Finally Moving - Mile 12

We were held up for a full week in Portsmouth at mile 0. First we were waiting for hurricane Mathew which turned out to be quite strong when the edge of it passed by. Definitely a bouncy night with not much sleep and lots of fender and line adjustments.  One boat had a jib come unwrapped and shred and a few others had canvas tear but in general we all did fine. Then all the bridges and locks were closed because of power issues and flooding. Today around 11:00 we got the word that the bridges were open and headed out.

 

We chose the Virginia cut or Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal because the Dismal Swamp route is still closed.  We went under several different bridges today. The rail road bridges that are usually open were not so we had to hold position and wait for them to open. The Belt Line Bridge in the picture below opens by sliding up the towers on both sides.

 

We also went through our first lock ever.  This is the Great Bridge lock. Do you remember the screaching sound that the starship in Galaxy Quest makes when Tommy drives it out of the station for the first time. That is the noise our rub rail made when I came in hot to the lock wall and all four bumpers missed the steel pilings. 

 

Other than that, a good lock-through with lots of other boats.

 

We are staying at a free dock in the canal just below the Great Bridge Lock.  12 miles down; 1232 to go.