05/20 - 05/23 - Carolina Loop

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
Richard,
I live about 10 minutes from the Portsmouth City Park ramp...It is on the opposite side of the Western Branch from my house. I will gladly ferry folks as needed to and from the ramp and my dock.
My house is 1.2 NM from Mile Marker zero, so it would make a very convenient point of begining or ending for anyone that chooses this as there option.
Another thing that would aid those that want to explore and dine out the night before the start, is to moor at one of two free mooring basins at the foot of High Street and at the foot of North Street in Portsmouth. These moorings are located about 200 yards from Mile Marker zero are well protected and are a great way to walk around and dine at Olde Town Portsmouth. The ferry at the High Street basin takes you to Waterside Marina in Norfolk within easy walking distance of dining and shopping.
Steve Baum
Cell: 757-477-1453
 
Steve:

I'll give you a call to see if you still have space for our tow rig. I prefer to launch at Portsmouth/Norfolk, since doing so allows us to visit a beautiful area that will be totally missed otherwise. I always like to see the aircraft carriers, battleship Wisconsin, etc., and the ferry makes it all very easy to do. We'll plan on anchoring, and would be more than willing to provide dinghy service to anyone who drops their hook in the same area and needs to get to or from shore at Portsmouth.

David
 
David,
You are the first to take me up on the use of my driveway for the subject trip. Looking forward to specking with you on the phone when time permits.
Steve
 
I have space for one rig at my home in Virginia Beach, if anyone desires
to use it beside the house and maybe I can squeeze one more in front, if
my car is not there.

Driving,I am located abt 25 minutes/12miles south of my marina, The
Marina at Marina Shores, Va. Beach.. There is a city and public boat ramp
near the Lynnhaven Inlet Bridge and my marina.

I could ferry you back & forth, if we can coordinate our schedules.

I'm abt 40 miles from "mile 0", east and south of the Ches. Bay Bridge
Tunnel, via the waterway.

If health and schedules permit, I plan on making the trip, also.

I do agree that the Centerville Pike Marina is a great alternative and
whatever way you travel the loop you still will go through 3 "lockings". It
is located in an area removed from any heavy residental dwellings and
fairly secure.

Personnally, I would rather traverse the full length of the Dismal Swamp
Canal and stay at Eliz. City, but that is my comfort statement so I can
have ac power. The next nite to Coinjock and explore the area's side
rivers; mainly the North River in NC.

Art
 
Tivo;
I guess my mind must be going "south". It seems to me I've had the A/C
on here at the house starting abt the beginning of May and the "hungry,
ain't eat yet bugs since last fall" start to come out about the same time.
So, do take plenty of bug spray and CUTTERs for the NC stops.

I don't know when the "Snow Birds" will start to travel north on the ICW,
but it could get crowded at the NC Visitors Center with the limited dock
space there; especially, on a Friday afternoon when they hangout till the
weekend traffic on the bay and rivers abates.

I have only traveled by water on the main routes between Norfolk and
Coinjock, never on the Dismall Swamp Canal. (I have driven along the
Dismal Swamp Canal to Elizebeth City via the Visitor's Center.) I can say
that there a lot of jet skies and water skiers on the North Landing River
run during the weekends.

As to a stop at the NC Vistor's Center, maybe this is a good "reason" to
get a HONDA 2000i Generator. It would make sense for running time to
mile "0" is abt 4.5hrs from my marina, as I best remember. I do have the
actual times in my logbook on the boat.

From Mile "0" to the Deep Creek Lock is abt 7.5 Miles and 21 Miles to the
South Mills Lock, with Elizepth City at the 51 Mile mark from "0". The
Canal speed limit is 6kts, no wake. The is a park ranger manned
pedestrian swing bridge abt 250 yds south of the Visitor's Center.

If anyone can get a copy of the "ATLANTIC ICW 2011 Intracoastal
Waterway: Norfolk, VA to Jacksonville, Fla." by Dozier's Waterway Guide,
you can find all sorts of helpful information.

So much for this 'little' story time.
Art
 
Art,

I checked with the folks at the Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center and they indicated most of the "Snow Bird" traffic is in April and early May. They indicated boat traffic for our date should not be that bad. Also they have no problem with us rafting out if it dose get busy. I still would like to spent Friday night at the Visitor Center if we all agree. The Visitor Center would not be open if we would go clockwise around the loop and show up on Sunday night. However the restrooms are always open and the adjacent State Park would be open on Sunday.

Richard
 
I like stopping at the welcome center because we will get a ton of people talking to us about our boats and what we are doing, and I like to talk about my boat. Especially Friday evening, lots of folks in cars wil be heading south at that time of year too and they all stop to dewater and stretch there on their way to the Outer Banks. Could be fun. Plus there are picnic tables and what not to gather, and it stetches the trip out. Lots of pluses and besides, the waterway guides all say it is a place not to be missed. They maintain a cruisers library too so bring a book you've read to trade out with what they have.

Is anyone else so done with winter they can hardly wait for this trip? I have waxed the boat twice since November and even took it out yesterday because I am going nuts.
 
Tivo, I haven't taken the boat out but I been working on the trailer. I am completely rewiring and putting new lights due to inferior parts and the high salt content of the local waters, replacing it with waterproof LED lighting and marine grade wire. I hope this last longer than the original equipment.

I am trying to ignore the cold and looking forward to May.

Richard
 
You guys with these small easy to tow boats should be in florida 70's degrees and water temps in the 60's not bad for winter
Tivo still trying to figure out if we are coming up.if there is a chesepeake gathering cruise then maybe we could . If we do come up we would take you up on storing our trailer . Jim
 
Jim, if you keep rubbing in how warm your weather is, I may serve you a warm beer instead of a cold one. That'll teach ya! :wink: Seriously, you are more than welcome to park it here while you cruise. And somebody ought to be enjoying the good weather, so it might as well be some nice C-Brats while us working stiffs slog through a snowy commute.
 
I guess there will be a 7th Chesapeake gathering 6/3-6/5 or so .I was wondering if between these two gatherings would anyone want to do the lower chesepeake or Albermale or pamlico sounds ? Then maybe we could get up there. Id hate to trailer just for one function it would be better to spend from 5/20-6/5 up in the virginia ,NC area . Are there any other Brats coming long distance that would like to stay for both functions

pm or email me I need the Admiral's permission if there are others going she would probably go along
 
Toni and I left our boat in North Carolina and plan to reunite with it in April and maybe do some of the intra coastal. This sounds like fun if we are in the area when it takes place. Our problem is we are better with directions and temperatures than schedules, we understand SOUTH and we have a very good understanding of WARM.

We will follow this thread and try to attend....
 
sportner":2r9ozuo4 said:
Toni and I left our boat in North Carolina and plan to reunite with it in April and maybe do some of the intra coastal. This sounds like fun if we are in the area when it takes place. Our problem is we are better with directions and temperatures than schedules, we understand SOUTH and we have a very good understanding of WARM.

We will follow this thread and try to attend....
Click to expand...

So many coasts.....So little time.
 
If anyone stays after the loop trip and before the Chesapeake Bay gathering, you might want to consider this activity. Every year the Nature Conservancy collects eel grass seeds and needs people willing to snorkle and collect them. Water is usually about 70-75 degrees by then, so a shortie or 3mil full wet suit is needed to stay warm. I do this every year. It is fun, helps restore the grasses to the bay, and is a great way to get wet. They launch out of Oyster on the Virginia Inside Passage out to the barrier islands (very doable in a C-Dory), anchor out and collect the seeds. The activity goes all week usually depending on the tide. Oyster has a great little marina you can tie up in, usually for free since the harbor master is no where to be found, but there are no services either.

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia/volunteer/art27326.html
 
http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/12206_BookletChart_HomeEd.pdf


Check out this web site shown above for--

NOAA's Free
Booklet Chart No.12206 - Dismal Swamp.


You can down load it to your computer as a PDF file.

I have done that and thought of down loading the saved file
to a scan stick,
then taking it to Staples
and having it printed out in full high quality color.
 
I thought it might be time to summarize where I think we are on our trip plans, I have trouble following long threads. So here goes:

Carolina Loop Information:

http://www.discoverelizabethcity.com/pdf/Brochures/EC-CVB-LoopBrochure-lores.pdf


Chart/GPS Waypoints/Cruising Guide:

Chart - go to http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/AtlanticCoastBookletCharts.htm and download chart #12206

Waypoints - C-Brat “Alma’s Only” has Garmin format routes which he’ll be glad to email to anyone interested. Provide him a PM with your request.

Cruising Guide – Google (WATERWAY GUIDE's Atlantic ICW 2011)


Locks & Bridges:

Deep Creek/South Mills Locks & Bridges – Deep Creek and South Mills Locks normal operating schedule is: openings at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The schedule is subject to change during droughts or adverse weather conditions; call to confer before transiting the canal.

Drawbridges at Deep Creek and South Mills are unmanned and open in conjunction with the lock operating schedule. The lock operator also serves as bridge operator, therefore cannot be in both locations at the same time. Some delays in the opening can be expected, as they will be coordinated with the adjacent locks. Deep Creek Lock and Bridge operators can be reached at (757) 487-0831, the South Mills Lock and Bridge operators can be reached at (252) 771-5906 or marine radio channel 13.

North Landing Bridge – http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/pub-wrks/bridges-northlanding.shtml

Great Bridge Lock – Opens on demand, working in conjunction with the North Landing Bridge openings. Phone 757-482-3081

Other Bridges – We should be able to sneak under them, if not open.


Schedule:

5/19 Thursday – Out of area boats arriving by trailer
5/20 Friday - Norfolk to Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
5/21 Saturday - Continue on to Elizabeth City
5/22 Sunday - Elizabeth City to Coinjock
5/23 Monday - Coinjock to Norfolk


Marina/Ramp Options:

1. Bennetts Creek Marina in Suffolk, VA ( http://www.bennettscreekmarina.com ) – Marina is 10 NM form Mile Marker 0 and they have parking for rigs, a ramp and some docks. The marina has zero facilities and is in the process of being rebuilt.

2. Centerville Waterway Marina in Chesapeake, VA (http://marinas.com/view/marina/2278_Centerville_Waterway_Marina_Chesapeake_VA ) - Marina is about 15 NM from ICW Mile Marker 0 and has boat ramp, storage for rigs and slips if you want to tie up overnight. They also have fuel, restrooms and showers.

3. Litl’ Tug’s residence in Cape Charles, VA (2.5 hour run to ICW Mile Marker 0) – Contact C-Brat Tivo Romero of “Litl’ Tug” for additional information. Tivo has offered rig parking at his house and the ramp is within walking distance to his house.

4. Osprey’s residence in Portsmouth, VA (1.2 NM from ICW Mile Marker 0) – Contact C-Brat Steve Baum of “Osprey” for additional information. Steve has offered his dock, driveway for rig parking and to ferry folks to/from Portsmouth City Park ramp (near his house) and his dock. Steve’s driveway is capable of taking about 4 rigs and his dock about 10 boats.

5. Sea Angle’s residence in Virginia Beach, VA (40 NM from ICW Mile Marker 0) – Contact C-Brat Art of “Sea Angle” for additional information. Art has offered rig parking (1 maybe 2 spots) and to ferry folks back & forth between marina, ramp and home.


T-Shirt:

Tivo provided a design, see page 3 of Carolina Loop discussion on C-Brat site. We will try and provide t-shirts if there is sufficient orders to make the cost of production reasonable.


Activities:

Thursday 5/19 – This is the get ready day. I suspect those that trailer their boats will arrive in the Norfolk area on or before this day. I plan to put in at Centerville Waterway Marina on Thursday and will either spend the night there or if enough folks want to get together at one of the Marinas in Norfolk/Portsmouth area, I will travel to that Marina. We will leave this open until individual plans materialize.

Friday 5/20 – Travel to the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center. This will probably be the first place where we are all together, so a pot luck dinner to meet everyone would be appropriate. The Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the Dismal Swamp Canal and the adjacent State Park has hiking and nature trails.

Saturday 5/21 – Travel to Elizabeth City, NC. The City has a carriage ride and walking tours along with shops, galleries and other attractions. Normally the local folks, “Rose Buddies”, will have a wine and cheese party for greeting boaters during happy hour. There are many walk-to restaurants, so this might be a good place to sample the local fare.

Sunday 5/22 – Travel to Coinjock, NC. The Coinjock Restaurant is supposed to have the best steak on the ICW. I for one am going to try it. This is also a good place to relax and watch the parade of yachts/boats while trading stories of our boating adventures.

Monday 5/23 – It would be nice to get together for breakfast (on the dock or at the restaurant) before we head back to our drop off places.



I plan to update this summary as needed, so please let me know what I missed and what additional information you would like to see.

Richard
 
I thought it might be time to summarize where I think we are on our trip plans, I have trouble following long threads. So here goes:

Carolina Loop Data:

Info - http://www.discoverelizabethcity.com/pd ... -lores.pdf
Chart - go to http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChar ... Charts.htm and download chart #12206
Waypoints - C-Brat “Alma’s Only” has Garmin format routes which he’ll be glad to email to anyone interested. Provide him a PM with your request.
Cruising Guide – Google (WATERWAY GUIDE's Atlantic ICW 2011)

Locks & Bridges:

Deep Creek/South Mills Locks & Bridges – Deep Creek and South Mills Locks normal operating schedule is: openings at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The schedule is subject to change during droughts or adverse weather conditions; call to confer before transiting the canal.

Drawbridges at Deep Creek and South Mills are unmanned and open in conjunction with the lock operating schedule. The lock operator also serves as bridge operator, therefore cannot be in both locations at the same time. Some delays in the opening can be expected, as they will be coordinated with the adjacent locks. Deep Creek Lock and Bridge operators can be reached at (757) 487-0831, the South Mills Lock and Bridge operators can be reached at (252) 771-5906 or marine radio channel 13.

North Landing Bridge – http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/de ... ding.shtml

Great Bridge Lock – Opens on demand, working in conjunction with the North Landing Bridge openings. Phone 757-482-3081

Other Bridges – We should be able to sneak under them, if not open.

Marina/Ramp Options:

1. Bennetts Creek Marina in Suffolk, VA ( www.bennettscreekmarina.com ) – Marina is 10 NM form Mile Marker 0 and they have parking for rigs, a ramp and some docks. The marina is in the process of being rebuilt.
2. Centerville Waterway Marina in Chesapeake, VA (http://marinas.com/view/marina/2278_Centerville_Waterway_Marina_Chesapeake_VA ) - Marina is about 15 NM from ICW Mile Marker 0 and has boat ramp, storage for rigs and slips if you want to tie up overnight. They also have fuel, restrooms and showers.
3. Litl’ Tug’s in Cape Charles, VA (2.5 hour run to ICW Mile Marker 0) – Contact C-Brat Tivo Romero of “Litl’ Tug” for additional information. Tivo has offered rig parking at his house and the ramp is within walking distance.
4. Osprey’s in Portsmouth, VA (1.2 NM from ICW Mile Marker 0) – Contact C-Brat Steve Baum of “Osprey” for additional information. Steve has offered his dock, driveway for rig parking and to ferry folks to/from Portsmouth City Park ramp (near his house) and his dock. Steve’s driveway is capable of taking about 4 rigs and his dock about 10 boats.
5. Sea Angle’s in Virginia Beach, VA (40 NM from ICW Mile Marker 0) – Contact C-Brat Art of “Sea Angle” for additional information. Art has offered rig parking (1 maybe 2 spots) and to ferry folks back & forth between marina and ramp.

T-Shirt:

Tivo provided a design, see page 3 of Carolina Loop discussion on C-Brat site. We will try and provide t-shirts if there is sufficient orders to make the cost of production reasonable.

Schedule/Activities:

Thursday 5/19 – This is the get ready day. I suspect those that trailer their boats will arrive in the Norfolk area on or before this day. I plan to put in at Centerville Waterway Marina on Thursday and will either spend the night there or if enough folks want to get together at one of the Marinas in Norfolk/Portsmouth area, I will travel to that Marina. We will leave this open until individual plans materialize.

Friday 5/20 – Travel to the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center. This will probably be the first place where we are all together, so an opportunity for a pot luck dinner to get to know eachother. The Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the Dismal Swamp Canal and the adjacent State Park has hiking and nature trails.

Saturday 5/21 – Travel to Elizabeth City, NC. The City has a carriage ride and walking tours along with shops, galleries and other attractions. Normally the local folks, “Rose Buddies”, will have a wine and cheese party for greeting boaters during happy hour. There are many walk-to restaurants, so this might be a good place to sample the local fare.

Sunday 5/22 – Travel to Coinjock, NC. The Coinjock Restaurant is supposed to have the best steak on the ICW. I for one am going to try it. This is also a good place to relax and watch the parade of yachts/boats while trading stories of our boating adventures.

Monday 5/23 – Travel home. It would be nice to get together for breakfast (on the dock or at the restaurant) before we head back to our drop off places.

I plan to update this summary as needed, so please let me know what I missed and what additional information you would like to see.

Richard
 
Richard, that's almost exactly the schedule I kept when I made that trip in 2003 except I didn't overnight at the Visitor Center. It was right after they cleaned out and opened the canal following Hurricane ISABEL. Would recommend you build in a little time for weather delay if you can, the trip across Albemarle Sound from Elizabeth City into the other canal can be rough. I probably can't go but wish you a lot of luck!

Charlie
 
Charlie,

I am a little concerned on Albemarle Sound. We have about 5 miles on it and depending on wind I suspect it might be nasty, but if we go slow we should be able to punch through. My real concern is fog. Early in the season this might be a problem and without radar I would not want to make that leg until it clears.

Are you going to attend the Chesapeake gathering this year? I hope we have a good turn-out this year, the Chester River and surrounding area is a super place to cruise and relax.

Richard
 
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