Day 6 - Norfolk to Swansboro NC

This morning we were up early, the first bridge we needed to pass under only goes up on the hour starting at 6:00.  We all were up at 5:00, but the time I was making coffee, Rick was already checking the oil levels in the engine room.  Mike helped him out and at 5:40, Mike noticed that the bridge was going up early.  Bob contacted the bridge controller and let him know we were one our way.  Lines came off the dock quick and we were off in the dark.

Not to far up was a lock that we had to wait for a little bit.  When we finally got in, we all thought we were going down because the wall was not very tall.  We soon realized that we were going up a whole 2 feet.  What a change from the Erie Canal locks, were we were going up or down 15-46 feet.

We had a couple more bridges we had to pass under, but the wait wasn't to bad.  At 8:00 Mike took over at the helm, another race (Formula One) in Singapore.  Things were going well down the ICW and soon we were in the part called the Alligator River and another bridge was coming.  This one looked a little low, and Bob took over so Mike and Rick could decide if we could make it.  Well, soon we were in reverse, the radar was going to make it, but the all around light not so much.  Bob didn't want to wait for the sail boats that were behind us, so we looked to the port (left), looked to the starboard (right) and Bob decided to go to the port side under another part of the bridge, outside the channel.  Well, I kept an eye on the depth gauge while the guys were judging our clearance, soon we were through with 6 inches to spare! 

The sun has been in and out but for the most part, but it has been another beautiful day.  When Bob was watching the NASCAR race, we had a little rain, but the three crew members were navigating the ICW and making really good progress.  Soon we were threw Morehead City, our original destination, but it was too early to quit.  Rick was excited because that meant we were moving on to Swansboro, NC were a very restaurant was located, the Ice House.  I called ahead and found the Caspers Marina that was open till 6, had diesel fuel and was close to town.  We made it here by 5, fueled up and had cocktails in our hands by 5:30.

We took 272 gallons at $2.50 per gallon so we are ready for the morning.  The crew got kudos for making such progress, we went a total of 221.3 miles today and had great conditions.  Now let's hope Rick's choice of restaurant's is a good one....Bob is not so sure with a name like "Ice House", but we asked the staff at the marina and they gave it a thumbs up.  Now let's hope the rain that is forcasted comes after we are back on the boat.

Tomorrow we are off to South Carolina, Hilton Head hopefully, that is were Mike would like to spend the night.