James River

From Richmond, it is about 90 nautical miles to Norfolk. The James River is completely unchannelised and winds its way through the landscape in broad bends. Tall trees line the banks, reaching almost to the water’s edge. Every now and then, a small sandy or muddy beach appears, but otherwise the surroundings create the impression of being deep in untouched wilderness.

The river is very well marked with navigational buoys. Almost every buoy also seems to serve as a nesting site for ospreys, which are present here in remarkable numbers and appear completely at home. As we continue downstream, more and more creeks flow into the river, which gradually becomes wider.

Towards the evening, we reach a particularly broad section of the river and drop anchor there. It almost feels like a lake, although much of it is less than one metre deep. The Pride of Baltimore II and the Virginia are anchored here for the night as well. Together, we spend the night surrounded by peace and nature, right in the middle of the water.