Sunday August 15th 2010
Hooray!! The electrician showed up! And, he was determined to solve our problem. He believes it to be an old relay that no longer works. He will look for a replacement, and hopefully replace it tomorrow!
With another free afternoon, we decided to take the ferry over to Norfolk and visit the naval museum, “Nauticus”. They had some interesting hands-on exhibits, including a shark tank where you could actually touch some bamboo sharks. They feel like find grade sandpaper. We also got to use sonar and fire torpedoes, and try to land a top gun jet at Miramar. We stayed until closing, then walked back to the waterfront and had a beer at “Hooters” while we watched the finals of the PGA Championship. It lasted longer than we anticipated so we were there quite awhile, then took the ferry back to Portsmouth.
Tonight’s concert was George Jones, but we couldn’t hear any of it, and the crowd seemed really small. We just put in a DVD and watched “Hidalgo”, about a bazaar horse race through the desert. It was actually pretty good. We both stayed awake, anyway!
Monday August 16th 2010
This morning the electrician replaced the relay and then went through most of the electrical systems looking for anything else that might be bad. In spite of the frustration, Dave seems to be learning quite a bit from all of the repairmen we’ve seen lately.
While they worked in the engine room, I wrote a few emails, paid bills, and read a few more chapters in “Chesapeake” by James Michener. It deals with the rich history of this part of the country, starting in the late 1600’s. It is really fascinating, especially because we are now about to sail in Chesapeake Bay.
By the time the electrician left, it was too late to leave the dock, so we took the ferry one more time over to Norfolk to run some errands. Boy! Was it ever hot!! Not a good day to be walking on hot pavement!! But it was a good day for a cold beer. There seem to be a lot of those lately!
Tuesday August 17th 2010
Today was an exciting day!! First thing this morning, the super secret Navy trimaran destroyer left it’s berth and headed out to sea. Yesterday, the aircraft carrier that was across the river left for sea. And today, yes today, Dream Ketcher left for sea!!!! Things were really happening on the river. Tug boats, Navy boats, Coast Guard boats. Lots and lots of boats. We had our own personal Navy warship escort as we entered the Chesapeake.
Then, suddenly, we were almost all alone out there. Or so it seemed! Chesapeake Bay is such a large body of water, that on three sides of us, all we saw was the horizon, for miles and miles. The wind finally picked up, so we were able to sail for awhile.
Just as we were getting to our destination, a nice little squall descended upon us. In spite of that, we were able to get the boat through a very shallow channel and in to Deltaville Marina. This is a pleasant little marina that has more sailboats than power boats, a pool, showers, laundry, and a BBQ area that is enclosed in a screen porch.(that should have been a clue as to the insect population here!)
After we got settled in to the dock, we were invited over to a catamaran in the marina for happy hour. The boat said “Newport, OR” on the stern. The couple actually bought the boat in France and sailed it over the Atlantic to the states, and they are from Oregon. They, too, have had their share of boat problems, and spent 2 months at the same boat yard in Portsmouth, last year. After a nice visit, we went for a quick swim in the pool, as it was getting dark, then showered and had a quiet dinner on the boat.
Tomorrow we will reach the mouth of the Potomac River. One step closer to Washington, DC!
Stay tuned for the latest and greatest adventures…
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Wednesday August 11th 2010
Thought we’d get lucky today, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. They ordered the wrong part!!!! The new one, the right one, will arrive tomorrow. With the afternoon free, we decided to check out Virginia Beach, an ocean resort destination. A lot like Myrtle Beach, but much smaller.
We cruised the main drag, then went to the aquarium. It is supposed to be the biggest and best in the state. It was fun, and had some interesting exhibits: a shark tank, where you could get up close and personal, and a sting ray pond, where you could touch and feel the guys. They are smooth, slick, lacey, and very delicate. They definitely creeped me out!!!
After that, we headed back to the beach and had dinner at a beachside café. Lo and behold, out in the surf, very close to the shore, were several dolphins! They were having a great time playing in the surf. The lifeguard was having a heck of a time keeping people from swimming out to them. These were the first we have seen in some time.
After dinner, we continued to watch the dolphins, from the beach, then left to return to Portsmouth.
Thursday August 12th 2010
YEAH!!!!! They finally got the right part, and put it on the shaft, and we launched at @ 1:30PM. The wind was whipping, and we were between thunderstorms. Our departure from the lift left much to be desired, but we made it, and then the challenge of getting into the slip at the marina began! Left, a quick right, then another quick left, in to the slip. I really amazed myself! I got her in there with no problem. I must be getting used to her!
We spent the rest of the afternoon buying food and supplies at Walmart, then picked up the food we had in cold storage at Ocean Marine.
The forecast for tomorrow is not good, so we will stay another night. The weather, plus the fact that tomorrow is Friday the 13th, did not excite us!
We ended the day with dinner at “Paddy O’Brien’s” pub. That reminded us of the old joke: What's Irish and stays out all night???? Pati O'furniture.
Friday August 13th 2010
It was a good decision for us to stay put. It was overcast and in the low 80’s. Thunder boomers kept looming large, and the wind was definitely blowing hard.
We decided to keep the rental car until tomorrow, so we headed back to Virginia Beach to play golf at a course we saw there, “Owl’s Creek”. It was mostly a par 3 course, which was good, since I hadn’t played since pre-knee surgery in 2008. The knees were fine, the left hip? Not so good!
We actually had a great time. It felt so good to be back on the golf course again. My worst hole was a par 5, where I got a 7. No snowmen!!! It was a little strange playing with rental clubs, regular sneakers, and no glove, but we managed.
Dave and I have decided that we really like this part of Virginia. It is very green, with a nice mix of vegetation. Beautiful pine trees! However, this small stretch of land between North Carolina and Washington, DC, has the worst traffic
problems!!
We headed back to the boat and had dinner, then waited for the concert on shore to start. They have a summer concert series at an outdoor pavilion, right at the top of the dock. Tonight’s band?? Heart!! We had to come all the way from Seattle (where Heart is from) to Portsmouth, Virginia to see them!! Well, actually, just hear them. Because of the wind, and some strange echoes, it was really hard to hear the music correctly. I finally gave up.
All of a sudden, Dave was knocking on the deck and calling for me. Across the river, somewhere in Norfolk, they were having a fireworks display that was just like the 4th of July. Beautiful! We heard on the news later, that the display was after the baseball game in the stadium. Even though they lost! It probably lasted about 20 minutes.
Saturday August 14th 2010
On the move again!! Or so we thought. When we started the engine, no tach and no amps!! Again!!! After Dave rattled things around a bit, they came back, so we headed out. We headed up the river and got just past Hospital Point, when the instruments, all of them, went dead. Soooo, we made a U-turn and went right back to Ocean Marine. They told us we were in luck, that there just happened to be an electrician working today. He would be over shortly. Guess what??? We waited all
day, and he never showed up!
We waited until 5:30pm, then we called our hero, Frank, from Tow Boat US, to see if he could recommend a good electrician. He put us in touch with Tim, who will be here tomorrow morning (Sunday!!).
With another evening in Portsmouth, we took the passenger-only ferry over to Norfolk, and explored the waterfront. Not much there, but there was at one time. We had dinner at “Joe’s Crab Shack” (think Red Lobster), then walked the dock and took the ferry back to Ocean Marine.
Tonight they had a RAP concert in the pavilion. It was loud, but deep inside the boat, with the AC going, and with a movie playing, we couldn’t hear the Rap music at all.
Will we find the answer to our electrical problem tomorrow??? Stay tuned!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Thought we’d get lucky today, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. They ordered the wrong part!!!! The new one, the right one, will arrive tomorrow. With the afternoon free, we decided to check out Virginia Beach, an ocean resort destination. A lot like Myrtle Beach, but much smaller.
We cruised the main drag, then went to the aquarium. It is supposed to be the biggest and best in the state. It was fun, and had some interesting exhibits: a shark tank, where you could get up close and personal, and a sting ray pond, where you could touch and feel the guys. They are smooth, slick, lacey, and very delicate. They definitely creeped me out!!!
After that, we headed back to the beach and had dinner at a beachside café. Lo and behold, out in the surf, very close to the shore, were several dolphins! They were having a great time playing in the surf. The lifeguard was having a heck of a time keeping people from swimming out to them. These were the first we have seen in some time.
After dinner, we continued to watch the dolphins, from the beach, then left to return to Portsmouth.
Thursday August 12th 2010
YEAH!!!!! They finally got the right part, and put it on the shaft, and we launched at @ 1:30PM. The wind was whipping, and we were between thunderstorms. Our departure from the lift left much to be desired, but we made it, and then the challenge of getting into the slip at the marina began! Left, a quick right, then another quick left, in to the slip. I really amazed myself! I got her in there with no problem. I must be getting used to her!
We spent the rest of the afternoon buying food and supplies at Walmart, then picked up the food we had in cold storage at Ocean Marine.
The forecast for tomorrow is not good, so we will stay another night. The weather, plus the fact that tomorrow is Friday the 13th, did not excite us!
We ended the day with dinner at “Paddy O’Brien’s” pub. That reminded us of the old joke: What's Irish and stays out all night???? Pati O'furniture.
Friday August 13th 2010
It was a good decision for us to stay put. It was overcast and in the low 80’s. Thunder boomers kept looming large, and the wind was definitely blowing hard.
We decided to keep the rental car until tomorrow, so we headed back to Virginia Beach to play golf at a course we saw there, “Owl’s Creek”. It was mostly a par 3 course, which was good, since I hadn’t played since pre-knee surgery in 2008. The knees were fine, the left hip? Not so good!
We actually had a great time. It felt so good to be back on the golf course again. My worst hole was a par 5, where I got a 7. No snowmen!!! It was a little strange playing with rental clubs, regular sneakers, and no glove, but we managed.
Dave and I have decided that we really like this part of Virginia. It is very green, with a nice mix of vegetation. Beautiful pine trees! However, this small stretch of land between North Carolina and Washington, DC, has the worst traffic
problems!!
We headed back to the boat and had dinner, then waited for the concert on shore to start. They have a summer concert series at an outdoor pavilion, right at the top of the dock. Tonight’s band?? Heart!! We had to come all the way from Seattle (where Heart is from) to Portsmouth, Virginia to see them!! Well, actually, just hear them. Because of the wind, and some strange echoes, it was really hard to hear the music correctly. I finally gave up.
All of a sudden, Dave was knocking on the deck and calling for me. Across the river, somewhere in Norfolk, they were having a fireworks display that was just like the 4th of July. Beautiful! We heard on the news later, that the display was after the baseball game in the stadium. Even though they lost! It probably lasted about 20 minutes.
Saturday August 14th 2010
On the move again!! Or so we thought. When we started the engine, no tach and no amps!! Again!!! After Dave rattled things around a bit, they came back, so we headed out. We headed up the river and got just past Hospital Point, when the instruments, all of them, went dead. Soooo, we made a U-turn and went right back to Ocean Marine. They told us we were in luck, that there just happened to be an electrician working today. He would be over shortly. Guess what??? We waited all
day, and he never showed up!
We waited until 5:30pm, then we called our hero, Frank, from Tow Boat US, to see if he could recommend a good electrician. He put us in touch with Tim, who will be here tomorrow morning (Sunday!!).
With another evening in Portsmouth, we took the passenger-only ferry over to Norfolk, and explored the waterfront. Not much there, but there was at one time. We had dinner at “Joe’s Crab Shack” (think Red Lobster), then walked the dock and took the ferry back to Ocean Marine.
Tonight they had a RAP concert in the pavilion. It was loud, but deep inside the boat, with the AC going, and with a movie playing, we couldn’t hear the Rap music at all.
Will we find the answer to our electrical problem tomorrow??? Stay tuned!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday July 26th 2010
Dave and I both woke up when we realized that the wind was not blowing. Time to go!! Well, almost. We checked the depth and needed a little more. In the meantime, the wind slowly began to make an appearance. An hour later we decided to give it a try, and were happy that we made it away from the dock with no problem.
We put a few extra miles on this day, so we could go all the way to Oriental, North Carolina. We were there last April ’09, by car to look at a boat. We were anxious to see it again from the water. Same quaint town!!
We tied up at the Marina and Inn, and I headed straight for the swimming pool. Awwwwwwwww! We decided this was too nice, so we will take the day off tomorrow and stay a 2nd night!
Tuesday July 27th 2010
This morning we walked over to the other marina and had breakfast at their café. We are trying not to heat up the boat, so are avoiding making anything hot, and are getting tired of cold cereal. Then we walked back to the boat by way of the chandlery, where Mom and I spent nearly an hour looking at the gifts for sale. I spotted a basket set – basket, trivet, and coasters – with ceramic anchors and sailboats worked into the weave. It was a little high priced for me, but Mom decided to buy it for me as an early birthday gift! Nice!!
Next, back to the marina, where I spent the rest of the day at the pool. It was wonderful! Then spent the evening doing laundry.
One of the nicest things about this marina, is that it is also a hotel. Because of this, they provide the towels for showers, as well as the shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Makes it very easy for us poor sweaty sailors!
Wednesday July 28th 2010
We left Oriental and headed for Dowery Creek. Very hot again! We crossed some large bodies of water, in between sections of the ICW, but even these large areas were very shallow. By the time we reached the marina, the wind had really picked up, and made for some really tricky docking.
We ran into Charles and JoAnn from “Osprey”. We first met them at the St. John’s Yacht Center, south of Charleston, and then again in Oriental. They too, are headed for the Chesapeake. They were taking a loaner car to the grocery store, and offered us a ride. Mom and I went and stocked up for another week.
When we got back, it was pool time for me, then dinner and lights out.
This was an interesting place. A woman and her husband were cruisers for many years, and they decided to buy this marina to settle into. After several years, he died. She decided to keep the place going, and has done a very good job. The nearest town is in the middle of corn and soy bean farms. They stretched for miles and miles. We were told that if you are driving after dark, you need to watch out for deer and BEARS!
Thursday July 29th 2010
We spent most of today in the Alligator River – didn’t see any!! It was pretty non-eventful. We had a little scare as we entered the Alligator River Marina. We had to wait for the 2 mile long bridge to open, then once we were through, the water became very choppy, and the channel entrance very shallow. We made it through, but then I had to dock the boat between pilings again! Once that was accomplished, we had to find a way to get on and off the boat using the tiny sliver of dock that only reached to the mast stays.
We then ventured over to the marina office/gas station/gift shop/restaurant to check in. There, on the wall, were pictures of all the recent alligator and BEAR sightings!! They even had alligator on the menu!
Friday July 30th 2010
We went back to the restaurant this morning for a quick breakfast, then headed for the boat and a quick exit. We made it out just fine, but boy, is it ever windy! (a sailor complaining about wind??) It is cloudy and cool, and feels great!! However, small craft warnings, with waves that are 3 to 5 feet, made for an exciting but difficult day. We were able to put the stay sail up and actually sail for awhile, but it was like being on a roller coaster all day.
We finally arrived in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the city that marks the beginning of the “Great Dismal Swamp”. It is a man-made canal built in the late 1700’s that linked Elizabeth City to Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, allowing commercial goods to be moved between them. It was later used as part of the Underground Railroad, getting black slaves into Union territory, giving them their freedom. We have heard rave reviews about this city and the swamp, and have been looking forward to this part of the trip!
We pulled into Pelican Marina, and again, I had to dock the boat between pilings and with a crosswind. On the first attempt I couldn’t quite make it, so I backed up, turned around, and went back out to try it again. The second attempt went much better!! Little did I know that it was “happy hour” on the back deck of the marina office, and all of the men assembled were quite impressed with the way I handled the boat, got her docked, and never came close to hitting anything. They were especially amazed to learn the captain was a woman!! It was really nice to hear their praises!
Pelican Marina is owned and operated by a former Washingtonian. He, his wife, and their two teenagers, live aboard a 51 foot Morgan sailboat, right there in the harbor. Both of the kids work for Dad at the marina.
That evening, we went next door, to the Marina restaurant, and had some excellent food. ( snow crab, yum!) After dinner, we went back to the boat and watched a movie.
Saturday July 31st 2010
We decided to take a day off today, and went into town to see the sights. First we perused a Farmer’s Market set up on the waterfront. Then we spent some time browsing at the book store.
I decided to break from the group and ventured off to get my hair cut. I went to a little hole in the wall place, where she did an excellent job. It feels so much lighter.
After that, I rejoined the group for lunch at a local deli, then we walked a few blocks to the county museum. They had a fantastic display telling about the vast changes in the region since the early 1600’s. Then it was time for ice cream before we headed back to the boat.
Sunday August 1st 2010
We had planned to leave for the Dismal Swamp today, but it’s rainy and overcast. The high was only about 75. Feels like home! We decided to stay put, and had a lazy day of doing laundry, reading the Sunday paper, and feeding the local scavengers. Right off the back deck of the marina office, there are painted river turtles, about 10 inches in diameter, that stick their little heads up above the water. The office has a big bag of cat chow available for people to feed to the turtles, ducks, etc. There is also a huge catfish lurking under the deck, that comes up to eat now and then. You can’t see him, but the water sure moves!
It rained on and off most of the day, so we were glad that we had stayed. Tomorrow should be better!
Monday August 2nd 2010
After a bit of maneuvering, we finally left Pelican Marina and headed for the Dismal Swamp. The weather was still overcast, but that kept it from getting too hot!
We meandered our way through the swamp, which turned out to be not so swampy. The cypress swamps in South Carolina were way more swampy! This looked like a river in Washington with wooded banks. There was even a highway right alongside the canal, where every now and then you would see a car or truck going by. What a disappointment!!!
There are two sets of locks on the swamp canal. As we neared the first lock, we suddenly heard this awful sound, and then realized we had no propulsion. We thought at first that we had lost our propeller, but as Dave inspected closer, he discovered that the propeller shaft had broken. The water in the swamp is the color of Coca-Cola, so we will not know if the propeller is still there, until we have the boat hauled out.
The locks only open 3 times a day, and we were trying to make the 1:30pm opening, so we called the lockmaster and told him we were disabled, and asked if there was anywhere that we could tie the boat up. About this time, the heavens opened up and the rain poured down on us. Dave launched the dinghy and tried to tow the boat to some pilings just before the locks. The rest of us manned lines and boat hooks, trying to keep us out of further trouble.
Once we were tied up, we called Tow Boat US, to come to our rescue. They would have to send a boat from Norfolk, Virginia, and it was too late in the day for him to be able to reach us, with the lock schedule as tight as it is. So, they asked if we could go through the lock, and tow the boat down to the Visitor’s Center, 5 miles away, which would make it easier for the tow captain the next day. We told them we would try!
Fortunately, there were no other boats in the canal that day, so the understanding lockmaster agreed to let us go through the lock. With some difficulty, Dave guided the boat with the dinghy, into position inside the lock, and with the rain continuing to pour, the lock raised us to the higher water in the next part of the canal. The lockmaster suggested that we tie up to the wall, just on the other side of the lock, near the next bridge, where we would be able to have pizza and beer. Sounded good to us!! When the lock opened, Dave directed us towards the wall, where we then got ashore and walked the boat as far as we could toward the bridge. We couldn’t help it. We started singing “15 miles on the Erie Canal”. Seemed appropriate!
The rain finally stopped, so we put on dry clothes and hiked about 4 blocks into the tiny town of South Mills, and had the best tasting pizza and beer, ever! It was a 12 inch pizza with as many toppings as you wanted, for $10.95. Such a deal!!!
Tuesday August 3rd 2010
We had a very quiet and peaceful night in South Mills, and we woke up to sunshine. For awhile the boat looked like a scene from “the Beverly Hillbillies”. We had clothes and cushions stretched from stem to stern, drying in the sun. After what seemed like forever, we finally saw the Tow Boat US approaching, with Frank, our knight in shining armor aboard. He tied his boat alongside ours, and with his boat providing the propulsion, and me steering our boat, we were on our way. There is a 6 knot speed limit on the canal, and Frank was doing all of that and a bit more. We needed to be at the second lock by 3:30pm, so we were on a tight schedule.
Things were going really well, until the tow boat hit something, and now Frank had no propulsion!!! The Dismal Swamp was getting more dismal by the minute!! Fortunately, he knew what the problem was, and he had a spare part. BUT, he had never made the repair before. To avoid going in the water, with the alligators and the snakes, Frank was able to use our dinghy to get at the outboard and make the repair, using his cell phone to get step by step instruction from a mechanic!! Way to go, Frank!!!
This process took about 30 minutes, so I figured there was no way we could make the lock opening. That would mean another night in the canal, with no AC and no pizza and beer!! However, Frank was not too keen on not getting home, so he sweet talked the lockmaster into staying late and letting us lock through. What a guy!!! By 4:15pm we were on our way to Portsmouth, Virginia, and arrived at the Ocean Marine Yacht Center about 6:00pm. We fueled up, pumped out, and got settled for the night.
There are Navy shipyards all around us. A new type of stealth destroyer is being made, that looks like a catamaran and the old “Merrimac”. Very hush, hush!
Wednesday August 4th 2010
Tow Boat US showed up at 9:00am to move us to the travel lift for haul out. Just as we left the marina, a Navy destroyer was in the harbor, being pushed by tugs in to a dry dock. We had to get out of her way, pronto! We had fun watching the process while we waited for the boat yard to be ready for us. They seemed to be in no great hurry, while we sat drifting in the river. At last, we were hauled out, and thank God, we still have our propeller!!!
The boat will be in the yard for several days while the repair is being made, and we are not allowed to live on the boat during this time. So, we decided to rent a car, which will enable us to take George & Gloria to the airport in DC, on Sunday, for their flight home. We will do some sightseeing for a few days, and then head to DC and see Austin.
We spent the rest of the day securing a rental car and packing our suitcases, then drove to Chesapeake, VA for a night in a hotel.
Thursday August 5th 2010
Today we drove to Newport News, Virginia, to the Maritime Museum. A huge place, that is home to one of the ironclads, the Monitor. At least the turret of the Monitor, and all of the items they found embedded inside of it. It was fascinating to learn about the Monitor and the Merrimac. Long before the battle between these two, the Merrimac was burned and sunk, and the confederates raised her up and rebuilt and improved her, and renamed her the “Virginia”. For some reason, history still refers to her as the Merrimac.
The museum shows the work of a group that raised the turret of the Monitor from the bottom of the bay, and their efforts to preserve it. We spent the entire day at the museum, then went back to Chesapeake for the night.
Tomorrow we go to Washington DC, and will get to see Austin!!!!
Friday August 6th 2010
This morning we went to check on the boat. There was a thunderstorm last night, with pretty high winds, and water got into the v-berth. We got it dried up, and took more food out of the refrigerator. Then on to DC!!
It took FOREVER!! Traffic was a mess, no matter where we went. We left at 11:00am, and arrived in DC at 6:15pm. It’s about 190 miles. At least the scenery was beautiful. I can’t wait to see Virginia in the Fall.
Austin managed to get us two very nice rooms at the Marriott where he works. I feel like a queen!! We will stay here until the boat is ready on Monday. Tomorrow we will go to Annapolis, and on Sunday we will take George and Gloria to the airport. They need to go home and recuperate from their time with us. I think we wore them out!!
After Austin was done with work, we went down to the Georgetown waterfront and had dinner on the terrace of a restaurant called Sequoia. What a beautiful part of the city! Afterwards, we got gelato from a little shop nearby. It was a great ending to a very tedious day!!
Saturday August 7th 2010
This morning, Austin brought us some news from Matt and Jacinda. It seems that yesterday afternoon, our grandson, James was playing on the deck at his daycare, when he managed to get a large, long sliver of wood embedded under the fingernail on his middle finger. OOOOWWWWW!!! Matt and Jacinda took him to the ER, where 3 people had to hold him down so they could anesthetize his finger, then he watched quietly as they removed the sliver! Matt even sent Austin a picture of the finger
with the sliver!!!
Today we ventured to Annapolis. George and Gloria had never been there before. Austin, Gloria, Dave and I roamed the streets and shops while George sat in the waterfront park. After lunch at the “Federal”, we walked the docks. The locals call it “Ego Row”. Aptly named! All of the sailboats were on mooring buoys, except for one, that had a sign on it – “Wanted- First Mate”. After a bit more shopping, we had some ice cream, then went to look for a marine store that had moved.
Once there, Dave and I were excited to see that the store had a supply of RBI’s displayed on their lot. RBI’s are rigid bottom inflatables. We had been planning on buying a new one this Fall, as we will need it for the Bahamas. The inflatable dinghy we have now is a soft bottom and would not stand up to the coral beds we will encounter this winter. Not only did they have them, but they had the brand we had been told was the best, and at a good price! And as an added bonus, the store will sell our present inflatable on consignment for us. Sooooo, we bit the bullet and bought ourselves, what amounts to for sailors, a new vehicle!! (thankfully, not near as expensive!). Now we just have to get the boat up to Annapolis!
We headed back to DC, and on the way, Austin took us by their home in Silver Springs, Maryland, and past some mega mansions in Bethesda, MD. Then on to the National Cathedral, not far from the Marriott. We were too late to go inside, but what we saw outside was incredible. It is the largest in the United States, and rivals some of the beautiful cathedrals we saw in Europe!! We also strolled through the nearby “Bishop’s Garden”. It was all very peaceful and serene.
Afterwards, we went to dinner, just down the hill from the hotel at a Mediterranean restaurant. Then back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Sunday August 8th 2010
This morning we met George and Gloria in the lobby for breakfast, and then afterwards, Dave and I walked down to the pharmacy to pick up a few things. When we got back, we moved George and Gloria into our room, and watched “Pretty Woman” until it was time to leave for the airport.
We took the metro (subway), going first down the “escalator to hell”. This metro stop has the longest, and steepest escalator of all. It takes 3 minutes to get from top to bottom.
It took only 30 minutes to get to the airport. We got them checked in, and then had lunch at an Italian bistro, before seeing them safely in to the security line. The trip back to the hotel was a wee bit longer. They chose that time to do some maintenance on the tracks, so there was a bit of a wait!!
Once back, we headed upstairs to the concierge lounge, where they had an impressive array of appetizers and drinks. Cindy had just arrived back in town from Atlanta, and she joined us in the lounge. We waited until Austin was done at work, then we walked down the hill and had dinner at a sidewalk Italian restaurant. Delicioso!!! We made some plans for the week that Matt, Jancinda, and James will be in DC, and found out what Cindy had been doing in Atlanta all summer. It was so good to spend time with them again!!
Monday August 9th 2010
We started the day by having breakfast in the concierge lounge (thanks to Austin!!). We then checked out and headed to Williamsburg, Virginia. We spent the rest of the day in “Colonial Williamsburg”, a restored town from the 1700’s. It was very interesting, but not as well done as the Living Museum in Arnheim, Holland, that we saw on our trip to Europe.
We got back on the road and headed to Portsmouth, where we checked in to the Marriott Renaissance, right on the waterfront. (thank you, Austin!). We were pretty tired from our busy day, so we had Chinese food delivered, then called Matt and Jancinda to talk about plans for their trip.
Hopefully, back on the boat tomorrow!!!!
Tuesday August 10th 2010
AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!! We went to the boat yard this morning to check on the boat, and were told that the new shaft was too short. It took most of the day for them to decide how to deal with the problem, but we should have the boat ready to launch tomorrow afternoon.
We secured the rental car for a few more days, and checked back in to the Marriott. We then headed to a map store in Norfolk, where we also found a copy center, and a “Schlotsky’s Deli”!!! (eat your heart out, Peter!) In this same block, we got laundry quarters from a Bank of America, then headed back across the harbor to Portsmouth. This trip was the highlight of our day, since we were able to find all the shops we needed, all in one block, and we had a parking place in the shade!
Oh wait!! Make that the 2nd highlight of the day. This morning we got a call from the marine store where we bought the new inflatable. They already have a buyer for our present inflatable!!!!!!
We spent a few hours in our room, checking email, writing blogs, etc., then we decided to have dinner at a restaurant just a few blocks away. It was a seafood fare that was absolutely fabulous. I had flounder that had a peanut crust and was topped with a bacon cream sauce. Oh, my gosh!!!
When we returned to the hotel, we walked by the public dock, just outside the doors. There we saw a large sailboat that turned out to be a Morgan 46. It looked much longer than that!! They had a HUGE cat on board that was roaming the deck. After a bit, his Mom came out, and while we were talking with her, the cat leapt off the boat, onto the dock, made a flying leap onto the top of the sea wall, and made a beeline for the hotel grass! Dave and I corralled the cat until the owners could get up to the hotel. They couldn’t take the same route as the cat! We talked with them for awhile about our dreams and theirs, and now I’m here desperately trying to catch up.
We hope good things are happening to you, and you are healthy and happy!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Dave and I both woke up when we realized that the wind was not blowing. Time to go!! Well, almost. We checked the depth and needed a little more. In the meantime, the wind slowly began to make an appearance. An hour later we decided to give it a try, and were happy that we made it away from the dock with no problem.
We put a few extra miles on this day, so we could go all the way to Oriental, North Carolina. We were there last April ’09, by car to look at a boat. We were anxious to see it again from the water. Same quaint town!!
We tied up at the Marina and Inn, and I headed straight for the swimming pool. Awwwwwwwww! We decided this was too nice, so we will take the day off tomorrow and stay a 2nd night!
Tuesday July 27th 2010
This morning we walked over to the other marina and had breakfast at their café. We are trying not to heat up the boat, so are avoiding making anything hot, and are getting tired of cold cereal. Then we walked back to the boat by way of the chandlery, where Mom and I spent nearly an hour looking at the gifts for sale. I spotted a basket set – basket, trivet, and coasters – with ceramic anchors and sailboats worked into the weave. It was a little high priced for me, but Mom decided to buy it for me as an early birthday gift! Nice!!
Next, back to the marina, where I spent the rest of the day at the pool. It was wonderful! Then spent the evening doing laundry.
One of the nicest things about this marina, is that it is also a hotel. Because of this, they provide the towels for showers, as well as the shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Makes it very easy for us poor sweaty sailors!
Wednesday July 28th 2010
We left Oriental and headed for Dowery Creek. Very hot again! We crossed some large bodies of water, in between sections of the ICW, but even these large areas were very shallow. By the time we reached the marina, the wind had really picked up, and made for some really tricky docking.
We ran into Charles and JoAnn from “Osprey”. We first met them at the St. John’s Yacht Center, south of Charleston, and then again in Oriental. They too, are headed for the Chesapeake. They were taking a loaner car to the grocery store, and offered us a ride. Mom and I went and stocked up for another week.
When we got back, it was pool time for me, then dinner and lights out.
This was an interesting place. A woman and her husband were cruisers for many years, and they decided to buy this marina to settle into. After several years, he died. She decided to keep the place going, and has done a very good job. The nearest town is in the middle of corn and soy bean farms. They stretched for miles and miles. We were told that if you are driving after dark, you need to watch out for deer and BEARS!
Thursday July 29th 2010
We spent most of today in the Alligator River – didn’t see any!! It was pretty non-eventful. We had a little scare as we entered the Alligator River Marina. We had to wait for the 2 mile long bridge to open, then once we were through, the water became very choppy, and the channel entrance very shallow. We made it through, but then I had to dock the boat between pilings again! Once that was accomplished, we had to find a way to get on and off the boat using the tiny sliver of dock that only reached to the mast stays.
We then ventured over to the marina office/gas station/gift shop/restaurant to check in. There, on the wall, were pictures of all the recent alligator and BEAR sightings!! They even had alligator on the menu!
Friday July 30th 2010
We went back to the restaurant this morning for a quick breakfast, then headed for the boat and a quick exit. We made it out just fine, but boy, is it ever windy! (a sailor complaining about wind??) It is cloudy and cool, and feels great!! However, small craft warnings, with waves that are 3 to 5 feet, made for an exciting but difficult day. We were able to put the stay sail up and actually sail for awhile, but it was like being on a roller coaster all day.
We finally arrived in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the city that marks the beginning of the “Great Dismal Swamp”. It is a man-made canal built in the late 1700’s that linked Elizabeth City to Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, allowing commercial goods to be moved between them. It was later used as part of the Underground Railroad, getting black slaves into Union territory, giving them their freedom. We have heard rave reviews about this city and the swamp, and have been looking forward to this part of the trip!
We pulled into Pelican Marina, and again, I had to dock the boat between pilings and with a crosswind. On the first attempt I couldn’t quite make it, so I backed up, turned around, and went back out to try it again. The second attempt went much better!! Little did I know that it was “happy hour” on the back deck of the marina office, and all of the men assembled were quite impressed with the way I handled the boat, got her docked, and never came close to hitting anything. They were especially amazed to learn the captain was a woman!! It was really nice to hear their praises!
Pelican Marina is owned and operated by a former Washingtonian. He, his wife, and their two teenagers, live aboard a 51 foot Morgan sailboat, right there in the harbor. Both of the kids work for Dad at the marina.
That evening, we went next door, to the Marina restaurant, and had some excellent food. ( snow crab, yum!) After dinner, we went back to the boat and watched a movie.
Saturday July 31st 2010
We decided to take a day off today, and went into town to see the sights. First we perused a Farmer’s Market set up on the waterfront. Then we spent some time browsing at the book store.
I decided to break from the group and ventured off to get my hair cut. I went to a little hole in the wall place, where she did an excellent job. It feels so much lighter.
After that, I rejoined the group for lunch at a local deli, then we walked a few blocks to the county museum. They had a fantastic display telling about the vast changes in the region since the early 1600’s. Then it was time for ice cream before we headed back to the boat.
Sunday August 1st 2010
We had planned to leave for the Dismal Swamp today, but it’s rainy and overcast. The high was only about 75. Feels like home! We decided to stay put, and had a lazy day of doing laundry, reading the Sunday paper, and feeding the local scavengers. Right off the back deck of the marina office, there are painted river turtles, about 10 inches in diameter, that stick their little heads up above the water. The office has a big bag of cat chow available for people to feed to the turtles, ducks, etc. There is also a huge catfish lurking under the deck, that comes up to eat now and then. You can’t see him, but the water sure moves!
It rained on and off most of the day, so we were glad that we had stayed. Tomorrow should be better!
Monday August 2nd 2010
After a bit of maneuvering, we finally left Pelican Marina and headed for the Dismal Swamp. The weather was still overcast, but that kept it from getting too hot!
We meandered our way through the swamp, which turned out to be not so swampy. The cypress swamps in South Carolina were way more swampy! This looked like a river in Washington with wooded banks. There was even a highway right alongside the canal, where every now and then you would see a car or truck going by. What a disappointment!!!
There are two sets of locks on the swamp canal. As we neared the first lock, we suddenly heard this awful sound, and then realized we had no propulsion. We thought at first that we had lost our propeller, but as Dave inspected closer, he discovered that the propeller shaft had broken. The water in the swamp is the color of Coca-Cola, so we will not know if the propeller is still there, until we have the boat hauled out.
The locks only open 3 times a day, and we were trying to make the 1:30pm opening, so we called the lockmaster and told him we were disabled, and asked if there was anywhere that we could tie the boat up. About this time, the heavens opened up and the rain poured down on us. Dave launched the dinghy and tried to tow the boat to some pilings just before the locks. The rest of us manned lines and boat hooks, trying to keep us out of further trouble.
Once we were tied up, we called Tow Boat US, to come to our rescue. They would have to send a boat from Norfolk, Virginia, and it was too late in the day for him to be able to reach us, with the lock schedule as tight as it is. So, they asked if we could go through the lock, and tow the boat down to the Visitor’s Center, 5 miles away, which would make it easier for the tow captain the next day. We told them we would try!
Fortunately, there were no other boats in the canal that day, so the understanding lockmaster agreed to let us go through the lock. With some difficulty, Dave guided the boat with the dinghy, into position inside the lock, and with the rain continuing to pour, the lock raised us to the higher water in the next part of the canal. The lockmaster suggested that we tie up to the wall, just on the other side of the lock, near the next bridge, where we would be able to have pizza and beer. Sounded good to us!! When the lock opened, Dave directed us towards the wall, where we then got ashore and walked the boat as far as we could toward the bridge. We couldn’t help it. We started singing “15 miles on the Erie Canal”. Seemed appropriate!
The rain finally stopped, so we put on dry clothes and hiked about 4 blocks into the tiny town of South Mills, and had the best tasting pizza and beer, ever! It was a 12 inch pizza with as many toppings as you wanted, for $10.95. Such a deal!!!
Tuesday August 3rd 2010
We had a very quiet and peaceful night in South Mills, and we woke up to sunshine. For awhile the boat looked like a scene from “the Beverly Hillbillies”. We had clothes and cushions stretched from stem to stern, drying in the sun. After what seemed like forever, we finally saw the Tow Boat US approaching, with Frank, our knight in shining armor aboard. He tied his boat alongside ours, and with his boat providing the propulsion, and me steering our boat, we were on our way. There is a 6 knot speed limit on the canal, and Frank was doing all of that and a bit more. We needed to be at the second lock by 3:30pm, so we were on a tight schedule.
Things were going really well, until the tow boat hit something, and now Frank had no propulsion!!! The Dismal Swamp was getting more dismal by the minute!! Fortunately, he knew what the problem was, and he had a spare part. BUT, he had never made the repair before. To avoid going in the water, with the alligators and the snakes, Frank was able to use our dinghy to get at the outboard and make the repair, using his cell phone to get step by step instruction from a mechanic!! Way to go, Frank!!!
This process took about 30 minutes, so I figured there was no way we could make the lock opening. That would mean another night in the canal, with no AC and no pizza and beer!! However, Frank was not too keen on not getting home, so he sweet talked the lockmaster into staying late and letting us lock through. What a guy!!! By 4:15pm we were on our way to Portsmouth, Virginia, and arrived at the Ocean Marine Yacht Center about 6:00pm. We fueled up, pumped out, and got settled for the night.
There are Navy shipyards all around us. A new type of stealth destroyer is being made, that looks like a catamaran and the old “Merrimac”. Very hush, hush!
Wednesday August 4th 2010
Tow Boat US showed up at 9:00am to move us to the travel lift for haul out. Just as we left the marina, a Navy destroyer was in the harbor, being pushed by tugs in to a dry dock. We had to get out of her way, pronto! We had fun watching the process while we waited for the boat yard to be ready for us. They seemed to be in no great hurry, while we sat drifting in the river. At last, we were hauled out, and thank God, we still have our propeller!!!
The boat will be in the yard for several days while the repair is being made, and we are not allowed to live on the boat during this time. So, we decided to rent a car, which will enable us to take George & Gloria to the airport in DC, on Sunday, for their flight home. We will do some sightseeing for a few days, and then head to DC and see Austin.
We spent the rest of the day securing a rental car and packing our suitcases, then drove to Chesapeake, VA for a night in a hotel.
Thursday August 5th 2010
Today we drove to Newport News, Virginia, to the Maritime Museum. A huge place, that is home to one of the ironclads, the Monitor. At least the turret of the Monitor, and all of the items they found embedded inside of it. It was fascinating to learn about the Monitor and the Merrimac. Long before the battle between these two, the Merrimac was burned and sunk, and the confederates raised her up and rebuilt and improved her, and renamed her the “Virginia”. For some reason, history still refers to her as the Merrimac.
The museum shows the work of a group that raised the turret of the Monitor from the bottom of the bay, and their efforts to preserve it. We spent the entire day at the museum, then went back to Chesapeake for the night.
Tomorrow we go to Washington DC, and will get to see Austin!!!!
Friday August 6th 2010
This morning we went to check on the boat. There was a thunderstorm last night, with pretty high winds, and water got into the v-berth. We got it dried up, and took more food out of the refrigerator. Then on to DC!!
It took FOREVER!! Traffic was a mess, no matter where we went. We left at 11:00am, and arrived in DC at 6:15pm. It’s about 190 miles. At least the scenery was beautiful. I can’t wait to see Virginia in the Fall.
Austin managed to get us two very nice rooms at the Marriott where he works. I feel like a queen!! We will stay here until the boat is ready on Monday. Tomorrow we will go to Annapolis, and on Sunday we will take George and Gloria to the airport. They need to go home and recuperate from their time with us. I think we wore them out!!
After Austin was done with work, we went down to the Georgetown waterfront and had dinner on the terrace of a restaurant called Sequoia. What a beautiful part of the city! Afterwards, we got gelato from a little shop nearby. It was a great ending to a very tedious day!!
Saturday August 7th 2010
This morning, Austin brought us some news from Matt and Jacinda. It seems that yesterday afternoon, our grandson, James was playing on the deck at his daycare, when he managed to get a large, long sliver of wood embedded under the fingernail on his middle finger. OOOOWWWWW!!! Matt and Jacinda took him to the ER, where 3 people had to hold him down so they could anesthetize his finger, then he watched quietly as they removed the sliver! Matt even sent Austin a picture of the finger
with the sliver!!!
Today we ventured to Annapolis. George and Gloria had never been there before. Austin, Gloria, Dave and I roamed the streets and shops while George sat in the waterfront park. After lunch at the “Federal”, we walked the docks. The locals call it “Ego Row”. Aptly named! All of the sailboats were on mooring buoys, except for one, that had a sign on it – “Wanted- First Mate”. After a bit more shopping, we had some ice cream, then went to look for a marine store that had moved.
Once there, Dave and I were excited to see that the store had a supply of RBI’s displayed on their lot. RBI’s are rigid bottom inflatables. We had been planning on buying a new one this Fall, as we will need it for the Bahamas. The inflatable dinghy we have now is a soft bottom and would not stand up to the coral beds we will encounter this winter. Not only did they have them, but they had the brand we had been told was the best, and at a good price! And as an added bonus, the store will sell our present inflatable on consignment for us. Sooooo, we bit the bullet and bought ourselves, what amounts to for sailors, a new vehicle!! (thankfully, not near as expensive!). Now we just have to get the boat up to Annapolis!
We headed back to DC, and on the way, Austin took us by their home in Silver Springs, Maryland, and past some mega mansions in Bethesda, MD. Then on to the National Cathedral, not far from the Marriott. We were too late to go inside, but what we saw outside was incredible. It is the largest in the United States, and rivals some of the beautiful cathedrals we saw in Europe!! We also strolled through the nearby “Bishop’s Garden”. It was all very peaceful and serene.
Afterwards, we went to dinner, just down the hill from the hotel at a Mediterranean restaurant. Then back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Sunday August 8th 2010
This morning we met George and Gloria in the lobby for breakfast, and then afterwards, Dave and I walked down to the pharmacy to pick up a few things. When we got back, we moved George and Gloria into our room, and watched “Pretty Woman” until it was time to leave for the airport.
We took the metro (subway), going first down the “escalator to hell”. This metro stop has the longest, and steepest escalator of all. It takes 3 minutes to get from top to bottom.
It took only 30 minutes to get to the airport. We got them checked in, and then had lunch at an Italian bistro, before seeing them safely in to the security line. The trip back to the hotel was a wee bit longer. They chose that time to do some maintenance on the tracks, so there was a bit of a wait!!
Once back, we headed upstairs to the concierge lounge, where they had an impressive array of appetizers and drinks. Cindy had just arrived back in town from Atlanta, and she joined us in the lounge. We waited until Austin was done at work, then we walked down the hill and had dinner at a sidewalk Italian restaurant. Delicioso!!! We made some plans for the week that Matt, Jancinda, and James will be in DC, and found out what Cindy had been doing in Atlanta all summer. It was so good to spend time with them again!!
Monday August 9th 2010
We started the day by having breakfast in the concierge lounge (thanks to Austin!!). We then checked out and headed to Williamsburg, Virginia. We spent the rest of the day in “Colonial Williamsburg”, a restored town from the 1700’s. It was very interesting, but not as well done as the Living Museum in Arnheim, Holland, that we saw on our trip to Europe.
We got back on the road and headed to Portsmouth, where we checked in to the Marriott Renaissance, right on the waterfront. (thank you, Austin!). We were pretty tired from our busy day, so we had Chinese food delivered, then called Matt and Jancinda to talk about plans for their trip.
Hopefully, back on the boat tomorrow!!!!
Tuesday August 10th 2010
AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!! We went to the boat yard this morning to check on the boat, and were told that the new shaft was too short. It took most of the day for them to decide how to deal with the problem, but we should have the boat ready to launch tomorrow afternoon.
We secured the rental car for a few more days, and checked back in to the Marriott. We then headed to a map store in Norfolk, where we also found a copy center, and a “Schlotsky’s Deli”!!! (eat your heart out, Peter!) In this same block, we got laundry quarters from a Bank of America, then headed back across the harbor to Portsmouth. This trip was the highlight of our day, since we were able to find all the shops we needed, all in one block, and we had a parking place in the shade!
Oh wait!! Make that the 2nd highlight of the day. This morning we got a call from the marine store where we bought the new inflatable. They already have a buyer for our present inflatable!!!!!!
We spent a few hours in our room, checking email, writing blogs, etc., then we decided to have dinner at a restaurant just a few blocks away. It was a seafood fare that was absolutely fabulous. I had flounder that had a peanut crust and was topped with a bacon cream sauce. Oh, my gosh!!!
When we returned to the hotel, we walked by the public dock, just outside the doors. There we saw a large sailboat that turned out to be a Morgan 46. It looked much longer than that!! They had a HUGE cat on board that was roaming the deck. After a bit, his Mom came out, and while we were talking with her, the cat leapt off the boat, onto the dock, made a flying leap onto the top of the sea wall, and made a beeline for the hotel grass! Dave and I corralled the cat until the owners could get up to the hotel. They couldn’t take the same route as the cat! We talked with them for awhile about our dreams and theirs, and now I’m here desperately trying to catch up.
We hope good things are happening to you, and you are healthy and happy!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
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