Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Norfolk International Airport

The Sign of the Red Castle

by grandmaR

If you see a red castle on a building or installation, you know that's the Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps is quite important to boaters, because they maintain the waterways. There is a better picture of the logo in the second picture.

Their main building (pictured) is at:
803 Front Street
Norfolk, Va 23510-1096
757-441-7500

From the Corps of Engineers website

Major projects:
F/A-22 Raptors at Langley Air Force Base
Craney Island Expansion
Norfolk Harbor 50-foot Deepening
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration
Elizabeth River Restoration Project
Embrey Dam Removal
Wind Farm Permit
Maersk Terminal
Richmond Floodwall
Virginia Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project
Great Bridge Bridge Replacement Project Thier website says "Some 450 civilians and three Army officers work at the Norfolk District’s headquarters on the Norfolk waterfront and at more than 20 field offices .

"... In civil works, Norfolk District oversees the James, Rappahannock, York and Chowan River basins, the Chesapeake Bay area in Virginia and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, approximately 23,000 square miles...

"A key mission, the Port of Hampton Roads has steadily grown to become the world’s largest coal port and sixth largest port overall in the U.S. On April 23, 2003, Norfolk District officials and the Virginia Port Authority moved forward with a project to deepen the inbound shipping channel in the Hampton Roads harbor to 50 feet... In addition to Hampton Roads Harbor, Norfolk District maintains some 70 navigation channels, using material dredged from these channels to nourish beaches, re-create habitat, re-establish oyster ground, create marshes and other beneficial uses whenever possible.

"The district's beach erosion and flood protection projects have prevented more than $130 million in damages throughout the state since 1968. During Hurricane Isabel alone, the district’s recently completed hurricane protection and beach erosion control projects in Virginia Beach and Sandbridge prevented $105 million in damages.

"The district’s innovative environmental restoration initiatives have attracted nationwide attention for their success and innovation. The $10 million Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration project is seeing major gains in efforts to restore native oysters to the once thriving Chesapeake Bay. The Elizabeth River Restoration Project was recently cited by the Environmental Protection Agency as a model for the nation in public-private partnership. The district is also working with the Environmental Protection Agency on environmental restoration efforts at contaminated sites throughout the Commonwealth."

Jamestown Settlement

by Jim_Eliason

Like Colonial Williamburg, this a recreation of the Jamestown settlement a few miles from the historical site maintained by the park service. It offers recreations of Settler, Indian life and recreations of the ships used to transport the settlers.

ICW April 15, Virginia Cut to Norfolk 2002

by grandmaR

"Virginia Cut north to Norfolk"

We had to get from sm 49.5 to the Jordan Bridge at about sm 3.0 a total of 46.5 miles in 9.5 hours, which, even in a sailboat doing 5 mph isn't bad except that we had to go through 6 opening bridges with restrictive schedules, and one lock(ditto).

"Great Bridge Bridge"

We got to the Great Bridge swing bridge at about noon, with a trawler named VENTURE ahead of us and a tug with a barge on the hip pretty far back under the fixed bridge. On the hip means that the tug was beside the barge rather than towing the barge or pushing the barge. I heard the bridge tender on the radio to him advising him that there was a semi-permanent barge on the dock next to the bridge, and that he might not have room in the channel with the barge on the hip like that.

"Going through the Great Bridge Bridge"

I always get a kick out of the name Great Bridge Bridge. But the name of the town is Great Bridge, and there is a lock there with a bridge just south of it, so there is a Great Bridge Bridge and a Great Bridge Lock. I was afraid the barge would catch up, but he did not. If he had, we would have had to wait while he went through because there would not have been room for us in the lock.

"Great Bridge Locking"

Went through the Great Bridge Bridge and into the Great Bridge Lock for the noon locking.

"in Great Bridge Lock"

VENTURE was the only other boat in the lock with us. so we were able to be on the side of the lock with the permanent fenders. We put our own out anyway.

"Steel Bridge"

Now there were 3 bridges to get through before 3:30 pm. We went through Steel Bridge (bascule) by 12:44 after about 40 sm.

"Gilmerton Bridge"

Got to the Gilmerton Bridge, which is a combination bridge - two bridges next to each other, one a RR bridge, one a highway bridge. VENTURE was waiting for us there, but just as Gilmerton highway bridge was ready to go up, the RR bridge came down. After the train, the bridge didn't go right up again, and it took some time for the traffic to clear off the highway bridge, as it was being held up by toll booths on the east side. After we both went through, the RR bridge went back down - maybe they were working on it as I didn't see any more trains.

The Jordan Bridge is a lift bridge (the only highway lift bridge on the ICW, and we went through it about 1:45 pm, well in advance of the restrictions.

We passed the old training ship for stewards tied up and apparently abandoned by the Navy and then we tied up at Waterside by 2:10 after 48.9 sm. Our total nm trip since 1 January was 1555 nm. Also in the marina with us was BEDOUIN (which we saw at the Alligator River) WIND WALKER and ARCTURUS.

Next stop: Stingray Point