CODA Mid-Atlantic 2025 (2).

CODA : Arrivng in Virginia.  

25 April 2025 

Great Bridge free docks, Chesapeake, Virginia

Crew and Captain at the Great Creek Lock.

Marc-  We traveled in the Virginia Cut canal route from the eastern edge of the Great Dismal Swamp to the  headwaters of the Elizabeth River near Norfolk, Virginia.  Traffic was light and all passing motorboats slowed appropriately for sailboats when passing.  There is hope for a civilized society at least in Virginia.  We traveled through several scenic sounds and land cuts stopping only for three drawbridges that had scheduled openings on the hour or half hour.  We tied up at a very nice free dock in front of the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterway History Museum after 6 hours of travel.  We had help from fellow boaters to tie up and in minutes we were helping others tie up.  One boater suggested passing through the bridge and tying at the northern docks to leave earlier in the morning.  Several of the boats decided to do just that (including us). 

The area has an excellent museum on the revolutionary war battle that took place here where the Patriots won.  Another park had nice wooded hiking trails (we walked several miles).  A third area to visit was the Great Bridge Lock.  This lock is not like any that we have travelled in.  Its purpose is to guard water quality.  It prevents the tidal (salt) waters of the Elizabeth River from mixing with the fresh water of Currituck Sound and the Great Dismal Swamp.  If these two waters were to mix, plants and animals native to this area would be in danger.  Another unique feature of this lock is that it has two sets of gates on either end to move boats either upon down.  

An overview map of the water routes.  We are currently near the top of the blue route.

The Great Bridge.

Great Bridge control room with different camera angles of passing boats.

Coda is tied to the left side docks.  The Great Bridge Lock is off in the distance.

Note the rubber fenders on the lock wall (boat protectors).

Tug and barge passing through from the lock.

One of several hiking trails.

This is a portrait of King George circa 1775 that was hung in a local tavern.

This is the reverse side of the portrait of King George circa 1775 that was hung in a local tavern.

All is not lost when there is some form of ice cream in town.

Some Canadian tourists with their offspring at the Lock Park.