We're, all three of us, pretty tired. We've now traveled 3 very long days and 1 very hard day. If we're smart we'll rest. Hard to tell if we'll be smart. Sort of depends on the weather which looks sketchy so rest could be in our immediate future.
Traveling through all the military boats in Norfolk. It wasn't as crowded with aircraft carriers as on our trip down. Still.....
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| sleek |
They are such amazingly well-designed, beautiful, functional machines. An honor to their creators and maintainers. But their purpose?!? Hurts my heart in so many ways. Still.......lots of people have work on these ships. Lots have homes and money and food and entertainment and families and....and....
So much noise and activity here but the waterways aren't nearly as crowded as our fall trip. And we're more accustomed to the traffic lanes and navigational aids and the seas are more calm. Maybe it just doesn't seem as crowded because we're more.....seasoned. Still........a military installation IS a military installation. These are war ships no matter how I might try to think of them as peace ships or national security ships. And some people make GOOBS of money because of them.
I enjoyed watching the tiny tugs do their stuff - the gates and gate-keepers, reminded me of lines of kindergartners holding onto looped ropes and being lead along the lane at the So Freeport church daycare center.
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| Gate keeper |
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| the gate expands like an accordion |
The gates are used to enclose, keep out visitors at work sites, military or otherwise though there is limited "otherwise" here on this particular location.
A joy is that we had long radio conversations with our Port Washington friends, Lise and Ken on Quest. They and we waited at the first and only bridge of the day and we followed them until they went, safely we hope, out to sea and we turned up the Chesapeake Bay. A very large battleship preceded us out the harbor and turned safely out to sea. I was sad to see them go.
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| Quest leading us toward Norfolk, the city proper We passed them later and they followed us twd the Atlantic We considered buddy-boating w/them overnight But didn't. |
Two security boats "protected"/ rode shotgun for a different vessel, a barge, coming into the harbor. That was weird. One fast pleasure boat was turned away from the direction of the barge. "Stand down immediately!" was the command heard over the radio and the speedy pleasure craft slowed and made a 90 degree turn to port. The same security boat (military) came and stood between us and the direction of the barge. Hmmm. What was that barge carrying???
So we made our way up the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay. Easy going for some time. As the day progressed and as we progressed the wind came on stronger, from our stern mostly, thankfully. We passed the Wolf Trap light, pictured for those of you who only know Wolf Trap as an arts center.
A sturdy thing all alone in the bay. I remember being impressed when we passed it on our way south. The ride got rougher and rougher as tide against wind begin to effect the sea. I'll remember that this is BIG water with land visible only on one side since we were toward the middle. I never felt in danger but we did have to hold things on the chart table from sliding into the floor when we took some of the rollers from the back quarter or stern. Ugh. double ugh. Glad I don't get seasick. Glad David and kitty don't get seasick. This would have been the day to make it happen.
Made the turn into Deltaville and wiggled our way through the most circuitous channel to our marina, then squeezed our way into the slip our hostess had given us. Then, finding that we belonged in the one to our port we, manually, pushed and pulled Grace to the other berth only to discover that we would have to re-do our effort (in reverse) in order to get Grace out whenever we decide to leave.
It is spring here. Trees are leafing. Birds are singing, at least calling, or making their wonderful noises. The osprey are building or renovating and squealing to each other...and us(?)....doubt that they're talking to us but then I talk to them so maybe they talk to/about us.
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| A new favorite bush with spring leaves, trimmed as hedge |
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| Blossoming vinca |
Both of these are on the way from our docked boat to the clubhouse and office and bath house. This is a lovely marina with lots of boats and activities packed into tight spaces. There is a tiny house for sale at the end of the creek we're next to. Also a 44' Nauticat on the hard with some repair work being done. We want to get on it but doubt we'll be allowed.
We found our welcome packet with the key to the loaner car. Took a ride to find dinner and the food store. Tomorrow, if we don't leave, we'll try to get to the consignment stores. No energy for reading tonight. Check the weather. Check the weather again. Check the weather from another website. Decide. Here tomorrow...which probably means here for several days due to predicted winds. I can't decide if we're getting smarter or more cautious. Perhaps it doesn't matter as long as we ere on side of safety.
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