BYE TO THE BAY....

We have been on the move all week, heading south down the Bay.  The creeks and coves we anchored in for the night have become a blur; each one as pretty, secluded and tranquil as the next.  On Thursday, we left the Bay and entered Hampton Roads, VA which is the home of the US Navy.  Every type of craft the Navy has, whether it floats or flies,  is stationed here.  Security is very tight with  boats and aircraft regularly patroling the sky and water.  We cruised by the "Long Grey Line" of moored battleships, aircraft carriers and assault ships:

The might of the US Navy displayed here is awsome !!

We proceeded down the river which separates Norfolk from Porstsmith VA.  This is a water transport system which includes military craft, husge tugs + barges, commercial ships, full size cruise ships and of course small boats (read: Persephone) all mixed together.  We navigated and weaved our way safely through and are anchored at Mile Marker 0 of the Intercoastal Waterway.  As we mentioned before this is series of rivers, canals, and bays linked together so that boats large and small can travel south without going into the ocean.  The ICW is marked in miles from Mile 0 (where we are anchored) to Mile 1095 at Key Biscayne, FLA.  Guess we have a LONG way to go !!

We plan on starting down the ICW tomorrow morning going to Mile 50 at Coinjock, North Carolina.  We will stay there for a day at a marina to do maintainance, laundry etc.  We haven't been to a marina since we left Annapolis; so a pit stop is well deserved.  We wanted to go through the Great Dismal Swamp (sounds great doesn't it !!) but we can't due to depth.  Most of our friends are going this way, but the "Swamp" is only 6' deep, and we need 6.5 to float. 

We are really enjoying our stay at Portsmouth/Norfolk.  The weather is warm, and people even warmer.  This is the view from Persephone in the evening......  Enjoy !