ICW Mile 0

Sunday October 2, 2016

Today was the weather window to leave Chrisfield and travel directly Southwest to Norfolk. We are keeping an eye on the approaching hurricane and trying to plan ahead. Since September 21 in Cape May our starboard engine has not started on its own. Peter has used a combination of jump starting with both engine starting batteries, hammer tapping, and starting with the generator running. We know our time is running out for this to continue and we will need some type of repair. So Peter arranged work to be done at Atlantic Yacht Basin in Chesapeake, VA, on the ICW waterway about mile 6 and also the best hurricane hole in the area. Our day on the Chesapeake happened to be the best conditions we have had and our crossing was uneventful.......until Jane noticed water in the aft bilge. So she went up top to navigate so Peter could investigate below. The bilge pump fuse blew and Peter changed it 3 times, each one also failing. He finally got one fuse to work if he turned the bilge pump on and off. Another repair to be done. The water came under control and we suspect from the location that it is a leak in the fresh water tank or the drain scuppers near the aft lazarette. Our repair list is ever increasing.

Always a nice sight to see the buoy marking the harbor entrance

Passing through Norfolk once again gives us pause at the power of the US Navy. Incredibly these ships were deployed a few days later to be prepared to deal with Hurricane Matthew.

Kinvara II from the restaurant

Our trip through Norfolk Harbor to the Elizabeth River was smooth. We ended our day at Top Rack marina near the beginning of the Intra coastel Waterway. The price for diesel was $1.99 including tax so we put in 300 gallons and docked for the night. The deal for docking is dock and dine; if you eat in the restaurant your dock is free. Of course the dining was more than the docking fee would have been but it was incredibly delicious!

appetizer

Jane's entree

Peter's entree

dessert....yum!!