Monday, June 6, 2011

May 25 - June 6

Our continued journey down the Dismal Swamp Canal was beautiful. When in the lead, water ahead was smooth as glass, making it hard to differentiate where the land ended from where the water began. It was mesmerizing when looking ahead, especially when going around a bend. At the end of the canal is the Deep Woods Lock, and beyond that, scenery changed dramatically as we headed into Norfolk, VA on the Elizabeth River. We stayed at Waterside Marina in downtown Norfolk which was a great stop. The marina had the perfect floating docks and we were in walking distance from museums, shopping, restaurants and a movie theater. We toured the harbor on a narrated Victory Rover cruise and learned a lot about the harbor. Norfolk Naval Base is the world's largest base, and the world's largest military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has its defense headquarters there. In addition to being the home of the Navy's largest concentration of naval forces, Naval Station Norfolk also hosts personnel from the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. It was cool to see all of the ships at port, as well as two returning ships as we were leaving. The government's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center/Defense Distribution Depot is the second largest government building, next to the Pentagon. We also saw the USS Cole which had been bombed a few years ago in Yemen. The weather was in the 90's, so we went to see two movies to cool down. The first night we saw Bridesmaids which was really entertaining, and the second night Hangover II, which wasn't as good as the first Hangover movie.

Dismal Swamp as Smooth as Glass

Cruising Down the Dismal Swamp

Heading Toward Norfolk, VA

Norfolk, VA

Waterside Marina


Chris Beats the Heat at Waterside Marina

Downtown Restaurant

Norfolk Waterfront

Downtown Norfolk

Naval Ship

Downtown Norfolk

Victory Rover Cruise

Our next stop, Deltaville, was Sandy and Bru's (Coconuts) home port. It's on the Chesapeake, and was hit by a tornado in April. The area was described as being like a war zone, and after the clean-up, we saw effects from the storm including the remains of Zoar Church which was torn in half. We had a nice dinner at Cocomo's and went back to Sandy and Bru's home afterward. The next day, we hung out before going to Gary and Robin's home on Rappahannock River for an excellent Memorial Day cookout. Their hospitality and home set a beautiful setting for the rainbow that crossed the river after a short rainfall.

Cruising on the Chesapeake Bay

Zoar Church

Calm After the Storm

Gary, Robin, Bru, Sandy and Billy

On May 29, we went with Bade Boomer to Solomons Island and stayed at Calvert Marina. The marina itself was somewhat rundown, and it was hotter than hot. We took the dinghy to the other side of the river, visited the Tiki Bar, Solomons' Pier, caught up with Greg and Barb on Gone Cruzin' III, and headed on to St. Michaels where we spent a few days (May 31 and June 1).

Sunset at Solomons Island

Bruce Blowing his Conch at Sunset

Getting Ready for a Dinghy Ride

Rob, Deb, Chris and Bruce at the Tiki Bar

Solomons' Pier

St. Michaels Marina was in the center of its cute town with shopping, restaurants, an excellent Maritime Museum, and a grocery store within walking distance. We spent a lot of time at the pool because it was super hot and humid. The Maritime Museum was cool. We learned about oystering and how so many of the oyster beds have been destroyed over the years and how the Maryland crab molts or sheds its hard shell to become a soft-shell crab. We toured a lighthouse in which families used to live, and saw how how historic ships are refurbished.

St. Michael's Marina
Rob and Bruce Inspect Vessel Freedom's Figurehead

Chesapeake Bay Information

Crab Pot With Baby Crab

Bruce Digs for Oysters

Corkscrew Lighthouse

The Inn at Perry Cabin

Hydrangeas at the Inn

Inn at Perry Cabin

Entrance to the Maritime Museum

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

St. Michaels

We got to Annapolis, MD on June 2, and docked at Yacht Basin Company. Shortly after our arrival, Mom, Dad, Darcy, Randy, Max and Sadie met us at the marina, and we walked around town, went on a cruise that left from Ego Alley to learn about the area, and had a crab fest at Buddy's for dinner. Friday night, Max and Sadie stayed with us on Lady Royal. Saturday morning, before cruising to Baltimore, we all went to Chick & Ruth's Delly, where it is a daily tradition to have everyone stand up at a specified time to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Cruising to Annapolis Past a Sail Boat Race

Annapolis, MD

Breakfast at Chick & Ruth's Delly

Randy and Sadie in Annapolis

Ego Alley in Annapolis

Annapolis Marina

Dad, Max, Rob, Randy and Sadie

Max, Sadie, Darcy and Randy

Max as Captain in Annapolis

Sadie as Captain in Annapolis

Saturday morning, Randy drove to Baltimore to meet the rest of us, who cruised there from Annapolis. The cruise was about four hours, and the weather was picture perfect. The bay was calm and the sun was shining. When pulling into the Baltimore Harbor, we passed Fort McHenry where the Star Spangled Banner was penned. We stayed at Inner Harbor East Marina and enjoyed what Baltimore has to offer, including its aquarium, the Top of the World, Little Italy, and Annabel Lee's Restaurant, named after one of Edgar Allan Poe's works. Our next stop is the C&D Canal which is the entrance to Delaware Bay, then on to New Jersey. It's the first time in weeks that we'll be traveling on our own. We have been traveling with Bade Boomer, who is going back to Chicago for a week, and will miss them!

Beautiful Day on the Water!

Cruising to Baltimore

Mom Relaxing on Lady Royal

Darcy, Max, Sadie and Dad Enjoying the Breeze

Fort McHenry • Entering Baltimore Harbor

USCGC Taney - Last Survivor of Pearl Harbor

Kara, Bruce, Rob, Deb and Chris - Final Happy Hour Before Splitting Ways with Boomer


Rob, Dad, Mom, Deb, Darcy, Max and Sadie at the Aquarium

Baltimore Aquarium

Baltimore Aquarium

Randy, Max, Rob and Dad

Max and Sadie at Baltimore Aquarium
Little Italy

Baltimore

Inner Harbor East from Top of the World

Annabel Lee Tavern
Annabel Lee Tavern
Chris, Taking a Picture of Me, Taking a Picture of Her








No comments:

Post a Comment