Southport, NC to Norfolk, Va

The last section of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) took us from Southport NC (mile 310) to Norfolk VA (mile 0).  Ever since Florida, the boat had been feeling a little sluggish so we decided to get a ‘short haul’ and have her bottom cleaned at Zimmerman Marine in Southport NC.

In the slings ready to haul

A few too many barnacles!

It's bath time

We had a perfect weather forecast for taking a side trip to Ocracoke in the outer banks of North Carolina.  We anchored for 2 days in the very protected harbor and took our dinghy to shore.  Renting a golf cart allowed us to ride in style while touring this small beach town. We visited Ocracoke Lighthouse, the British Cemetery, Blackbeard's former stomping grounds, the ocean side beach and more.  We also found a wonderful coffee store, Ocracoke Coffee Co, owned by a Massachusetts native and proudly displaying memorabilia for Boston sports teams.

Vocational students construct a boat planter

Beautiful beach on the Atlantic

Ocracoke Light

Car ferry headed for Ocracoke

Manteo was another fun stop on the Outer Banks. It is a very quaint town with good restaurants and shops, and a really great maritime museum with interesting displays.

Vintage outboard motors

Hydroplane

Wood Optis ready for the kids to sail

Ranger Scott

Mile "0" of the ICW is at Norfolk, VA.  We stayed for 2 days in one of the downtown basins across the river in Portsmouth.  These are free docks directly in the city and give easy walking access to shops and restaurants.  A ferry visits the basin every half hour and for $1.75 you can get a ride across the river to Norfolk.  We visited the Chrysler Art Museum, the Freemason Historic distr and walked all over town.

Docked in south basin downtown Portsmouth

Mermaid sculpture in downtown Norfolk

Tiffany exhibit at Chrysler Museum in Norfolk