05/20 - 05/23 - Carolina Loop

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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This is just a question, not a suggestion.

When we were in Coinjock, we rented a car and drove to the Wright Bros memorial. Looking at the charts Art/Sea Angel posted and doing a Google maps, could one go to Kitty Hawk Bay, anchor there or in Colington Creek, dinghy ashore and visit the Wright Bros Memorial? Last time we had a 6' draft sailboat and everything looked (and was) shallow. Does it change if you have a C-Dory?

That look like a trip I'd like to make if possible. The monument was a great visit, and even better than the Wright Bros in the Smithsonian.

Boris
 
Boris-
Sorry, I do not know what to expect, only rumor.

Like you, I will have to do some chart research. My RayMarine chart chip does go down below VA; but, my GARMIN and the ADC Chartbook does not. I will have to go to the boat to followup after the holidays; else, the NOAA www charts.

All my paper charts are on the boat, also. They do cover the 'Loop'.

As to channel depths on the North Landing River/Albemarle Chesapeake Canal, you will not have any problems with the CD's.

Art
 
Boris:

Last time I was there, you could get very close to the Wright Memorial. I have a Garmin format track which should open in other applications, showing an access point at Avalon Beach, which is a dual ramp state launch area. I'll be glad to send this by email. You could anchor off the ramp and dinghy in. I think you could also head farther south from the ramp, and anchor and dinghy in to anything that was public. Probably worth a phone call to the Memorial staff. The track also shows a northerly access point which is a private dock, not available to the public.
 
I'm back from West Virginia and ready to set a date for the cruise. How about May 20th for a start date. If that date looks good for most I will ask the C-BRAT administration to post it to the "Events" list.

The comment about going counter clockwise around the loop I think is a good idea:

Friday - Norfolk to Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Saturday - Continue on to Elizabeth City
Sunday - Elizabeth City to Coinjock
Monday - Coinjock to Norfolk

In the event of bad weather on Albemarle Sound, this direction around the loop provides for a more interesting place (Elizabeth City) to lay over for better weather.

Another item I would like to resolve soon is the location of a boat ramp and safe parking for rigs over the weekend. If anyone has any suggestions let me know and I will contact the persons responsible for the facility for reservations, etc.

Richard Clagett
 
Richard,
May 20 sounds good. I'm glad you mentioned getting info on some launch sites since I am not familiar with the area. I was looking at the web site for the Tidewater Yacht Marina at ICW mm "0", looks like a nice place but it also looks like they may only have a travel lift and not a ramp. Looking forward to hearing more, nice to make plans for the spring in this cold NY weather.
Rich and Kathie
 
We are also very interested in this trip. We would be trailering from Illinois, so a weekend close to the Chesapeake Bay gathering, which we plan attend also, would be advantageous for us, as well as for others folks travelling from far away.
 
There is a dual boat ramp at the Breat Bridge Lock Park. It is rather steep, but I did use it mannnnny years ago to launch my 18'. If you want to be entertained, stay and watch the new guys.

The link to the park is:
http://www.baygateways.net/contact.cfm?id=133

I do not know what their policy is for overnite stays. There is another new boat yard and ramp just south of I64/58 also and north of Great Bridge at the junction of the two Intracoastal Waterways.

I'll try to gather more info and pass it along.

I will be coming from Va. Beach and that will add abt 40m to the run and 6hrs to the lock area, at best guess without plotting it. I pass this along for there is also a public ramp near the Lestner Bridge, Va. Beach, on the Ches. Bay side of the CBBT.

Tidewater Yatch, NFLK, is probably the last best fuel stop before Eliz. City or Coinjock. The range is well within the CD22s ability.

Art
 
Thanks everyone for the response, looks like May 20th is a good date. I will ask the to have it placed on the Events list.

First priority we need to get a starting point for those boats coming by trailer. Art, thanks for offering to get info on ramps and parking. I will do a search of marinas and I believe Tivo also was going to look at what was available. Between the 3 of us we should be able to find adequate facilities to splash boats and park the rigs.

After the first of the year I will layout a proposed plan for the trip. It won't be cut in stone, I would like input from those attending. However, I am firm on trying a steak at Coinjock.

I wish all of you at happy and safe holiday season

Richard
 
I was looking on Google Earth at the area around Norfolk for boat ramps and marinas. Looks like Willoughby Harbor Marina has a public boat ramp within 2 blocks of the marina. I called the marina and the person there indicated that it may be possible for us to leave our rigs at the marina, she would need to check further. She also indicated it should be a safe place for the rigs over the weekend. Is anyone familiar with this facility? Looks like it might be a possibility.

Richard
 
Art and I have tied up at that marina for lunch before. It is a nice place and would work as a jump off place. Decent neighborhood for leaving the rigs. The locks open at 0830 and 1100, and 1330. Making the 0830 or 1100 opening from there would be tough. We would definitely have to figure gas out as it would add some miles. Since the idea is to spend the night at the Welcome Center, we have to have enough gas to get all the way to E-City. I usually carry some gas cans but it would mean a fill up if you don't in either Portsmouth or along the Elizabeth River before entering the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Bennetts Creek Marina in Suffolk is a definite possibility too (10 miles from mile 0). They have very safe parking and very easy ramp. Downside is the marina has zero facilities other than some docks. It is in the process of rebuilding right now. They said they have no problem with us launching and leaving rigs there however, I have left my truck and trailer there for two days before. They did say we can probably all tie up and or raft to eachother for the night before departing too. If we are launching on Friday and retreiving on Monday, they work great.

Another idea is to launch at Bennetts Creek on Thursday night and overnight at Tidewater Yacht in Portsmouth right at Mile 0. Then on Monday night, return to Suffolk (about 10 more miles) and pull the boats.
 
Tivo, I like your idea for putting in at Bennetts Creek Marina on Thursday and gathering at Tidewater (Mile Marker 0) Thursday night. That should allow us to make Deep Creek Lock at one of the Friday AM openings.

Also, Art was looking at Great Bridge and Steve from Osprey was looking at Portsmouth City Park, so it looks like we may have several possibilities.

Richard
 
I don't know if we have any Marylanders coming yet, but my plan, because I am cheap and don't want to pay bridge toll, and it is weather dependent, is to launch on the Eastern Shore of VA at home on Thursday night after work about 5pm and motor across and either anchor or tie up at Tidewater Yacht to be ready for the a.m. It is about a 2.5 hour ride. If there are any Marylanders who would like to do that, they can leave their rig at my house, the boat ramp is right around the corner. It would mean coming back across the bay on Tuesday as I doubt we'd be up for the trek across after coming up the river. Since the lower bay can be, shall we say, snotty, we would have to watch the forecast for this plan.

BT new topic - here is a link to some Dismal Swamp pics in my album if you are interested.
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
 
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