Date: May 2, 2013
Days on the Cruise: 38
From: Atlantic Yacht Basin, Chesapeake, VA
To: Ocean Marine Yacht Center, Portsmouth, VA
Statute Miles: 11.4
Time: 2.5 Hours
Cumulative Miles: 1,230.6
Time: 2.5 Hours
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| Our location tonight in Portsmouth, VA, just across the harbor from Norfolk |
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| Our location as relates to the Eastern United States |
Today's short trip was all about bridges and a lock. Bridges that have restricted openings which means that you just can't go up to them, ask for an opening, and they raise or swing the bridge for you. These bridges open on the hour. If you snooze you loose, and you are stuck for another hour. Oh, and by the way, don't try to travel the ICW in this area between 6 A.M. and 9:30 A. M. or 3:30 and 6:30 P.M.. Bridges won't open for pleasure vessels during that time due to rush hour traffic.
Then there is the Great Bridge Lock. It comes just North of the Great Bridge Bridge (yes, the real name). The lock raises or lowers vessels from 1-2', depending which direction one is traveling.
We hung around AYB this morning and toured their facilities. We talked to them about keeping our boat there while we return home for about 3 weeks. Our plan was to be in line for the 11:00 A.M. opening of the Great Bridge Bridge. So, we were off the dock at 10:42 and we got in line for the bridge opening. We were #2 behind a big sportfisherman out of New Jersey. There were three other boats behind us.
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| Idling in the ICW waiting for the Great Bridge Bridge to open at 11:00 |
The bridge opened promptly at 11:00, and we cruised through. We were then less than half a mile from the Great Bridge Lock. It was open for us and we motored in behind the "Mollie K" from New Jersey. We tied up on the port side so that we could use the rubber fenders that are attached to the lock wall. There was a lock master along the wall who took each boat's lines and looped them over a cleat and back to the boat. Very nice and helpful.
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| Motoring into Great Bridge Lock |
Soon the lock doors closed and we were raised about a foot. Out of the lock we motored onto the next restricted bridge called Steel Bridge. We arrived at Steel Bridge about 25 minutes before 12 P.M. and idled until the 12:00 opening. After clearing this bridge, we were home free as we had no more bridges that we had to have opened.
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| Waiting for Steel Bridge to open at 12:00 |
Cruising through the Portsmouth Harbor was very interesting. There is Navy everywhere. There is also Navy Security everywhere. Security in the form of small boats that protect a zone between the Navy piers and ships and the channel. Just before we got to our marina, which is sandwiched between Navy and shipyard facilities, we saw a nuclear submarine and it looked like they were lifting missile tubes out.
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| Another 100 ton barge crane like we used in The Azores |
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| Gilmerton RR and Highway Bridges |
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| Passing under the Gilmerton Bridges....no opening required |
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| Railroad Bridge in the raised position |
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| Look closely and you will see a nuclear submarine, and they are lifting a tube out of it |
We were given a slip at Ocean Marine that faces the channel. Looking out right in front of us is a huge BAE shipyard that has six or 7 Navy vessels in for repairs. The channel runs right alongside the marina and our dock. Coming by us within mere feet are ocean going ships, tugs, tows, and all kinds of other marine traffic. It is just like sitting on the fifty yard line and watching the action. We are that close!
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| Navy security vessel across from our marina slip |
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| A Moran Towing Company "Tractor Tug" passes in front of our 50 yard line seats |
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| Ocean going freighter passes in front of our 50 yard line seats |
Several of the Navy ships in the yard have a claim to fame. One of the closest to us is the USS New York. This ship was built in the late 2000's and part of the bow is constructed with steel from the World Trade Center.
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| USS New York |
The USS Normandy is a Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser. She was the first Navy ship to go to war on her maiden voyage since 1945, In 1998 she was given the title for "most Tomahawk missiles fired by a U.S. Navy Cruiser.
The USS Mahan is a destroyer and is in the yard for refit. This ship served in waters off Libya in 2011 and supported the conflict there.
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| USS Normandy and USS Mahon |
The USS Cape St. George is another ship in the yard. She is another Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser. One of her claims to fame is encounters with pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2006, where she took fire from the pirates. This ship was also involved in rescuing some Iranian fishermen in 2011 when their boat took on water and sank. I remember this being in the news.
We will do more exploring of Portsmouth tomorrow, as we are right in the downtown area.
Thanks for Reading!
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