Norfolk, VA to Wilmington, NC

We've been travelling at a nice pace along the ICW. In Norfolk, we got to have dinner with our oldest granddaughter attending ODU, and Scott our neighbor working in Norfolk. A pleasant first stop along the way.


Tour boat from Yorktown passing through Norfolk

We got up early the next morning and navigated all the bridges through Norfolk. We locked through the Great Bridge Lock easily, now our third trip - we are getting to be old pros.


Locking Through


Leaving the lock

We stopped the second night at Coinjock Marina and had their famous prime rib at the restaurant - Bob had the enormous 32 ounce version.

The next day we heard Wayne and Lynne on Skinwalker on the radio, some folks we had met on the way home last Spring who are heading from Baltimore, where they had spent the summer, with Wayne working as Captain Bones of the Pirate Cruise Ship, to Florida where they will spend the winter in Fort Myers Beach, FL. We met them in Upper Dowry Creek and tied up together for the night. That was our first raft. We enjoyed the evening with them. They had come through the Great Dismal Swamp route stopping at Elizabeth City, a favorite stop of theirs.

We travelled with them the next day and ended up rafting up again in Spooner Creek in Morehead City.

Tuesday we split company and cruised up the New River to a marina at Camp LeJeune. There we met up with Bob's daughter Krista and family. We were able to do some shopping and pass on Christmas gifts off the "Santa Boat" to them and son Greg's family. We had quite an arrival team with Krista, husband Randy, kids Ryan and Sammy, and Randy's sister Kathy who was visiting, plus Greg, and his daughters Brooke and Lilly! No shortage of line handlers there.


Boat named the "Lucky Penny" at the base marina

Wednesday we did some provisioning at the commissary and a trip to Wal-Mart. That night Sammy and Ryan got to spend the night on the boat with us. Thursday, Krista, Ryan, and Kathy, travelled with us to Wilmington. We waited out a rain and thunder storm in the morning and left by noon. We arrived by 5:30 and had dinner. Randy and Sammy came to pick them up and take them home. It was fun to have company for a day along the way.


Ryan helping his Grandpa Bob in the Pilot House

Next stop will be Myrtle Beach, where the "Santa Boat" delivers packages to my son Mike, and his family. We will then get space back in our guest stateroom.


Baby Afgan I'm working on for the next grandchild due in the spring


Photo taken of the Pretty Penny "in the air" this summer during its haulout.