Hampton, VA

We did it! We arrived in Virginia in plenty of time for Margaret & Jon to attend their friends' daughter's wedding in Fredericksburg this weekend! Today we encountered our first lock at the Great Bridge Lock south of Norfolk, picture attached. The lock controls the flow between the tidal Elizabeth River and the non-tidal Albemarle-Chesapeake canal to its south. As we locked through, the water level change was only a matter of inches; sometimes it consists of raising and lowering the water by several feet. Geese and goslings were everywhere, including a nesting goose right by the lockwall. She was a bit anxious that boats were so close to her nest. Lots of Mallard ducks too. Traveling through Norfolk, the number of Naval vessels was very impressive! Four aircraft carriers were in port and we wondered if one was the vessel our friend Chas is on. We are spending the weekend at Hampton Yacht Club, using it as a base to tour the area. The Yacht Club, off of the James River, is directly across the river from Hampton University. One of their members, moved his boat to a smaller dock in order to accomodate us. Beautiful location, particularly with the spectacular weather we are experiencing. Tonight is pizza night at the club so you know what's for dinner.