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. . .
m/v Aqua Vitae 
Peggy, this blog is so good! Your photos are delightful. As one who’s driven to the Outer Banks many times, I find the area you’re describing familiar and evocative. (I used to wonder how Coinjock got its name. Do you know?) And of course so is the food! But of course I grew up eating fried fish and hush puppies.
Glad you are enjoying it, Cecily. WE ARE TOO!! Coinjock means “mulberry” in one of the American Indian languages, although no one can find any mulberries nearby.
I’m always astonished at how REALLY good hush puppies are. We are off today to Morehead City. . .another lovely calm day, just my type!
Great pictures. Thanks. Love Barb
Thanks, are you recognizing the places you’ve been?
Is that last picture your trawler??? I’m enjoying the photo trip!!!!
I’m glad to hear that, Francine. I’m enjoying putting it together!
P and H, Now you’re in the area that hooked me on the Inland Waterway 40 years ago. We criss-crossed so many of these towns as we drove back and forth to the Outer Banks.
Love your photos and prose, can taste those hesh puppies. Eileen McG
That first picture of the morning fog is beautiful (suitable for framing)!
32 degrees? Le Brrrr! Hope you’re staying nice and warm.
Though I was born a New Yawker too, my family are Southerners so I’ve had my share of yummy hesh peppies. When they’re good, they are stellar. When they’re bad… I wouldn’t even fish with them.
Thanks for the compliment. . .wait til you see my sunrise pics from this morning — WOW!!
. . . and the hesh peppies I had the other night were NOT fish food. They may have been the best I’ve ever had, in fact!
HA! I THINK I JUST FIGURED IT OUT!
DAMN AM I GOOD OR WHAT?
LUV U
YEP, yer good!