Norfolk, Virginia

Strategically situated at Mile Zero, the "official" beginning of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Norfolk and Portsmouth, VA, offer exciting places to visit, with rejuvenated waterfronts filled with shops, restaurants, hotels, museums and historic sites. The world's merchant fleet loads and unloads cargo at the Hampton Roads and Elizabeth River piers. The Norfolk Naval Station, the largest naval installation in the world, is homeport for aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, nuclear submarines and admirals barges.

When transiting this area, keep your boat at least 500 yards from navy ships. Vessels passing within 500 yards must do so at slow speed. No vessel may approach closer than 100 yards of any U.S. Navy vessel. Patrol boats are in abundance around berthed vessels at the Norfolk Naval Station and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. This perimeter is strictly enforced. Coast Guard vessels escort ships in and out of the harbor. Commercial ships, especially container ships, are often escorted in and out of the harbor also.

We stand by the VHF radio and maintain the largest possible distance between us and large ships.

And then ... you guessed it. This is the third time in two weeks we have been stopped by the Coast Guard and asked for paperwork. I'm beginning to feel like a floating target with the hailing port "Miami" on the stern.

We make our way towards Portsmouth on the Elizabeth River.

We pull into the Tidewater Yacht Marina, which offers a pool, restaurant, ship's store, fueling stations and repair facilites. We have a commanding view of the harbor and Norfolk on the other side of the river.

This will be our stopping point for a while, as we will be attending the Spring 2012 Rendezvous and Reunion of America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association.

(AGLCA) is an organization of people who share a sense of adventure and curiosity about America's Great Loop. The Great Loop is the continuous waterway that encompasses the eastern portion of North America including the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland. It is also known as the Great Circle Route and is considered one of the safest long distance cruising routes in the world.

Our members range from experienced Loop cruisers to boaters in the midst of looping; those planning on one day cruising the Great Loop, to those simply exhilarated by the process of learning about the journey.Whether you're still working or retired, ready to travel full time or only every-so-often; whether you've got a powerboat, sailboat, trawler, rowboat or no boat; you'll fit right in.