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Ship’s Log 6.13 Great Bridge Lock

 Got a later start on Day 3. Belhaven too darn cute and has the best hardware store ever. And obviously, we’ll be in Yorktown by mid-afternoon. Rose colored glasses are firmly in place, croakies and all.

Scenery was beautiful on the Pungo Canal, although I did not see a bear fishing as promised and would like to speak to the manager. Albemarle Sound was a bit rough but not a problem. Weather’s cool and cloudy so we enjoyed some games. (Operation surprisingly a good boat game.)

We reach Great Bridge (just S of Norfolk) and run into our first hiccup. The bridge arm won’t open. Not the bridge itself, mind you, but the traffic arm. We are now in full communication on the VHF and Bridge Master says Bridge Technician is on the way. Mason asks if he can Uber to the tackle shop super quick (teens...) but we are sure this will be resolved in no time.

Cut to an hour later when we are doing jumping jacks on the bow. If you know us at all, this is slightly out of character but a must after being cooped up. Meade is singing to herself and playing aggressive tag with Mason. Someone is going in the water soon if we don’t get some energy out.

We watch those traffic arms go up and down about twenty times, hoping each time that the far one will drop into place. After another 30 min, it finally settles all the way down. The two fishing boats and we start cheering. Untie and resume position! As we go under the bridge, we all cheer and clap. The Bridge Master brings the Tech out for a bow.

Next, we enter Great Bridge Lock. There are some signs saying life jackets required in lock area so I suit up in Big Orange. Meade starts dying laughing and taking a video (that will not be posted). Fishing guys behind us are also giggling. I lean into the Stay-Puf act for a bit because we’re kind of losing our marbles. (Add to shopping list: flattering life jackets)

As we leave the lock, the fishing captain asks if we want to run North with him. We’re behind schedule at this point so thrilled to run behind a pro. We run with these guys through Norfolk.  I get a little concerned when I see them peel off to Newport News (looks so cute and inviting...) but Captain Optimism still feels good about making it to Yorktown. I’ll jump ahead over the matrimonial discussions here and say we made it. Rolling across the Chesapeake at sunset with dolphins leaping around was pretty magical. Dinner served late but fun to cook on the boat.

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