There was definitely frost on the docks this morning, and on the decks.

Morning fog on the Virginia Cut

It was 32 degrees when we left the dock at Great Bridge Bridge. Met up with our dock mates at the Centerville Turnpike Swing Bridge.

“Southern Grace” at the Swing Bridge

There are a surprising number of boats that RUSH to the bridge or lock to hang out, circle, shift gears. They’ll pass you going as fast as they can. . . it’s 7:10, the bridge will not open until 7:30, and they’re going 8 knots for the next half mile. . . just hangin’ out.

The Virginia Cut winds south from Portsmouth through low marsh. It’s lovely and barren.

Virginia Cut 2

Ultimately it opens into the Currituck Sound, oddly exaggerated open space after the winding cut, but the channel through the wide water is just as narrow, with the chart showing depths of 1 or 2 feet in many places. The course is clearly marked with frequent marks.

The ocean is right over there!

Tugs come through, this one from South Carolina.

We tied up at the Coinjock Marina, and had a great dinner at the Marina Restaurant.  I had the fried oysters and crab cake combo. And “hesh peppies” of course (deep fried cornbread, right? (“Hush puppies” for those north of here.) The oysters were small, plump and sweet, perfectly cooked. I should have skipped the crabcake. . .