Bug Heaven

Norfolk to Buck Island - South Anchorage

October 25, 2019

It was a gorgeous sunrise in Norfolk. Shortly after we headed out, passing by a few more imposing Navy ships. They are massive!

I felt like we were playing following the leader as it was a pack of us moving South. 

Today was my first time in a lock. There were a ton of boats in that lock with us. My heart was racing as I wasn't really sure what to expect. LOL This lock was no big deal. There was a lock tender right next to the boat. I literally handed him the line. They said the water level changed by 2 feet but it sure didn't seem like it to me.  I was on the stern holding my line. Not a great picture. I’ll try again next time. 😃

The Atlantic ICW is 1100 miles from Norfolk to Key West. Here's the first mile marker (mm) we have seen. We are headed to around mm 1019. As with so much of our lives, it's all about the journey. And we are loving the journey.

We picked a beautiful anchorage South of Bucks Island to overnight. Deb and Keith invited us over for dinner and to look at charts and weather to plan our next few days. Worked out great - I had prepared some stuff and so had Deb, we potlucked for a boat feast and a lot of laughs. 

The sunset cruise to Right Hand

Seaquel in the foreground & Right Hand in the background. 

Loved the anchorage until the bugs started swarming. One time, probably 30 years ago we rented a vacation house at Prime Hook Beach, right on the west side of the Delaware Bay. Well, Prime Hook Beach backs to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. It was a fabulous spot with young children until the sun went down. If I remember right, the place had no AC and bugs were coming through the screens so you couldn't open the windows at night. Driving, it sounded like rain hitting the windows and forget walking after dark. We named that vacation spot Bug Heaven.

I was reminded of Bug Heaven last night when mayflies swarmed and covered our boat. When we left Right Hand to dinghy back to our boat it was like walking through a snow storm of bugs. These little buggers don't sting or bite but man they make a mess, boat covered and left green spots behind. This isn't a picture of our boat but this is about what it looked like! Eeeuuu! Wild North Carolina!



Bugs and all, love every minute.