Day5: Norfolk,VA

The Gremlins have been sorted out.  And they have been kicked off the boat.  We haven't fixed what they broke, but they are gone.  No more problems.

The problem was not the trim tab solenoids, which we so quickly replaced.  The problem was the starboard trim tab switch.  Last night's trick of moving the port side solenoid over to starboard side worked like a dream.  It was pure ecstasy this morning to feel the boat rise out of the hole at a balanced trim.

There were times we ran like a 48' sport boat.  Twisting a turning with the river, what a blast.  A lot of the trip so far has been set the Auto pilot and watch for hazards.  Today, I got to drive the boat.

I am thinking about quitting eating crab.  There are way too many crab pots in the Carolinas!!!  One almost wrapped around my drives!!!  As it was, I had to zig zag through the Carolina sounds, dodging very tiny crab pot markers.  Eventually, in 2-3' chop I ran over one that I could not see.  My heart sank.  Fortunately, I didn't wrap it around my running gear.  It was a sickening feeling.  I may have cursed.  There was an f-bomb dropped in our general facinity.  We didn't need that.  Luck was on our side.

Luck.  Dolphins saw us out this morning. 8 or 10.  Always a nice sight.

It was a happy boat today.  No more guessing what we are up against.  A lot more music.  A lot more relaxed.

Stretching it yesterday to Oriental, NC ensured we made it to Norfolk, VA.  Today, we were delayed by a barge carrying hazardous waste, trains parked on our bridge, a fire that needed emergency vehicles to keep our bridge closed and the ultimate, a sail boat that entered our only lock and got flipped around backwards.  What a wafi!

Tomorrow, Atlantic City, NJ.  By Saturday, salt water will be behind us.  We will be up the Hudson River.

Tomorrow's forecast:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 8 mph. 

Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind at 6 mph becoming southwest. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 


Today's route: