Wednesday - June 22, 2011

Lat 39 22 74; long 74 25 55; eng 880.24, 150 gallons, State Marina

We left at 7:30 in order to get around Sandy Hook an. It was also going to be a long day since it was a run of around 80 nm to get to into the NYC Channels and the marina we decided to stay. Running at around 9.5 knots would get us there around 4. We had to leave Atlantic City today because the weather is going to change on Thursday and idt looked like we might be stuck there for several days. So off we went. Again, it was a little bit of a chore running the inlet out of Atlantic City since the seas were coming straight in, but once we got out we set our course and simply followed the rout we set up. There was no excitement along the trip and we arrive at the marina around 4.

Brenda phoned the marina in the morning and booked a reservation. They told her they only had fixed docks. No problem we thought as we had tied up at a lot of fixed docks. The problem was that there was no way of getting off the boat since there was no side docks. You could only go off onto the main dock by way of a ladder. This meant you had to back in to the main dock, but with a single engine boat this was not feasible especially since each slip was very narrow. So we went in bow first and tied up, making sure the falling tide would not rip our bowsprit off when the tide went down. We had to keep the boat about 3 feet from the dock so there was no way to get on the dock without a majestic leap. In addition, with a tidal drop of around 6 feet, the leap would have been up as the docks were built above the boat. We couldn’t even hook up the electrical cords so we used our generator. Would not come back here again. In addition, the help simply looped the front lines and took off.

Tuesday - June 21, 2011

Lat 38 57 65; Long 74 54 35; Fuel 164 gal; Engine 875.27; Utsch Marina


Well we got up at 5:30 to get ready to do a long run to New York City. Bade Boomer and Coconut were also ready to go at 6:30. Problem was, it was a very low tide and The Old Grouch was sitting on the bottom. We had to wait for the tide to go up at least so we had a couple of feet under the keel, otherwise we never would make it out of the marina. A sailboat tried to get out and got stuck in the entrance to the marina. After some discussion the other two boats with less draft decided to leave at 7:30. We didn’t leave until around 9 when the tide had gone up quite a bit. Our plan was to make it to Atlantic City.

Leaving the marina, I learned something. Yesterday I almost got stuck on the mud by keeping about 30 feet between the boat and the marina breakwall. This time I stayed close to the wall and guess what, there was a 9 foot channel leading out to the main channel. Once we got out of the inlet, the seas were as predicted – 2 to 4 feet and the winds from the southwest, which was fine since it would be behind us and help push us along. However, running an inlet either in or out is always a time when you have to be fully aware of the seas since they build up quite a bit at the entrance and can become quite unpredictable.

We made Atlantic City around 2:00. As we were following the marker buoys into the inlet to Atlantic City, I see this massive string of floating buoys across the channel tied to a dredge. Radioed the dredge and he informed me the channel was closed and that I would have to go around his starboard side across the shallow water to get into the inlet. Well we did it and managed to get in. although it was a little rough. We got into the State Marina and then went to lunch. The marina was managed by Trump International and his hotel was right behind us. Since, neither of Brenda or myself gamble, Mr. Trump did not make any additional money from us. We did however have an excellent lunch in one of the hotel restaurants. After lunch we went back to the boat and slept for a couple of hours, then watched the Jays game. We went to bed early as we anticipated an early start tomorrow to make the 80 mile run to New York City.

Monday - June 20, 2011

Lat 39 24 26; long 75 35 42; fuel 174 gal; eng 867.09 Delaware City Marina

We left Delaware City Marina at around 9:30, the tide was starting to slow down so there was no problem, leaving the dock. We pulled out into the Delaware River and for the first while it was quite a nice cruise. However the tide switched to a flood and the winds were coming at us. As we moved down the main channel the water got rougher and rougher until at one point we were bouncing over 6 foot waves that had a very short period. Luckily they were coming at us but the boat took a little beating. Finally when the river widened into Delaware Bay, we moved east out the main channel closer to shore and it became a lot calmer. However I think that the mass of water being pushed by the wind and tide into the small narrow opening caused the large waves much the same as the action that occurs on the Bay of Fundy in Canada when the tide floods down the Bay. The rest of the trip was quite uneventful and we enter the channel to Cape May to stay at Utsch Marina. When entering the marina you have to stay within 20 feet of the breakwater to enter the marina otherwise you end up in very shallow water. I was outside the 20 foot mark and was in 2.5 feet before I knew it but I powered through to the marina.

When we got there, we were placed beside Bade Boomer who we had not seen since Myrtle Beach when they stayed behind to play some golf. We discussed that we would make a run for New York tomorrow morning. We would have to leave early since it was 110 miles. However the weather looked good. Boomer wanted to get out of Cape May as they had been there a week. We were looking forward to traveling with a few folks again.

Sunday - June 19, 2011

Our friends Mitch and Carol from Serendipity came over this morning and we decided to go to Philadelphia to visit the Liberty Bell and other historical places. When we drove into Philadelphia, it was lunch time so we went to South Philly and partook of a Philly Cheese sandwich at Geno’s which you purchased at a corner stand. The line extended into the street on both sides as there was another curbside restaurant across the street. We then ate the sandwiches at an outside table beside the restaurant. The sandwiches were delicious! The owner is Geno's has posted an number of politically incorrect signs on his storefront, some quite humorous depending upon your point of view. South Philly was apparently the Italian area for years, but in recent years new immigrants have moved into the area so it is now a mixed neighbourhood, not without some tension.

We then went over to Independence National Historical Park where we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around looking at the historical plaques, buildings and Liberty Bell. It is described as "America's most historical square mile" and correctly so with all the history related to the Declaration of Independence etc. One of the buildings called the 2nd Federal bank contained a huge number of paintings of various men and women that were key to the creation of the USA. Most of them were painted by one man - Charles Wilson Peale. Discussions were included on the various philosophies under which the new country should be governed. Lots of roll players around, the streets were paved with old stone which apparently came from the ballast of the old sailing ships when filled with cargo. The Liberty Bell is located in a beautiful building with lots of information leading up to the actual viewing of the bell.

On the way back Mitch and Carol took us over to see their house which is rented but which sits on a beautiful piece of wooded land. As went down the gravel road to the house, it was very similar to property other friends of ours have near Burke’s Falls – long entrance way into the property, lots of forest and water. We then had dinner at local pub in Newcastle. I had the most delicious Shepard’s Pie – deep dish with lots of filling and potatoes, covered in gravy.

We will post more pictures when we get better connectivity than we have here.

Saturday - June 18, 2011

Mommy, Daddy and Baby






Lat 39 09 27; long 076 30 00; Fuel 175 gal; eng 859.06; Maryland Yacht Club
Left the Maryland Yacht Club at around 8:30 this morning after saying goodbye to Barb and Greg of Goncruzn III and who are also the AGLCA Harbor Hosts. The Yacht Club was a great place to stay and see the area particularly Washington and Baltimore. Yes it was a little way away and you had to rent a car, but it was quiet, had a pool and the people were great. It was ideal since it was about 20 minutes to Baltimore, and to Annapolis, and an hour to downtown Washington. Seems preferable to going up the Potomac for 2 or 3 days to stay at one of the marinas in Washington, but that is just me. The location worked well.

Moved out into channel and started traveling north with our destination being Delaware City Marina where we were to meet our friends from Serendipity since we last saw them in Marathon. The seas were calm. The only issue was the go-fast boats which leave big wakes. They go running by with no warning and unless you move quickly to turn into the wake, stuff could go flying all around the galley as the boat rocks side to side. Of course, being the weekend, there were a lot of these guys out on the water and it is always a guy driving fast. I don’t think they know the size of the wake they throw up and I have heard of people being hurt by an unexpected large wake.



Looking down the C&D from the western end




We arrived about 1:30 at the C&D canal, which goes from the Chesapeake to the Delaware River. I thought it was just a little canal, but it is quite big because large freighters use the canal to cross. Depths were always around 40 to 50 feet so it was quite easy to make the crossing to make the crossing. Saw an entrance on the canal which led to Delaware City Marina so I radioed to see if I could come in that way. The dock master said there was plenty of depth but there was a 6 foot bridge that I probably could not get under. Agreeing with him, we continued down the canal to the Delaware River and turned to port and entered the channel from the other end.

I forgot that since the channel was open at both ends, there probably would be current one way or another. Unfortunately we were going with the current and the marina was unlike a lot of marinas into which you go behind a breakwater to get to you slip, Delaware City Marina is laid out along the channel which was about 60 feet wide as and narrowing as we went down the channel. Our speed picked up as we were going down the channel and past the docks. I heard the dock master through the radio tell me to put it in reverse and as I looked ahead, I saw why – the 6 foot bridge was directly ahead of me. Throwing it into reverse and then forward allowed me to turn into the current and tie up alongside the dock, but because of the narrow width I bumped a few boats. Minimal damage to The Old Grouch and some damage to one of the other boats. This is a full service marina, so they will determine the cost of repair and I will pay. It would have been a lot easier to turn if I had a dual engine boat, but with a single engine, I was using my rudder to turn quickly. Anyone coming into this marina, has to be aware of the current issues and how fast it goes down the channel and the fact that the channel is very narrow as you approach the bridge. Unlike most marinas, you should radio the dockmaster well before you enter the channel that you are close so they can be ready for you as you move down the channel. I radioed as I was just arriving at the marina and that was a mistake. Anyways, no one was hurt and the damage was not much considering I could have hit the bridge and basically destroyed The Old Grouch. Another lesson learned. Lots of experiences and lots of lessons learned.

Friday - June 17, 2011

Clean-up day! We are departing this great marina tomorrow. Took back the car and basically just got ready to leave. Went to dinner at the marina restaurant with our friends from Goncruszn III Barbara and Greg. There was a band so we also did a little dancing and then returned to our boats.

Thursday - June 16, 2011

Today we returned to Washington to visit our friends from Q’s End and go to the Newseum – a museum devoted to the collection of news. Now you may think that it would be boring but we did not even get through half of it and I would return to it again. It was an interactive museum and as explained in the brochure, a place where five centuries of news history meets up to date technology. They had displays on the Berlin Wall, how it was created and taken down, Pulitzer prize pictures, many, many video displays on the first newspapers in the USA, discussions on how the news should and is reported and much more. The highlights however were the displays on Hurricane Katrina and the news reporting thereof and 9/11. Both were well done and brought tears to your eyes.

Inside the Newseum









After leaving the Newseum, we went out for dinner at a great Chinese restaurant, close to the marina where Q’s End is tied up. We said goodbye to our friends Tom and Linda, hoping we would see them down the road. At the marina was a boat which was being worked on when we were at the Atlantic Yacht Basin getting work done on our boat. it is now in Washington for tours.











The Newseum had a balcony which was directly in front of the Canadian Embassy so we took pictures - David, Brenda and finally Tom,Linda, Brenda and David

Wednesday - June 15, 2011

Today was laundry day so we did laundry. We went for breakfast at a great place in Annapolis called Chick & Ruth's Delly on 145 Main Street. Populated with boaters. it is Absolutely a huge menu for a little restaurant that looks like a hole in the wall. Try it if you are in Annapolis. Went over to a discount boat shop in Annapolis and bought a few things.

After that Greg from Goncruzn III played a game of golf down the road. Not much else other than lying around.

Tuesday - June 14, 2011

We decided to go and visit Baltimore this morning. About 20 minutes from the marina so we left about 9 and set the Baltimore Orioles ballpark Camden Yards as our destination. Neat ball park built on the old style of ballparks. Unfortunately the Orioles were out of town, otherwise we would have taken in a game. Outside the ballpark they have all the retired numbers of their great Baltimore players – Cal Ripkin, Eddie Murray, etc.
We walked over to the Baltimore Visitors centre which was right on the inner harbor. They have fixed up the harbor so that it is a treat to walk around it. In the Centre we received a recommendation for the American Visionary Museum – a museum devoted to artists who have not quite made it but their works are very good and avant garde. So we went and visited the museum and found it quite interesting. It is hard to describe the museum other than to repeat what is in the Official Guide to Baltimore – “ The national museum and education centre for outstanding original works of art created by intuitive, self taught artists”. Fascinating! There are a lot of other things we didn’t see in Baltimore that would draw us back. Another City, I would return to for a visit.







This is art!










The Inner Harbor

Monday - June 13, 2011

Today we traveled over to Arlington Cemetery with our friends from Q's End. A beautiful place although I learned it had regular grave sites as well as the white ones we are most familiar with. We visited the grave sites of President John F Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy and tow of their children, one who was stillborn and the other who died a short time after his birth. We also visited Robert Kennedy's grave site and the site of the Unknown Soldier. Apparently, they have determined the identity of the soldier who died in WW2, but his family wanted him to remain where he was with tow other unknown soldiers. The site is guarded 24/7/365 by present day servicemen and the duty is a highly sought after and only the best obtain the duty. They have to march back and forth continually in front the tomb, although I understand they are relieved every 1/2 hour. I wondered how long they could take the heat or in the winter the cold in carrying out their duties.



Kennedy Gravesite











After Arlington, we went down to Alexandria for lunch and do a little window shopping. At least Brenda and Linda did the window shopping. Tom and I waited for them in a local bar.

After Alexandria we traveled to the home of George Washington at Mount Vernon. This place is not a National Park, which surprised me. The group that owns it however has done a magnificent job keeping taking care of the home and grounds with several displays detailing the life of Washington and a museum with artifacts. I always thought that Washington was simply the general who led the troops that defeated the British and then because of that he became the first president of the the Untied States. He was a little more than that. After the war, he purposely resigned from the Army because his duty was done. He had no desire to become President. However, he was requested to accept the office as the politicians of the time could not determine who would be better. Many of the things he accomplished in office set the precedent for future presidents. His heart was not really in politics however but in agriculture. He experimented in growing crops and animals and seemed to be way ahead of this time. This apparently was his true love.

Sunday - June 12, 2011

The Capital, I think the Senate is on hte left and the House of Representatives on the right but I could be wrong.



Brenda wanted to see the National Botanical Garden which was right beside the capital so we decided to go over there first thing in the morning. It was again going to be a hot day so we thought that it would be best to visit it in the early part of the day. We walked over and passed in front of the capital. The gardens both outside and inside the tropical area were just beautiful. Unfortunately, it got quite hot very quickly and Brenda wanted to get inside a building. We walked down Independence Avenue and decided to go into the National Museum of the American Indian (part of the Smithsonian) which also included displays on the Inuit and the Metis,and those from and Central America. It also included a display by West Coast carvers that I believe were from Canada. At first I equated America to just the US but in the context of the entire Americas, it should represent Natives from all areas.

I was a fascinating display and we could easily have spent another day looking around. Each display area was devoted to a specific tribe and they had a consulting group from the tribe detailing what the theme of the display should be and what message they wanted to impart to the visitors - history, the present and the future. However pictures were forbidden in the museum, so you will have to see it for yourselves.

We ate lunch in the museum and the food was the type of food that the Natives ate. There were several kiosks so you could find different things from the different areas of the Americas. Of course for those with more pedestrian tastes, you could get a sandwich or a burger. The food was delicious. Apparently, this restaurant was one of the most popular in the Smithsonian.

After the Museum, we jumped on the the Trolley again since the tickets we bought were good for two days and caught a ride back to the hotel. One thing we have learned, is the transportation system is very good in Washington between the subway, the buses and the Circulator Bus which travels a route around the central part of the City. Cost is $1 per trip. Another thing I learned is that most of the streets that have states names run from the center of the city through to the Capital Beltway which is IS 495 and goes around the City. Once you reach the Beltway, look for a street with a state name - Pennsylvania, New York etc and you will run into the Beltway. The City seems well laid out.

Saturday - June 11, 2011

Got up this morning and we drove to Washington. Brenda got us a deal at the Hilton which is about a block from the White House. It took us about an hour from the Yacht Basin. It is very hot - well into the 90's and for you Canadians that about 35 C. Once we got there, we had to wait for a bit to check in, so we went for a walk over the White House and then down to the Mall. By the time we had finished that walk, we heard from the hotel that our room was ready so we went back and checked in. After lunch we took a trolley tour around town which took about three hours but it gave us a good insight into the City and the sights. We passed by all the important monuments - Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc. the Capital, Canadian Embassy, Smithsonian. The Smithsonian is so huge that we could take a couple of weeks to see it all. The trolley tour was similar to those we took in Savannah and St. Augustne. Lots of stuff to see, so little time, will have to come back. It was also Pride Weekend in Washington and as we walked back to the hotel, we saw this coming along the street: . They looked like they were having fun but I am not sure how comfortable some of them were. Of course it was a hot, hot day.




Of course Canada gets recognized:

Too bad these idiots don't know that Canada supplies 20% of the US oil requirements, far more than Saudi Arabia and the other mid-east dictatorships, and that it is just as clean as shipping oil from the middle east after all is factored in.









In the evening we got to dinner with our friends from Q's End who we had not seen since St Augustine.




The White House




The Supreme Court








The Lincoln Memorial

Friday - June 10, 2011

Today we rented a car because tomorrow we are going into Washington. Brenda has found a good weekend rate at a hotel about 2 blocks from the White House, so we will go in for a couple of days. After renting the car we went to Westmarine in Annapolis and browsed for a bit and did some food shopping. Went to a unique little restaurantfor lunch right beside Westmarine called Grumpy's. Funny little place but great food. The rest of the day we spent shopping for food and jsut going around Annapolis, although we did not get down to the harbor. Went to dinner here at the Maryland Yacht Club and had a good dinner with Greg and Barb.

Thursday - June 9, 2011

Lat 38 19 23; Long 76 18 00; Fuel 188 gal; eng 851.24

We left the Solomons about 9:15 headed for Baltimore and the Maryland Yacht Club. It was a pretty straight run up the Bay, the wind and seas were calm and we arrived about 4:30. We received a phone a call as we were coming into the Club asking where we were. They were closing up but would have someone to assist us. Didn't show and we got into the slips ourselves - no problem. It was a long run.

Our next slip neighbors are Barb and Greg from Goncruzn III. We hadn't seen them since Fort Myers in Florida when we had dinner with them. This is their home port and in fact they told us that it would be easier coming in here to travel to Washington then going up the Potomac. They invited us to dinner and we spent a good time catching up, They went to the Bahamas and had a great time. I think we will have to go over there next time we go south. Too many people are saying it is a great place.

Wednesday - June 8, 2011

Brenda decided we should stay another day at Solomans. She wanted to see the museum so off we went before it got too hot. Temperatures were estimated to get to around 100 today. The museum was one of those nuggets you sometimes find in these little places. It had a complete history of the area going back to prehistoric times since there are cliffs along the Chesapeake where many fossils and skeletons have been excavated. Their interactive history program was extremely good explaining each epoch in the history of the earth. The museum then illustrated the various life in the Bay and the Bay's impact on those living here from the Patuxent Indians to the arrival of the Europeans to the present day. Illustrations of fishing boats and industry that flourished and still flourishes in the Bay and the Patuxent River. All in all an excellent museum, well worth the 3 hours we spent there.

When we came back to the boat these two ducks obviously found it too hot out on the water as they were resting in the shade beside the path to the marina. They didn't move when we came by.

Tuesday - June 7, 2011

Lat 37 33 65; Long 76 18 74; Fuel 123 gal; eng 842.30 - Dozier's Marina

This is a beautiful marina and as I mentioned yesterday, it reminds me of our home marina in Georgian bay - South Bay Cove. We left around 9:00 in the morning for Tangiers Island which we have been told is a beautiful little crabbing village located on an island in the middle of the Chesapeake. The seas were calm and we sailed across in a couple of hours and entered the channel separating Tangiers and Smith Island form the east. We had phoned the only marina on the island before hand and after several attempts, we got an answer that there was room. As we entered the channel, it got shallower and shallower as we got close to island and we rubbed bottom a couple of times but finally we got in. We traveled down the channel against a strong wind and current coming against us, radioing the marina but never received any reply. Finally we were told by someone else that the owner doesn't answer the VHF and we couldn't raise him on the phone. Trying to enter one of slips was very difficult as the current and wind was pushing the stern of the boat against the pilings. Then we tried to turn around and dock in the front of the marina and started moving sideways down the channel. I gave up and we decided to move on or to Solamans on the mainland. Never did hear from the marina owner. maybe he was asleep, but I decided I was not going to risk the boat by trying to enter a slip without some assistance given the conditions. Our observation, however was that Tangiers was a beautiful little place and would have been nice to visit.


Tangier Island










As we came out out the other side of the channel into the Chesapeake, the wind had picked up was coming from the south and we were running for about an hour with a beam sea. Not too bad, only two foot waves but Brenda got a little queasy during the trip. However once we reached the marker buoy set on my route we changed to a northerly course and the seas were coming from behind. Again not too bad but they did push the boat around a bit particularly towards the end of the day as the winds had picked up even more. As we were going up the Bay we saw this Navy warship on the right and it looked like it was sitting on land in the middle of the Bay. Turns out it is a bombing target for naval aviators. In the picture you can see it if you look hard.




it was a long day and we were glad to get into port. Went to dinner at the marina restaurant, watched the Blue Jays and went to bed.

Monday - June 6, 2011

Lat 36 50 63; Long 76 17 56; eng 834.27; 136 gallons.

We set out at 8 and proceeded down the Elizabeth River and as we did so we heard several notification that a couple of US Navy Warships were leaving just about the time we would have passed the Navel Yard, so we slowed down. It took us an hour and a half to get out into the Bay. It was interesting to see the ships move out of the piers and go ahead of us. Needless to say, we left them a lot of space. The warnings are very clear that you are not to approach or get close to the ships. As we were traveling down the river, a freighter was coming in accompanied by about 6 coast guard boats. In fact one of the coast guard boats requested that we travel right against the green line in order to stay as far away as possible. We learned later the ship was carrying gasoline.









Once we got out into Chesapeake Bay auto took us all the way to Doziers for the night along the route I had charted. . The seas were calm and the water deep so they were not problems, not even any crab pots in the water.

We arrived at Doziers around 3 and our first slip was about 12.5 feet wide which is the width of my boat. I managed to get just get in, but it was not good so they arranged for another slip which was a little wider. This is a very nice marina, which reminds me of our home marina in Georgian Bay - quiet and out in the country. A complete contrast to the Marina in Norfolk.

Sunday - June 5, 2011

Well we were all set to go this morning and around 7:30 the skies got black and we had a 3 hour thunderstorm. Winds came up, lightening flashed and the rains came down We decided to stay put and by the time it was finished we decided to stay another day which was fine as there was a lot happening including a Pride Festival which was interesting to say the least.






Met a new couple on Lifestyle II who had recently started the Loop so we had them over for cocktails and had a discussion about how to get into the Chesapeake. As they were leaving N II Wishin pulled in to the marina. We had a little chat with them and they had been over to the Bahamas and had a good time. Last time we saw them was in Marathon before we went home for a week.

At 5:30, there was a Bud Lite cruise on the big sailboat commercial sailboat also docked at the marina. Lots of beer was loaded and lots of people got on for the trip but as it was by invitation only, we did not go along.

Saturday - June 4, 2011

Stayed in Norfolk for another day. Brenda heard the City has a great botanical garden, so we went out for a tour. Since we didn't have a car, we took a taxi. Big mistake - the cost of the taxi both ways was over $60. Should have phoned Enterprise, however live and learn.

The garden was very impressive with a beautiful rose garden, although the roses were quite damaged by the current heat wave (in excess of 90 for the last week or so). Butterfly garden, a water place for kids to go and play and lots of interesting displays. One thing that comes across about Norfolk is that it is very family friendly. My observation is that they have done a lot to make it livable.



Mermaids are all over Norfolk

Friday June 3, 2011

Lat 36 43 22; Long 76 14 11; 132 gal eng 830.5, Oil and all filters changed. Atlantic Yacht Basin

We went over and got a pump out before we left, waited until the Great Bridge opened and moved down river. As soon as we finished going through the bridge, we entered a lock, albeit not much of a lock since it was only a two foot rise in water but being old hands in the locking process, there was not much of a problem. As we traveled down the river we ran into a number of bridges that we had to wait for an opening as they were only about 6 to 12 feet off the water. There were a number of boats ahead of us and since we were not in a hurry we did not pass. As we approached Norfolk the river got extremely busy with lots of dry docks and boats working the river. Passed a large helicopter landing craft or aircraft carrier (can't tell which, although the aircraft carrier is a lot larger, but I couldn't tell how big the ship was) getting some work done it in dock.


Aircraft Carrier??




This place is apparently the world's largest navel base and you could see the protection that was set up for the naval ships - a perimeter fence all around the yard where the ships were located and several guard boats cruising up and down the river in front of the yard 24/7. Based on our previous experience early last month, I was very careful not to annoy them.

We decided to go into Waterside Marina which is in downtown Norfolk. The City has done a lot to the waterfront such that it is a place for people to go on the weekend - live music, lots of restaurants and boat traffic. There are mermaids all along the waterfront (each of them different) pointing directions. Somewhat similar to the moose that Toronto had several years ago, but these appear permanent. A nice touch to the city.






We took a walk along the waterfront and came upon a war memorial, but it was unlike any that I have seen before. Instead of listing names of the fallen, letters written home by the soldiers to their loved ones were inscribed on metal tablets. The letters were written during the War for Independence, The Civil War, WW I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War. The interesting thing was the letters were written shortly before the soldiers were killed and they were extremely touching.


Letter Home





Once we settled in, we went and took the naval harbour tour past the actual naval base. We were amazed by the number of ships in port and the size and cost of them - even had two subs in base. Our tour described some of the advanced electronic equipment that was on the various ships to counter attacks. Consider that this is only part of the fleet and that there are ships all across the various oceans on duty and in other naval bases, you start to realize the size of the American Navy and its capabilities. Truly amazing, since we hear about these ships on the TV but don't really realize their size and what they really can do. Lots of protection around the ships and lots of boats running around to prevent any one from trying to enter the perimeter. One of the ships in the yard was the USS Cole which was attacked by terrorists in the late 90's in which several naval seamen died. When you look at the pictures, you can see the perimeter security around the base.













After our boat trip we went for a walk around the Wisconsin - a WW II battleship that was also used in the first Gulf War and is now retired in the harbour of Norfolk. It again is truly huge and in its day was quite the fighting machine. It would be useless today with missiles that could take it out from thousands of miles away. It was built for ship to ship battle and while its guns could fire shells out 20 miles, the aircraft carrier can provide far more fire power.


The Wisconsin

Thursday - June 2, 2011

Today we did our laundry and cleaned the boat up before our departure tomorrow. Brenda wants to go to Norfolk, about 12 miles down the river in order to take a tour around the harbour. The largest navy dock in the world is located there and there are apparently a lot of things to see. So we will start off late tomorrow and move down river.

Wednesday - June 1, 2011

Since we could not get into the boat until late today, we decided to drive around and see a little of the area. While I already did it, Brenda had not. We also wanted to do some food shopping, and visit West Marine. On Monday when we left went out for dinner with our friends, I left my camera in the cab. We got the same cab for a return ride to the hotel but unfortunately the camera was gone. The cabbie had picked up other rides before we finished dinner and I suspect that one of them may have taken the camera and it is now sitting in a pawn shop. I don't think the cabbie took it, unless I completely misjudged his character. Anyway, we also went looking for another camera, because you can't be on this trip without a camera. We found a great little shop in Williamsburg and bought a new camera. When we returned the boat was in the water and looked good except for the some damage that occurred to the plexiglass windshield on the flying bridge. Apparently a big thunder storm went through when the boat was on the hard and the winds reached 60 - 70 miles per hour (according to the marina). The winds seemed to twist the plexiglass and it broke.