We are now in North Carolina and will stop at Coinjock for the night (shower! Restaurant!). Virginia was a challenge with its narrow canals, or channels in the middle of what appeared like lakes but were mostly shallow. Dickie did not get us stuck in a shoal–that is YET, because mud gets moved around in the waterway and charts can’t always keep up. Our guide says everybody gets stuck, and those who have not yet will soon, or are just liars.

So, bridges in Virginia of all kinds. I may not have them in perfect order, but here are a few of them, mostly those we got stuck at from 10-59 minutes waiting for them to open. Yes, the 59 minutes closed on us just as we approached it. They follow different rules (closed during traffic hours, for trains, at specific times), and are of different types: fixed, lift, bascule, pivot swing. A practical lesson in 19th century engineering. I say 19th century because my reference is the 1889 Eiffel tower, the ultimate (vertical) bridge. I realize the bridges were built in the last century. Above, the Gilmerton bridge, quite impressive with its double bascule, and then behind another bridge for the railroad. We were still in an industrial part of the Waterway. There were piles of junk metal, which Dickie guessed were going to China. And then, I suppose back here in the US transformed into Apple computers.

The Norfolk Southern bascule bridge, which is manned–see the little house? You are supposed to thank the bridge operator (through the radio) when they open it for you. I’m sorry if it gets boring to look at, but the blog is such a wonderful way for Dickie and I to remember them.

We had read about the Great Bridge lock, and were anxious about going through it even though it has only a 1 to 4 feet of rise. The lady at the lock helped us with the cleats and called the dock a little further to ensure they had room for us. So grateful. By then, we were loaded and worn out with new experiences. We docked for the night in what seemed an abandoned dock with an empty parking lot near by. Alas, Dickie’s computer was out of power, and we did not get to watch “All Creatures Great and Small.” We finally figured out how to download movies or TV series. Stuart was our pro with that type of technology, besides we normally only watch the tennis channel or the news (or football when Dickie has a match he really cares about).

North Landing bridge, closed, darn. This is how it felt all day long. Closed. Again. Darn. Oh well. It’s a double pivot swing, and the one below gives an idea of how it works.

Centerville Turnpike bridge. See how it swings on its pivot? Swamps and forests surround us, a drastic change from industrial Norfolk.