Huge numbers of Navy ships at dock....many apparently under renovation.
Cool shipping activity - reminds me of Hong Kong without all the nasty pollution in the air. From this distance in Hong Kong, you would have barely been able to see the ships due to the ridiculously polluted air!!
We passed this Navy ship being towed into the channel. He warned several boats (not us) to stay clear!!
More Naval shipyards....
We left Norfolk headed up the James River - this is the James River tunnel - click on the photo and you can see that the highway just ends.....we sailed right over the tunnel!
Next up was the James River lift bridge. Duane's kindof tired of bridges....and this is one of the last ones we'll have to cross under on this trip....you have to call them on the radio and request that they open for you. Then you have to wait for them to signal all the traffic to stop....so it's not as simple as sailing along in a channel.
This one lifts to 145 ft!!! We're only 65' tall....so the bridge-master didn't have to lift all the way. We actually feel sorry for all the folks that have to wait on us to cross under on the highway...but we really don't have a choice.
Our destination today was Smithfield, Va - yes - home of the Smithfield Ham....you know I'm not having any of that....but reported to be a wonderful historic town.
I couldn't help but include this - we were zig-zagging into the channel from the James River over to Smithfield and I spied two birds - appears to be a white and black swan.....I'll have to investigate this....neat anyway.
This area is definitely "high-class" - beautiful homes lining the James River....
We anchored at the end of the Pagan River (or rather - near the bridge that was too low for us to go any further).
We took the (new!) dinghy into town (maybe 1/2 mile)....Smithfield has a nice little historic downtown....pretty landscapes....old houses. Good for a one time visit. Mark it off the "bucket list". Friendly people, for sure.
Ha - captured my Captain for once!!
Back to the boat....pretty sunset tonight. Back to Hampton tomorrow - looking forward to Sharon and Buddy meeting up with us in a couple of days!
2 comments:
Hey K,
I wouldn't worry too much about the bridges - when we lived in Jax - you always had to take the bridges into account and they were everywhere. The trip looks lovely though - the river must not flood like the ones up here - or they wouldn't put their fancy houses so near...
Y'all have fun!!!
Love,
T
Here's my question...why don't they just build the bridges taller? I mean, in the end, wouldn't it be more cost efficient?
Thanks! I really enjoyed my stay in Norfolk!
Stay safe!
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