Horn Harbour in JulyTuesday, July 29
We are anchored in Horn Harbour, where we have gone aground twice before, and we managed NOT to go aground this time! We're very proud of ourselves :-)
We made it through the Great Bridge lock ok, this time choosing to tie our lines ourselves rather than head for the concrete wall and help like we did last time. It went ok, but not as smoothly as we both thought it would.
We hit Norfolk outside rush hour, which meant that all the bridges would open on request, rather than have scheduled openings. That should have been better but we hit a snag when we approached Gilmerton Bridge which has a railroad bridge right next to it. You have to have both bridges open at once in order to pass through them as they are so close but the railroad bridge was closed. These are always open unless there is a train coming, and this one is unmanned. I radioed Gilmerton Bridge and said we'd noticed the RR bridge closed and did she have any idea as to the reason. Nope, she said, the RR bridge was nothing to do with her, but she did notice there was a maintenance crew on it. Hmm, says I, because we would like to go through, and like you to open for us too, but of course we can't get past the RR bridge. That's right, she said, but I'll open for you when the RR bridge opens. So, how to get the RR bridge to open? We circled around in front of it, hoping someone would notice us. That was a vain hope. Then we tried the radio for though it was unmanned a sign on the bridge said it monitored the radio. Not much luck. RR Bridge #5 answered, but we were at RR Bridge #7. Then we tried telephoning the phone number listed on the same sign. Busy. Tried the radio again. Finally RR Bridge #5 said they would do it for us. After many long minutes the notice went out to all listeners that RR Bridge #7 was going to open. Phew! So the maintenance crew slowly ambled off, the RR bridge opened, and I radioed Gilmerton Bridge and asked if they would open. Not until 11, she said. What?? There weren't supposed to be any schedules. This isn't right. Oh, said I again to the bridge, we have managed to get the RR Bridge to open, but of course we can't go through it unless you open too. Yes, I see that she said. But I have a maintenance van on my bridge and I can't open until it gets off. You'll have to wait. So now the nail biting time of waiting, hoping the RR Bridge won't close on us before the other one opens. In the end, we made it through both of them, but it wasn't the easy passage we had hoped for.
The rest of the bridges were fine, and Norfolk itself was almost free of all shipping. It was great to go through without having to dodge too many tugs and tankers, and general traffic. In fact, the ICW has been pretty quiet the whole length of it, apart from a bit of traffic at the weekends.
We were almost within striking distance of our destination, Deltaville, and thought we could make it. But when we listened to the radio they advised all mariners to make for shore as soon as possible as there was a line of thunderstorms heading directly towards us. So here we are back at Horn Harbour. The last time we were here all the Christmas lights were twinkling and reflecting back at us.
We are anchored in Horn Harbour, where we have gone aground twice before, and we managed NOT to go aground this time! We're very proud of ourselves :-)
We made it through the Great Bridge lock ok, this time choosing to tie our lines ourselves rather than head for the concrete wall and help like we did last time. It went ok, but not as smoothly as we both thought it would.
We hit Norfolk outside rush hour, which meant that all the bridges would open on request, rather than have scheduled openings. That should have been better but we hit a snag when we approached Gilmerton Bridge which has a railroad bridge right next to it. You have to have both bridges open at once in order to pass through them as they are so close but the railroad bridge was closed. These are always open unless there is a train coming, and this one is unmanned. I radioed Gilmerton Bridge and said we'd noticed the RR bridge closed and did she have any idea as to the reason. Nope, she said, the RR bridge was nothing to do with her, but she did notice there was a maintenance crew on it. Hmm, says I, because we would like to go through, and like you to open for us too, but of course we can't get past the RR bridge. That's right, she said, but I'll open for you when the RR bridge opens. So, how to get the RR bridge to open? We circled around in front of it, hoping someone would notice us. That was a vain hope. Then we tried the radio for though it was unmanned a sign on the bridge said it monitored the radio. Not much luck. RR Bridge #5 answered, but we were at RR Bridge #7. Then we tried telephoning the phone number listed on the same sign. Busy. Tried the radio again. Finally RR Bridge #5 said they would do it for us. After many long minutes the notice went out to all listeners that RR Bridge #7 was going to open. Phew! So the maintenance crew slowly ambled off, the RR bridge opened, and I radioed Gilmerton Bridge and asked if they would open. Not until 11, she said. What?? There weren't supposed to be any schedules. This isn't right. Oh, said I again to the bridge, we have managed to get the RR Bridge to open, but of course we can't go through it unless you open too. Yes, I see that she said. But I have a maintenance van on my bridge and I can't open until it gets off. You'll have to wait. So now the nail biting time of waiting, hoping the RR Bridge won't close on us before the other one opens. In the end, we made it through both of them, but it wasn't the easy passage we had hoped for.
The rest of the bridges were fine, and Norfolk itself was almost free of all shipping. It was great to go through without having to dodge too many tugs and tankers, and general traffic. In fact, the ICW has been pretty quiet the whole length of it, apart from a bit of traffic at the weekends.
We were almost within striking distance of our destination, Deltaville, and thought we could make it. But when we listened to the radio they advised all mariners to make for shore as soon as possible as there was a line of thunderstorms heading directly towards us. So here we are back at Horn Harbour. The last time we were here all the Christmas lights were twinkling and reflecting back at us.
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