Coinjock, NC

Coinjock, NC marina dock above. Mile Marker 50

Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth VA to Coinjock, NC. Oct 28

Left Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth, at 6 am in dark, with industry lighting everything up. 

Sunrise 7:30 am so started to get light gradually. We would never plan to leave in the dark at any other part of the ICW again, as even in an industrial area, we wouldn’t be as familiar. (never say never? – but doing the ICW at night is not recommended and we don’t plan to do it). In Portsmouth, the Elizabeth River has a lot of turns. As the sun came up, we were protected from shadows until we had to head straight into the sun, which made it hard to see some buoys, even with sunglasses and hats, we had to block the sun with our hands.

There were fisherpeople everywhere on the river.  Some in small boats, really small, kayaks, kayak catamarans, some with really good setups holding all their stuff, back supports. A nice way to spend the morning.

We came to the first bridge (Gilmerton Bridge) we need to ask to open. Even though the clearance was way above our mast height of 52 ft, it looked like we weren’t going to fit. Even though I knew this is a common feeling, I just hated it. ( there was no stopping )

A diff bridge here (same feeling)  : )

Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake was our first lock ever!
https://www.waterwayguide.com/lock/4-3/great-bridge-lock

It only opens on the hour, so we were glad to not need to wait too long. We didn't get a camera out till later, as we were a busy trying to stay stationary while waiting in line for the opening and cue to enter, getting lines and poss fenders ready. Many powerboats have "stationary anchor" setting to help them stay stationary, but we had to go backwards and forwards, with a little side breeze to stay in line and not block the other side for the boats going north.

Once in place at the dock, a pleasant dockmaster hand took our 2 docklines with a boat hook to hook it around the ballard. He kept us spaced safely apart, but fitting us all in.

Below, photo of our being released.

The Great Bridge Lock is only a 2 foot drop, so quick and easy.

Boaters leave a sticker on the fenders to show they were there. We might leave one on the way back.

At high sun and approaching 80 degrees, we put up the sunsheet. When we the channel narrowed and powerboats wanted to pass us, we took down the sheet for better visibility, but that let sun on the cockpit navigation iPad (which mirrors the Garmin screen down below). It warned us when it got too hot and shut down, so we cooled it down below and used our back-up Aquamap on a different iPad and kept it out of the sun. We could always look at the Garmin screen down below for comparison. Different navigation softwares do not always agree.

We caught up to a barge (vessel Highland Lookout) going 3.5 knots in a narrow channel. Some powerboats passed him. We tried when we thought we had an opportunity (after asking permission of course), trying to stay a safe distance away, but almost ran aground. So we slowed down to stay behind. Soon after the experienced barge captain advised no one to pass on this stretch as it’s truly shallow beside the channel. There became a long line of following boats a couple of miles before Coinjock, with most of us likely docking there. We warned Coinjock marina they will get a bunch of us at once to assist to dock, which they appreciated. We all arrived around 3 pm. 88 degrees. The dockhands were super helpful, of course knew how best to tie us up with their cleats on pilings (non-floating docks). They squeezed us in on the south very-end of their dock.

Thunder eyed the dock and we knew we couldn’t trust him. It’s such a pain to put in the hatchboards and have to remove one each time we go in and out, just to keep him in the boat, but that’s what we had to do. Even so, he jumped on the dock 3 times, each time getting a few feet farther. He always stops and stiffs around on the dock (like that was his only goal), so we were able to scoop him up. Each scoop felt like winning the lottery, as it could have been the last time we saw him.

We were pleased to hear there was another 44 foot sailboat coming in late at 7 pm that needed to tie up with us. The marina staff asked us if it was ok first and of course it was. Was great to chat with the sailors and help them. Dave answered their questions about Justice in detail. Originally we thought we might need to tie up to another boat, when we called to make the reservation that morning, since the marina asked if we minded tying to another boat if nec. I assume they ask everyone that, just in case.

Sunday Oct 29 Coinjock to Alligator River

Our tie-up boat departed at 7 am. We departed Coinjock around 8:45 am with goal to go to Little Alligator Creek today, just 30 miles away.-  Now we are in the open Albemarle Sound I’ve heard so much about. It’s BIIIIIG! Like a big lake, but very shallow mostly 10 feet deep, we stay in the channel that cuts across the sound.

The Alligator River-Pungo Canal ( https://www.waterwayguide.com/waterway/65/alligator-river-pungo-river-canal-nc )was narrow, but the Army Corps of Engineers sonar images have great detail so see where the shoaling occurred.

Future plans after Oct 29

Monday to northern Pungo River to anchor.

Tuesday (Halloween!)  and Wed are supposed to be quite windy, with poss gusts to 30 and rain, so we will take a slip at Dowry Creek Marina, already reserved. This will be good time to:

1.     do “big stuff” laundry

2.     sew covers for the 2 blue potoble water cans on the deck. We think we already have some and couldn’t find them at home or the boat, so make more we shall do.

3.     Upload more photos to the blog

4.     Get head pumped out

5.     Put more grommets in the dinghy cover.