Long days are zipping by. And we're in areas of various states, geographical states, that have limited internet access and strength. Thus, tonight as I try to catch up with my blog, my photos aren't uploading from my phone to my email where I can download them to my blog. Ah, the technology I've come to expect to be reliable and isn't exactly so.
Yesterday we traveled from the anchorage near Camden Bay, where David and I survived our snitty argument about where within a 50 yard radius to anchor, all the way to Norfolk. Along the way....an eagle on a sign post soon after we passed Coinjock Marina - the last time we traveled north through here it was blustery and scary, not this time;
a sad but not quite abandoned boat in Currituck Sound. Its sails are shredded but it is securely anchored and a dinghy is attached giving the impression that someone is attending to it.
At Atlantic Yacht Basin nearly to the Great Bridge Lock, I believe this beauty is named Entice. She was docked across the harbor from us in Belhaven but a night or two ago but left before we got up. What a gorgeous boat.
Another boat beauty at Atlantic Yacht.
We waited across from the yacht services for the Great Bridge Bridge to open. We'd been playing leap frog with a trawler named Sea Turtle all day long.
We were ahead of them going through the bridge which coordinates with the Lock. But the very large barge/tug combo gets to go into the Lock first. Other boats go "if there's room." There was so Sea Turtle and we floated in.
More wildlife.Nearly every navigation aid along the waterway in NC and VA has a osprey nest, most with an osprey hunkered down in it, I assume sitting on eggs or keeping chicks warm. They are hard to see, usually just the white heads sticking out. Occasionally, the mate will be perched or fishing nearby. I've read that they share sitting and fishing responsibilities. I love hearing them chirp, calling to each other. I also just enjoy the rich diversity of the flora along the NC/VA ICW...teeming (teaming, too) with life.
Coming into Norfolk along the Elizabeth River where the navel base is...always an awesome and gruesome experience...the size of the battle ships, the expense of the battleships in money and lives, the amazing discipline of the humans on the battleships, possibly the oppression represented on board and off, remembering that all my uncles were Navy sailors, the power of fear/hate/war.
These boats are decorated...for leaving ? We heard that #44 was preparing to depart. Don't know for where or for how long. Sorry that families are separated. Sorry that we've not yet discovered, as a civilization(?) how to resolve conflict in unhurtful ways, that we continue to think preparing for war will secure peace. Hasn't worked yet but maybe not preparing won't either. Hard to tell. And then greed is a strong motivation to oppress or kill people.
Still....the ships. This aircraft carrier!!! How many meals or clothes for poor children...or preventative healthcare...or arts supplies?
And the technology that is created...and the jobs!
We ran aground on the way to our favorite marina - Rebel Marine, where we spent a cold December and my birthday in January. Just excited to get there having made it through the gauntlet of war machines, and tired, we missed the first two channel markers, wondered at all the crab pots in the channel and bumped not once but three times before finally getting ourselves in the appropriate groove.
Dave, the owner, met us at the dock and helped us land. We visited on the dock for 45 minutes or so, beer from our freezer, all of us telling tales about our FL trips this winter. Dave has the bluest eyes ever and is accustomed to using those blues to flirt. We all enjoy each other. David and I dined and remembered why we enjoy this place. The people are jewels. John, from the steel boat at the end of the dock walked over to visit. He wants to sail to Maine and wondered where to go/stay/what to see/ how expensive? "Call us," we said, "when you get close."
We were tempted to stay in Norfolk at Rebel Marine where we spent the month of December
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