
bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, with it's very busy
Naval Base and shipping channel. Our passage is
motoring all the way as there is little wind and we
came into Hampton Roads at 1:00pm. We motored up
the River to Downtown Hampton Public Piers. It is
very hot and humid and we are again glad for shore
power. The town is welcoming and quaint but very
quiet. We had expected a more lively area according
to our guide books. We do see lot's of avid sailors
racing around the harbor and did meet some new
cruising friends and spent some time catching up with
the rest of the world. Our new sail arrived!
head to Hampton VA where we will wait for our new
mainsail and anchor and the arrival of Richard's
brother, Peter. We cross Norfolk Harbor, at the
bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, with it's very busy
Naval Base and shipping channel. Our passage is
motoring all the way as there is little wind and we
came into Hampton Roads at 1:00pm. We motored up
the River to Downtown Hampton Public Piers. It is
very hot and humid and we are again glad for shore
power. The town is welcoming and quaint but very
quiet. We had expected a more lively area according
to our guide books. We do see lot's of avid sailors
racing around the harbor and did meet some new
cruising friends and spent some time catching up with
the rest of the world. Our new sail arrived!
Friday June 30th we drop the well worn but faithful
old mainsail It seems to have served the Rose well
over many years and miles. We have rented a car for
Penny's trip with Otis while Peter and Richard take 3
day's outside passage to Newport RI. We are also
waiting for a new anchor that seems to have been lost
by UPS. We spent the day provisioning, cooking and
stowing for the boys passage north. Peter's flight was
delayed and Richard picked him up at 5:30pm. They
"misplaced" his bag so they returned here for libations
and a light cockpit dinner, then headed back to try and
retrieve his bag, Alas it was not there, had been sent
back to Philadelphia. It was delivered by taxi at
2:30am!
old mainsail It seems to have served the Rose well
over many years and miles. We have rented a car for
Penny's trip with Otis while Peter and Richard take 3
day's outside passage to Newport RI. We are also
waiting for a new anchor that seems to have been lost
by UPS. We spent the day provisioning, cooking and
stowing for the boys passage north. Peter's flight was
delayed and Richard picked him up at 5:30pm. They
"misplaced" his bag so they returned here for libations
and a light cockpit dinner, then headed back to try and
retrieve his bag, Alas it was not there, had been sent
back to Philadelphia. It was delivered by taxi at
2:30am!
| For Richard and Peter's Journey to Newport Click Here |
Penny and Otis set off Saturday morning July 1 after waving good bye to our
home on the water and headed north on the asphalt rivers of America. We
crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and saw the Rose underway,
honking our horn and waving, hoping they might see us! We crossed into the
Eastern Shore of Virginia moving north to Maryland. Beautiful farmlands with
abundant corn fields along the coast here. We crossed into Delaware and
crossed at Wilmington into New Jersey, spending the night in Cherry Hill
after a long day. The next morning we were on the road again early, crossing
the George Washington Bridge into New York. Then onward through the
bustling city to the Hutchison River Parkway into Connecticut which was a
beautiful drive with no trucks. We passed through Hartford taking the
Wilbur Cross Parkway to Massachusetts and picking up the Turnpike to
Boston. Around busy Boston to 95 North to New Hampshire. Whew! Stopped
for a dog walk and a breath of fresh air in beautiful Newburyport before
going on to Richard's mothers in Exeter. Arrived for dinner and had a
delightful evening catching up. It was a fun and beautiful journey. The next
day, we took Mom to see her cottage in Maine. It was a really glorious day.
The cottage is situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic near Bath. We
stopped in Five Islands for a lobster roll lunch, then a quick stop for wine and
local cheese in Georgetown and headed for the barn. It was a fun trip
together. July 4th we head to meet our ship in Newport.
home on the water and headed north on the asphalt rivers of America. We
crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and saw the Rose underway,
honking our horn and waving, hoping they might see us! We crossed into the
Eastern Shore of Virginia moving north to Maryland. Beautiful farmlands with
abundant corn fields along the coast here. We crossed into Delaware and
crossed at Wilmington into New Jersey, spending the night in Cherry Hill
after a long day. The next morning we were on the road again early, crossing
the George Washington Bridge into New York. Then onward through the
bustling city to the Hutchison River Parkway into Connecticut which was a
beautiful drive with no trucks. We passed through Hartford taking the
Wilbur Cross Parkway to Massachusetts and picking up the Turnpike to
Boston. Around busy Boston to 95 North to New Hampshire. Whew! Stopped
for a dog walk and a breath of fresh air in beautiful Newburyport before
going on to Richard's mothers in Exeter. Arrived for dinner and had a
delightful evening catching up. It was a fun and beautiful journey. The next
day, we took Mom to see her cottage in Maine. It was a really glorious day.
The cottage is situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic near Bath. We
stopped in Five Islands for a lobster roll lunch, then a quick stop for wine and
local cheese in Georgetown and headed for the barn. It was a fun trip
together. July 4th we head to meet our ship in Newport.
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free of charge. No material printed or copied from this site, electronically or in any other form, may be sold or included in any work to
be sold without explicit permission from the authors. Most maps and charts have been extracted from Google Earth and Maptech, and we
thank them for their use.
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Travels of the Viking Rose
Travels of the Viking Rose