Dismal Swamp to Chesapeake, VA

We arrived at Chesapeake, VA, on 15 May about 3:00 p.m. We made it through the Steel Dominion Bridge, the Great Bridge Lock and Great Bridge without problems. However, the Steel Dominion Bridge does not open on the half hour as indicated in our guidebook. It opens on the hour, so after rushing to make the half-hour opening, we had to wait about 35 minutes to get through the bridge. We tried to set anchor rather than waste fuel floating around waiting for the bridge to open, but the winds and the seas were too bad to do that successfully. So, we floated around until we could get through the bridge. Our next challenge was getting through the Great Bridge Lock and then the Great Bridge, and we did so with no problems. However, we had to wait about 30 minutes for the bridge to open once we exited the lock. The locks and bridges are timed so that you can usually go from one to the other without much of a wait. Since we were the only boat that went through the lock, it did not take as much time as it would if several other boats were locking through at the same time. Once we exited the Great Bridge, the Atlantic Yacht Basin was about 100 yards on the right.

We had to call the Caterpillar Engine Service to come to the boat for maintenance. Both engines needed to have the heat exchangers taken to be reconditioned and cleaned out. A heat exchanger is like a car radiator in that it transfers heat from the engine coolant (antifreeze). In a car, this is accomplished with a big fan in front of the engine that cools the water as it goes through the radiator. On a boat there is no fan. So, sea water is pumped through the heat exchanger and removes the heat from the coolant system.

Our friends Jim and Mary Milner were at Atlantic Yacht Basin, and we were glad to see them again. We spent the next couple of days hanging out with them and enjoying delicious dinners prepared by Mary. We also had a great time playing several games of Rummikub. They left on Thursday headed back to their home in Maryland, and we look forward to seeing them again once we arrive in Baltimore.

While in Chesapeake, VA, we rented a car for the weekend and ran errands, replenished our grocery items, and spent Friday evening at Tidewater Marina with other Loopers: Phil, Virginia, and their friend Laurie; Ginger; Laura; Tom and Paula; and Barry and Sheryl. We had a great dinner at the Deck Restaurant there at Tidewater Marina.

We spent Sunday as tourists in Jamestown and Yorktown, VA. The museums were great, and an entire day for each museum could be devoted to seeing everything there is to see in these museums. We have been to Williamsburg several times before, so we opted not to go there again on this trip.

We are looking forward to our next destination, wherever that may be. Stay tuned.