June 24, 2012 Great Bridge, VA

We left Oriental, N.C. on the 18th  and took the run on the intercoastal to Belhaven, N.C. where we anchored outside of the River Forest Marina. It was a hazy day with several sail boats heading north. As you can see hardly a ripple on the waterway. No wind to hoist the sail so motor, motor, motor we did on a 12 hour run to Coinjock, N.C.

 

Along the way we saw many fishing boats either headed out to sea or docked on the canals.  Below is a trawler at dock with its nets drifting in the water.

Below is a great looking fishing trawler with a bird head and ? mythical fish tail ? painted on the bow. Perhaps a good-luck emblem for smooth sailing and good catching!

We left our anchorage at Belhaven just as the summer solstice  sun was rising.

The morning sun glimmers on some of the trees and saw-grass which line the shores of the water-way.

Captain Gordon at the helm with the morning sun heralding another warm calm day.

We had company most of the way. Below we are approaching the Alligator River Bridge. In the center is the draw bridge which opens for the traffic on the river.

A light breeze on Albermarle Sound
 gave some true blue sailors an opportunity to hoist the sails and shut down the engine. Jabberwocky does not do well with light winds so we continued with the engine running, but a nice breeze cooling us off.

Company on the waterway. A barge passed us on its way to a work site.

The saw-grass and tall trees provide beautiful scenery and many places for the birds to light. There were many butterflies that flew around our mast as well as dragon flies of neon colors of blue indigo and bright orange. I tried to get some pictures but they were very shy and too quick for my camera! 

Below, we slowed down for a ferry on the Northlanding River.

Below, a day marker with an Osprey family, mom and dad with the chicks. We saw countless nests with chicks.

Just before we arrived at Great Bridge we had to pass through the Center Highway Draw Bridge. Below you can see one of the sail boats ahead of us passing through the bridge.

Below, is a picture of us approaching the bridge.

As we passed through the bridge I turned around and captured the bridge as it started to close.

We arrived at Great Bridge, V.A. around 2 in the afternoon. It was hot, hot, hot. Great Bridge is about 10 south of Norfolk, V.A. Our plan is to keep the boat at the Atlantic Yacht Basin while we visit with family and then sail the Chesapeake Bay area.