After getting held up in Portsmouth, VA, by [another] gale, we had a beautiful day to start our trek in the ICW, getting through the Great Bridge Lock, snarfing prime rib at Coinjock, and watching the New York City Marathon while under way. Good stuff in protected waters – plus an a$$-hole reckless captain. There are real idiots out there, people. Heads up.
November 2 , 2019 Portsmouth, VA to Coinjock, NC Day 20
We had ourselves a gorgeous clear cool fall day to get started down the ICW. After giving the pups a nice walk around Portsmouth and making sure they got cookies from the marina manager at Tidewater Yacht Marina, we were on our way. It is always fun cruising down through the Norfolk naval shipyards, looking at the massive vessels hauled out and under repair. All the bridges were open for us: no problems.
We treated ourselves to a quick trip through the southern Georgia ICW, but impatience — and a favorable weather window — lured us on an outside run from St.Simons to Hilton Head.
Days 161 – 163, March 23-25, 2019
Amelia Island to St. Simons Island
We started the day at the Amelia Island Marina, which is not an ideal stop but the Fernandina Harbor Marina right in town, which is where we wanted to stay, was closed for reconstruction so we had no real choice.
Morning light on the Amelia River
The morning was absolutely lovely. Flat calm, refreshingly cool, and a beautiful amber-pastel-y light that gave the marshes and river a soft glow. It felt a bit like fall, which was wonderful even though it was actually spring. This business of the temperatures cooling even though spring is approaching has my senses confused. I keep forgetting if winter is coming or going. Continue reading A Bit of the Georgia ICW, then Outside to Hilton Head→
With plans to spend more time on the Bay in the spring.
Day 20, November 4
We enjoyed our time in the Chesapeake, and leaving as we did, without spending more time and visiting more destinations, left us both feeling a bit let down. How did this happen?
In a word: weather.
This has been a tough first three weeks of our cruise. First, we were bashed to death by westerly gales in Long Island Sound. New Jersey gave us a surprise break with a fair window to get down the coast and up the Delaware, but the Weather Devil assaulted us again in the Chesapeake. The pattern of Small Craft Advisories and Gales called the shots with respect to where we went, and even if we went anywhere at all. It also kept us in protected marinas instead of remote coves. We couldn’t find any rhythm to our trip, and our expectations were tossed in the trash bin. Continue reading Leaving The Chesapeake – Prematurely→
The fall has flown buy and we are on our way. Florida and the Keys, and maybe the Bahamas, here we come!
The plan is to run down Long Island Sound, through Hell’s Gate, down the East River, around lower Manhattan, down the Jersey Shore, up the Delaware Bay, down the Chesapeake, down the Intracoastal Waterway, and ultimately to Key West. Repeat, generally, in reverse. Continue reading The Next Adventure Has Begun – With a Gale Warning→
All things fun (and tasty) in the life of the Beards
