Monday, May 7, we leave the Dismal Swamp Dock and travel a short distance further up the canal and tie our 42 foot boat to a 20 foot dock so we can explore a feeder creek by dinghy. John wasn't sure it was enough dock until he saw a picture of 3 boats our size and bigger all tied up to it together in another looper's blog.
The feeder creek is narrow, but beautiful:
There are rows of turtles sunning themselves on logs, but we have the little camera (we don't want to risk the Nikon in the dinghy) and none of the turtle pictures are in focus. (Yes, Matthew, it's that little camera you received as a promotion and used for a while then gave to Benj, who eventually passed it on to us. Pretty good pictures, aren't they?) At the end of the stream, there is an electric railway to take small boats overland around the lock and into the lake:
We turn back at this point because we want to get past a railroad bridge that will close during the day for the next 3 days and we have to consider the lock schedule and the timed opening of a highway bridge. Mary Frances is waiting
and we continue up the canal. As we are untying, we look ahead and there seems to be a bridge across our way, but there is nothing on the chart to indicate the existence of such a thing. As we leave the dock, we look ahead and the bridge is gone. A Dismal Swamp mirage?! We move slowly forward and find this interesting engineering phenomenon:
This section of bridge rolls across the canal when needed-like to deliver roofing material to the house by the lock at the lake. We wondered how they got shingles, etc. back there!
We went through the lock with 2 sailboats and the lock master told them to travel at 6 1/2 knots and they would arrive at the bridge perfectly for the 3:30 opening. We passed them and continued along the Elizabeth River. When we arrived at the bridge, we called the bridge tender to ask how much clearance she had (remember tides) and she had 16 feet so we cruised happily through and continued on. We soon heard an announcement that the railroad bridge was closing so the sailboats did not make it for the 3:30 opening.
An aircraft carrier:
We don't know for sure what these are but guess they are floating barracks for sailors whose ships are having work done?
We cruise past the Wisconsin, one of only 4 Iowa class battleships ever built. They are all museum ships now: the Missouri in Pearl Harbor, the Iowa will open soon in L.A., and the New Jersey, appropriately in New Jersey.
We arrive at our marina, the Naval Sailing Center on Norfolk Navy Station, in strong winds. The chop had increased the further we came on the Elizabeth River toward Chesapeake Bay. Not only did we get to approach one dock in the wind, but we have the privilege of having to make 2 approaches, as we need to pump out on the way in. We blow into the dock, a little harder than we wish, and sit at the pump out for about an hour as the harbor attendant, the maintenance man, and finally the harbor master all agree that it isn't working because something is wrong with our boat, not their pump-out. Fine, let's just move to our slip in the wind that has spent our fruitless hour increasing. We give the 2 young men who are assisting instructions (and later a tip) so we can avoid another hard landing and manage to move into the slip that will be our home for a week without further incident.
Tuesday we rent a car, as there are so many sites we want to visit in this area. John also wheels the hand pump-out down the dock-remember the navy's physical fitness plan from Pensacola and Boca Chica-and successfully pumps out the holding tank. The harbor master apologizes and orders repair to his unit. Oh, well. We also finally remember to tape the slices on our front plastic that leak in hard rainstorms. We didn't do it before because we didn't want to look like the Clampets, but even we can't see the tape and we know where we put it! Sure beats having to place towels and a bowl under those spots that have developed into cracks as they've been exposed to sun and wind. We'll replace those pieces when we get home.
Wednesday we visit Nauticus, the nautical museum in Norfolk, also home to the Hampton Roads Navy Museum and the Wisconsin:
John "drives" a tugboat successfully into New York Harbor:
Horseshoe crabs are actually more closely related to scorpions and spiders than to other crabs:
After we return to our boat, John drives to the exchange and returns with a Mother's Day balloon for Mary.
Thursday we drive to Fort Monroe, where Jefferson Davis was imprisoned after the Civil War.
No wonder the cold and damp affected his health!
The original approaches to the fort are still in use:
Old Point Comfort Light (the fort is on this point):
Our marina is where the admirals' "barges" are moored:
Also on this base-We thought the housing was a little more elegant than usual.
The clock tower on this "Pennsylvania" house actually appears on nautical charts!
There are many navy ships here:
We drove by 3 times, looking up at carriers, destroyers, and cruisers before looking down and noticing the 3 subs:
During the day Thursday John received and made mysterious phone calls that he didn't want Mary to hear. He did finally admit they had to do with Mother's Day, Benjamin, and a delivery. On our way back to the base we pulled into a gas station and a man got out of a car carrying a bouquet of yellow and white daisies. We took the flowers to the boat-they sure brighten up the cabin-and went to the theater on base to see "The Hunger Games". It is good. Mary recommends the series.
Friday we drove to the Mariners' Museum in Newport News to see the full-size model of the Monitor, the Civil War ironclad. They also have a replica of the interior of the Merrimack, which was converted into the Virginia by the CSA:
The turret is being preserved: (Looks a lot like the Hunley when we visited Charleston, doesn't it, Christine and Matthew?)
One of the galleries here is 16 miniature ships all created by one couple:
There is a small craft center that includes a couple of classic Chris Crafts, built in Michigan of course:
Yorktown: when we visited here with Benjamin in 2002, the visitor center was closed and we had about 1/2 hour to drive around the grounds. This time, we walked under a remnant of fabric that George Washington passed under on his way to his dining tent. Wow! The American forces defeated Cornwallis here and guaranteed that the United States of America would have a chance to take its place in the world order. The victory monument:
We detoured to Fort Eustis and visited the outdoor displays at the Army Transportation Museum. We think we know where George Lucas got his idea for the AT-ATs!
Saturday we drove to Cape Henry.
A replica of the cross placed by the first settlers with the new Cape Henry Lighthouse behind it. The old lighthouse is open, so we climb the spiral stairs.
Virginia Beach:
The Coast Guard Museum at Virginia Beach:
This amazing memorial to navy, marine, and coast guard air service is along the boardwalk. There are several large statues reflecting the rise of air power.
King Neptune has been kind to us.
If John can drive a tugboat, certainly Mary can handle this elevator!
Mary and John are in Norfolk, so we drive to Waterside Marina and
join the crews of Passport, Harem (from Holland, MI), and Seabiscuit on
the upper deck of Brown-Eyed Girl then we all walk to a Joe's Crab Shack
for dinner.
Sunday is mother's day and both boys call, John takes Mary for a mani-pedi and a haircut, and we end the day with pizza and beer on the boat while we watch another episode of Downton Abbey (Mary and John loaned us the first 2 seasons on dvd.) All in all, a most satisfying day.
Monday we plan to visit the Portsmouth Nautical Museum so we can explore this lightship. As we are parking, a parking enforcer tells us that the museum is closed. We've been so busy that we completely forgot that many things close on Monday in the South. At least we got to see the outside and cannot imagine living on one of these through storms and high seas.
Well, as long as we're on this side of the bay, there's an example of Jacobean architecture called Bacon's Castle about 30 miles away. We may as well continue our drive. After about 10 miles, it occurs to us that is is still Monday in the South, so we check in the AAA book. Bacon's Castle is closed on Mondays. After we laugh at ourselves, we decide it's still a good day for a drive so keep going. Bacon's Castle:
We drive a little further out of our way to take the Scotland-Jamestown ferry:
Jamestown:
When we return to the boat, we notice a hitchhiker on the trim tab. Hey, we can actually SEE the trim tab-the water's not brown!
A mother's day card from Charlotte, NC is delivered today. It was mailed in plenty of time, but must have decided to take a few detours. From last Wednesday, when John brought the balloon, to today and the card, this year's Mother's Day celebration lasted a week. Life is good.
