As I write this we are headed South on the Virginia Cut.  We went through the lock at 1 pm yesterday and spent the night at the free dock at the lock with the sailboats, (we are honorary sailors with our love of free docks and anchoring with our windage being our sail!)

The first boat in this parade is Daydream and our acquaintances Malinda & Paul, full time live aboards who travel the coast & the Carribean throughout the year.  We first met them in Elizabeth City before heading through the Dismal Swamp Canal (which is currently closed due to fires in the swamp) again in Norfolk and Washington D.C.  We have seen them by chance more than any other cruisers and were surprised to also see them heading back to Florida this week.  Small world. ( We are the caboose on this train).

This morning we caught the 8 am bridge opening and headed down the Virginia Cut.  It is very different scenery from the Dismal Swamp Route.  Very open feeling and lots of pine trees.  We even saw a Bald Eagle!  We may make it though Albemarle Sound today.  We will see what the wind is blowing when we get there around noon.  It is only 14 miles of open water but shallow and treacherous in winds.