Gale Creek, NC SM 160 to Oriental, NC SM 182

Oasis's anchor went up at 07:45 and she sailed away! Another gorgeous day, only blue skies and 15 knots SW wind. The weather climb up to 23 degrees Celsius and it maid this day a very comfortable one. Today was a short trip for Oasis and the crew. From Gale Creek, the ICW filters into Bay River, after steering southwest at the Neuse River Light, Oriental is further down at SM 182 on the Neuse River. We arrived at our destination at 11:00. The captain anchored Oasis securely and then enjoyed the rest of the day relaxing. Actually, some chores needed to be done, laundry day.

On route, pelicans on a marker.

Oriental from a distance.

They call Oriental " The Sailing Capital of North Carolina."

The captain anchored Oasis in front of the Oriental Marina & Inn.

Jean Guy at work, he's filling a small hole in the cockpit's gel coat.

Raymond preparing lunch.

Tiki Bar at the Oriental Marina & Inn.

Oasis at anchor with Oriental Bridge in the background.

Little Alligator River, NC SM 82 to Gale Creek, NC SM 160

Oasis left the anchorage at Little Alligator River at 06:30. It was another beautiful morning with a spectacular sunrise and  not a cloud in the sky. The wind was about 10 to 15 knots. A little further south  from the mouth of the river, Oasis went through a Swing Bridge, then followed the river down, went through the 21 mile long Pongo River Canal up to Belhaven and then followed the ICW across the Palmico River where she proceeded to Goose Creek. From here, she entered a ditch and continued her journey until she dropped anchor at Gale Creek at SM 160 at 16:45.

Beautiful sunrise. There's a bird standing on the post marker.

The Aligator River Highway Swing Bridge.

The entrance to the Pongo River Canal.

Deadheads and debris on the side of the  canal.

This canal runs for 21 miles in a straight line.

We went by another sailing vessel  motoring in the canal.

Can you see the 3 birds in the tree?

We also cross the Fairfield Bridge in the canal.

The ICW, you can see far away in a straight line.

More debris along the ICW .

A loading and unloading station in Hobucken.

Sunset while anchored in Gale Creek.

Great Bridge, VA SM 12 to Little Alligator River, NC SM 82

Oasis left Great Bridge, Virginia at 08:00 from SM 12, and anchored at Little Alligator River in the state of North Carolina at SM 82 at 17:30. We did a little bit of sailing but motored mostly all the way. It was a gorgeous day with bright sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Following the ICW south of Great Bridge, Oasis went under two fixed bridges and two swing bridges. Sometimes the scenery and wildlife can be breathtaking as the waterways swings through swampy areas but  from Coinjock, VA SM 50 to Little Alligator River, NC SM 82, it's all open waters. We took very few pictures, the scenery was mostly the same along the route.

Leaving Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge. A picture taking from Oasis's stern.

In this part of the Intracoastal Waterways, the scenery is basically the same: water with trees on both sides.

This is what the ICW looks like.

Ahead the Coinjock (U.S. Route 158) Fixed Bridge, there was also a little bit of traffic on the water around this region.

Norfolk, VA to Great Bridge, VA SM 12

The night before, after they docked Oasis at her destination in Portsmouth, the captain and brother were confine in the boat all night due to bad weather. So this morning they started the day by cleaning the boat in and out and do groceries for the next few days.While they walked to the grocery store, they did a bit of sight seeing along the way.

Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth.
A beautiful sunny day.

Pumpkins on the marina's dock.

A swimming pool at the marina, the first time the captain sees this.

Statue of a soldier, on the way to town.

Historic house.

Halloween decorations.

This is the Elk Lodge.

There's a Halloween decoration in the top window of the lodge.

As you can refer to the pictures above, this dwelling is still standing.

Nice window detail at a church.

Window in the same church.

Raymond with groceries in the wheel barrel.















The captain and his brother left Norfolk at 13:00 and stop at statute mile 12, just south of the Great Bridge at 15:30. Easterly winds at 15 knots, Oasis motored all the way under sunny skies and a mere 25  degree C.
Known as the Virginia Cut, the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) follows the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal for 50 miles from Norfolk to Currituck Sounds and Coinjock, NC. It is really two canals.The first one (8.5 miles long) connecting Elizabeth River to North Landing River in Virginia is 30 miles apart from the second one (5.5 miles long) connecting the Currituk Sound to the North River in North Carolina. This project was completed in 1859 and the canal has a depth of 12 feet. In the first 12 miles of the ICW, Oasis had to go through eight bridges and one lock before she docked at a transient slip at the Atlantic Yacht Basin for the night.

After leaving Portsmouth, we came across several bridges. Here we see two bascule bridges opened. Oasis had enough time to go through the first one but the bridge attendant had to wait for Oasis to go through before closing the second one.

After going under the High Rise Bridge, the captain had to decide if he was going through the Great Dismal Swamp (another route and body of water you see ahead) or the Virginia cut. He decided on the later route.

We see the High Rise Bridge from Oasis's stern.

Great Bridge Lock looking south.

Great Bridge Lock coming from the north.

Great Bridge Lock going south. Oasis is heading this way.

Great Bridge Bascule Bridge, just after going through the locks.

Atlantic Yacht Basin  about half a mile pass the locks. This is inside of the marine facility. Very calm waters.

Here at this marine facility,they have 200 slips/moorings.

A view from the Great Bascule Bridge. We see Oasis on the canal side in a transient slip of the Atlantic Yacht Basin.

Deltaville, VA to Norfolk, VA

Oasis continues her journey in the state of Virginia. Today, she left Deltaville at 08:00, sunny skies in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon with a few thunder showers and a few bang! Wind was 15 to 20 knots south on the bow.  After motoring all day with the help of the mainsail, we finally arrived in Norfolk at 16:00.  It was a bit eerie seeing battleships and air craft carriers.When you see this much navy ships, you know your in Norfolk. In the 1801s, the first Continental Yard was built here and today  Naval Station Norfolk, stands as the largest naval base of the world. The communities of Norfolk and Portsmouth are divided by the Elizabeth River. This river is a gateway to points to the south for the Atlantic Intracoastal  Waterway, an island path from the ocean providing a more sheltered navigable waterway to Florida.  Portsmouth has been a favorite stop for long-distance, transient cruisers. This city is the location of "Mile Marker 0" and Ft Lauderdale is around Mile Marker 1050, so Oasis has 1050 statute miles to go before her final destination in Florida.

There were other sailboats heading to
Norfolk Harbor.

We came upon a barge in the harbor.

We keep encountering this Fisher Sailboat. We assumed he was also heading south.

Sailing in front of naval ships.

These ships are humongous!

An aircraft carrier, you can just imagine the size of this one too. Can you see the helicopter on it?

Other naval ships.

Battleships docked at their station.

And more!

And another one!

A container ship either being emptied or filled?

These black clouds brought us pouring rain and thunder. This was shortly before docking at the Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth.