The lock at Great Bridge, VA is the only lock on the so-called, North Carolina – Virginia Route of the AICW. Of course, this is what I would term the “primarly” passage that most cruisers use to pass between Virginia and North Carolina waters, or the other way around. Of course, the other possible passage is by way of the Dismal Swamp Canal Route.
I am no expert on the Great Bridge lock, but my memory is that it’s larger than the two Dismal Swamp Canal locks, and it only raises or lowers your craft a few feet. It also operates far more frequently than its Dismal Swamp counterpart.
Below, once again, Captain Arnold give us all some great advice on where to find some seriously cheap dockage near Great Bridge!

Since you cover the Dismal Swamp you presumably mention the Great Bridge Lock on the shorter route. There also is a great free docking in the approach between lock and bridge on the south side (going south) which they say is limited to 24hrs but nobody objects if you stay longer. Many shops / groceries are within easy walking distance and the Farm Fresh grocery store manager will run you back to the dock. The Veteran Club there will give you fresh veggies from their vegetable garden if you gratiously make a small donation for the kids they support.
Arnold

I agree with Arnold – the dock between the lock and the bridge is great (no pun intended). Just a few of notes: 1) Make sure you pull as far forward as possible when you dock. It can get busy here, 2) If you plan on only stopping for a few hours, remember that the Great Bridge Bascule Bridge stops opening at 7pm, 3) Expect wake from barges and tugs passing very close, and 4) There is no power to hook up to. Outside of that, there is plenty of shopping, including a grocery, within walking distance. If you continue past the bridge (when going southbound/eastbound), there is another free dock on the north side of the ICW. It’s not in as good shape, but you won’t get stuck with the opening. Also, it adds about another 1/4 mile to your shopping walk since you have to cross the bridge on foot to get to the shopping areas. If you’ve done an overnight run down the Chesapeake from Annapolis, like we did in the freezing cold of December, these free docks are a wonderful spot to stop at for the night.
Chris
S/V Pelican

As most regular visitors to the Cruisers’ Net know, my “expertise” [grin!], stops at the NC-VA state line, so I’m particularly grateful to Captain Arnold for providing the very useful tid-bit below about a possible overnight stop near the Deep Creek, VA lock. This lock and the adjacent waters are part of the AICW Alternate Dismal Swamp Canal Route. Anyone following this fascinating and historical, but sometimes challenging passage, may very well want to take advantage of this tip!

At the top end of the Dismal Swamp route is of course Deep Creek lock with a half mile approach channel AFTER the bridge. They allow that to be used for a great hurricane hole if needs be. And about a mile after the lock is a great little circular cove to starboard which the locals call the “hole in the wall”. It has a 6ft bar at the approach but inside around 14 ft deep throughout and a good sandy holding bottom – again a good hurricane hole I would imagine – except at such a time maybe a ton of boats hiding in there…….. Strictly speaking you’re not supposed to go ashore – private property – but nobody seems to take much notice – there are no waterside homes there but they tell me a housing develpoment may be pending. The water is crystal clean – though a brown colour due to tannin not pollution. It’s a tad busy at weekends but absolutely pristine and peaceful on weekdays – you share it only with herons. Incidentally you’ll often see Bill there – the nice fellow, ex Navy, who built the dock in memory of his wife Elizabeth – canoeing – which he does fairly often for the exercise.
Arnold

Claiborne:
The Hampton Roads USCG has set up a phone number for emergency calls that cannot use (or get through on) marine VHF channel 16: 1-877-SCCJSAR (722-5727). They cover waters from the MD/DE borders through VA to the NC border. This is especially important to Chesapeake cruisers, including the Potomac and other adjoining navigable rivers.
Regards, Jim

Claiborne,
I motored through the Jordan Bridge span last week and am happy to report that the span has been removed.
Allan DeWall
S/V Cat Rageous

P 181258Z JUN 09 ZUI ASN-AS1169000006
FM COMCOGARD SECTOR HAMPTON ROADS VA
TO VIRGINIA PILOTS ASSN NORFOLK VA//90-1100 VAPILOTS UD//
BALTIMORE PILOTS ASSN BALTIMORE MD//87-574 MARPILOTS//
CCGDFIVE PORTSMOUTH VA//DPW/DRMC//
CDRUSAED NORFOLK VA
AIG 8916
INFO NGA NAVSAFETY BETHESDA MD
BT
UNCLAS //N16670//
SUBJ: SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS
HRD BNM 290-09
VA – CHESAPEAKE BAY – ELIZABETH RIVER SOUTHERN BRANCH
MARINERS ARE ADVISED THAT MISENER MARINE CONSTRUCTION INC WILL BE
CONDUCTING BRIDGE FENDER REPAIR ON THE GILMERTON BRIDGE FROM 7 P.M.
FRIDAY JULY 17 UNTIL 6 A.M. MONDAY JULY 20, 2009. ONE BARGE WILL BE
ONSCENE TENDED BY THE TUG BAYOU BEAST. REPRESENTATIVES FROM MISENER
MARINE CONSTRUCTION INC WILL BE MONITORING VHF-FM CHANNEL 13 AND 16.
WHILE THE ENTIRE CHANNEL WILL NOT BE BLOCKED BY THIS OPERATION, IT
IS REQUESTED THAT MARINERS TRANSITING THIS PORTION OF THE ELIZABETH
RIVER CONTACT MISENER MARINE CONSTRUCTION INC VIA VHF-FM CHANNEL 13,
THIRTY MINUTES PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE GILMERTON BRIDGE TO ENSURE A
DELAY FREE PASSAGE. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT JOHN C. ESKINS
AT 813-233-6338 OR HAROLD FOSKEY AT 813-363-0187. MARINERS ARE
ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING THE AREA.
CANCEL AT//201100Z JUL 09//
BT
NNNN

Atlantic Yacht Basin
800-992-2489
Reporting Date: 8/4/09
Gasoline Price (including all taxes): $2.55
Diesel Fuel Price (including all taxes): $1.97
Any Quantity Discount Y/N: No If so: How much for how many gallons:
Any Boat/US Discount Y/N If so: How much:
Any SeaTow Discount Y/N If so: How much:

Subject: Waterside Marina and Fuel Prices
Cruising News: Claiborne,
When a serious back problem forced us to pull in in Norfolk, we were pleased to find exceptional winter rates beginning Dec 1, and good attention at Waterside City Marina. You can even use the gym just up the street. There is bus service at Waterside (see HRT.com for schedules and stops) so you don\'t have to have a car or pay taxi rates. There\'s a downtown bus 310 that\'s free that mainly travels Granby Street. And we can\'t say enough good about the medical services we acessed and the care we received at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. If we had to have a medical problem, this was the right spot.
I also checked fuel prices 1/15/09 at Portsmouth Ocean Marine – Diesel 1.85 (-.10) for BoatUS. members.
We're about to head south from Norfolk. Hoping for warmer weather somewhere.
Happy New Year
Jeanie and Wes Quigley
MV Miss Ruby

Tidewater and Waterside look to be chock-a-block full, as is AYB and the walls at Great Bridge. Everyone is on the move. We arrived here at 13:30 and called ahead to AYB to find out it was full. So we stopped early and got a slip at Waterside. For those of you who have memories of this being an adventurous place to stay, meaning dangerous, I can tell you it seems now to be wonderful. We met a couple of Segway riding policemen who advised the area has improved dramatically in the last few years. So, if Tidewater is full, this is a good alternative.
Scott

Received a note late on 10/15/08 from one of our most faithful correspondents, Captain Allan DeWall, that copied a newspaper article reporting the permanent “closing” of the “Jordan Bridge” at Statute Mile 2.8. Unfortunately, as the article is copyrighted, I can not reproduce it here.
Anyway, I e-mailed Captain Allan, and asked whether all this meant the span in question would remain in the open position. After some research, he replied:

Claiborne,
I found a bit more about the plans for closing the bridge. The following is from an online brochure entitled “Decommisioning of the Jordan Bridge; Your Questions Answered”:
What will happen to the bridge?
The lift span will be placed in the `up’ position and gates will be down and locked. Within six months of the
decommission date, Public Works will work with a contractor to begin complete disassembly of the bridge to remove it from the waterway. The City plans to salvage the steel in an effort to offset removal expenses.
You can download the 2-page brochure at:
http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/pub-wrks/pdffiles/jordan-bridge-assessment/Jordan-Bridge-Decommissioning-Brochure-opt.pdf
Cheers,
Allan

Subject: ICW bridge closing in Norfolk, VA
Message: Claiborne,
The first two bridges encountered by southbound ICW cruisers leaving Norfolk are the normally- raised Norfolk & Portsmouth Railroad Bridge at ICW M/M 2.6 and the Jordan Highway Bridge at ICW M/M 2.8. The Jordan Bridge has been declared unsafe for highway traffic and will close permanently on November 8. The bridge will be raised to it\’s full 145 foot height after closure and will no longer impede ICW traffic flow.
The Jordan Bridge is the first on-request bridge south of Norfolk and sits 15\’ above low water. It is built of girders and rises horizontally between two towers.
Norman R. Blinn

Subject: Hospital Point, VA anchorage changes.
Message: The popular Hospital Point anchorage in Norfolk, has changed: the area used to carry anywhere from 4-10′ depths; however, it seems to have been dredged recently. So, get used to 8-20′ at the anchorage. There is also a yellow weather buoy in the center of the anchoring area. The rumor that \\\”all crabpot floaters are gone from this anchorage\\\” is not true; there are a few, but thankfully, not the abundance one used to see.
Raf Belliard

Subject: Norfolk ICW
Cruising News: Just a quick note on Hospital Point.  There were virtually no crab pots in the HP anchorage.  First time in many years.  Makes for a fine point of departure, especially northbound cruisers.  We had a great time.  Visited the dinghy dock at Waterside (upstream from the battleship)  for USD 3 and explored Norfolk.  The old battleship dinghy dock has disappeared.
Bob Todd

Subject: Norfolk ICW
Cruising News: Just a quick note on Hospital Point.  There were virtually no crab pots in the HP anchorage.  First time in many years.  Makes for a fine point of departure, especially northbound cruisers.  We had a great time.  Visited the dinghy dock at Waterside (upstream from the battleship)  for USD 3 and explored Norfolk.  The old battleship dinghy dock has disappeared.
Bob Todd

We're planning on relocating to Virginia Beach VA for retirement within the next year and will need to find a new home port for Prime Time. Looking for recommendations on marinas in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area(availability/quality/cost).

Thanks, Dale & Irene Lauermann
Prime Time #3215

We're planning on relocating to Virginia Beach VA for retirement within the next year and will need to find a new home port for Prime Time. Looking for recommendations on marinas in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area(availability/quality/cost).

Thanks, Dale & Irene Lauermann
Prime Time #3215

Claiborne:
Your readers should be advised of the following, based on our Northbound passage at the first of Nov:
Marker 115 [Statute Mile 45.5] — shoaling reported on west side, but we saw min 8′ at mid tide (not much range there)
Marker 87 [Statute Mile 39.5] — definite shoaling on east side. We were crowded into the mark by southbound traffic and saw 4′ 50 ft from the mark.
Happy Cruising and Merry Christmas
Roger & Kaye Sykes
RAGGED EDGE

At mid channel between R86 and G87 we found 10 feet of water decreasing to 8 feet within 100 feet southbound. We had very strong winds and thought it best to keep moving rather than go explore further. Capt. Dave on At Last, GB46
David Jenkins