Portsmouth stay one day: ICW Mile Zero

 

We moved to the anchorage at Tidewater Marina, so this was our view or Elizabeth River. A new cruise ship arrived. We had our pick of spots at 11am ( the deadline to be out of our slip)

Portsmouth is ICW "Mile Zero" starting the count down to Key West, but it's really our 200th mile to get to this point from Delaware City.

We watched American Magic turn around using it's bow and stern thrusters at the junction of Lower Reach and Town Point Reach continuations. So BIIIIIG!

Even a cruise ship could not miss this little gal, right?

We stayed at Portsmouth a day because 1) we didn't make our reservation for Coinjock marina yet, and would like to do more research about our first day options, should they not have room for us. 2) But mostly, we wanted to find more extra fuel filters since we used two up early unexpectedly. Our fuel was clean and clear but the pressure was building pointing to clogging by something. The vents seem clear and the pressure is still a mystery, but we seem to be able to flush the filters for future use if nec. Only West Marine special order seems to have the kind we have. If we order them, we'd need to have them sent to a West Marine along the way to pick up, preferably be fore we visit friends in FL.

For Oct 28: Plans to head to Coinjock Marina (MM50), a full day motor from Portsmouth: There are two marinas at Coinjock. There is not a real option for anchoring till after Coinjock, so a reservation is suggested rather than risking motoring past dark to a suitable anchorage. So seems to me, that the slip capacity of Coinjock is the "regulation point" of the amt of traffic that goes down the ICW each day. Maybe they serve just the right amt of boats now, going north and south to keep the ICW safe and not backing up too much behind bridges and the lock.

If necessary, Coinjock will "double-park" boats on boats willing to take a boat on their side. Sounds like a great way to make friends!