Les and Annie arrive on Sunday to cool and rainy conditions...we had them bring a few supplies with them
This is a view out of our boat, at a crusie ship in the harbor. The rainy conditions you see in this picture is what it's been like for the last 5 days
This cruise ship was leaving dock and heading out to sea...they turned around just behind our boat
It was amazing to see how the captain spun the boat around in almost it's own length...with no help from any tug boat
This entire process took about 15 to 20 minutes and was fun to watch
Our first dinner with the Walleck's
Monday was cool...but the sun came out. This is a big tug boat that parked very close to us, to pick up some crew members
Deb and Les
This yacht (White Cloud) is docked just across the marina from us. Les found out it is 220 feet long...they will leave for Mexico on Wednesday
A great sunset, and a great day, in Norfolk.
Log 178
Day 517
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
6:30 AM EDT
Location: Waterside Marina; Norfolk, VA.
Weather: 48 degrees with calm winds...it’s going to be 72 and sunny today
I follow a few other captain’s logs (most folks call them blogs, but when they are written on a boat, I call them logs) from other boats, and it’s one of the very first things I look at each morning, to see who has updated their logs. I can tell you that I am always disappointed when there is no update, and nothing new to read. And, I think...they must be doing something, why no update? Right after that, I think about doing my log updates, and how (sometimes) they can be hard to take the time to do, and understand why others don’t update theirs every day. I followed two friends (Good News & Salvage Crew) every day for over a year, and although there were certainly days when there was not much to write about, they did write a short log, and I always appreciated knowing where they were, and what was going on. I’m actually not sure why I am telling you this, except that is how I feel. But, I can also say, it will not affect how (or how often) I write my logs.
With that said...we are going into our 7th day here at Norfolk (amazing how fast time goes) and finally, just last night, the winds have died down. Since we got here the winds have come hard out of the NE, and with them came the rain, and cold weather. We have had days in the upper 50’s to low 60’s, and nights in the 40’s...with no sun. Yesterday it was sunny, but windy and still fairly cold, in the upper 60’s. Last night is was clear, with a low of 47, and calm winds. Today begins the first of several great days, with temperatures in the 70’s and bright sunny skies, and we’re looking forward to it.
Even though the weather has not cooperated, we have enjoyed our time in Norfolk. I can’t report anything very exciting, but we have found new spots for lunch; went to a movie (Law Abiding Citizen...very good); and did some boat organizing. We have not done any big boat projects, because they are all caught up on. Les and Annie arrived on Sunday afternoon, and we are having a great time with them. Sunday, due to the weather, we just “hunkered” down in the boat, but yesterday, we went in their van, and found a great Mexican spot for lunch; ran several errands; and made a grocery run to get stocked up for the next couple of weeks. Today...is “tour day” for us in Norfolk. Our plan is to enjoy a lazy morning, and then head to a nice spot for lunch, followed by tour around the harbor on Victory Rover, which gives Naval Base Cruises. Although we have been all around this harbor, I am looking forward to a guided tour, and learning all about the ships in the harbor, and the history of this place. It should be a good day.
Tomorrow...we will leave Norfolk, and head south. Our plan is to get some fuel first thing in the morning, and drop off Les and Annie’s van at a local marina (which they will pick up in a couple of weeks) and then head down the ICW...our first stop being Coinjock, NC...a 50 mile run. I have mixed emotions about the run south. The good news is we will not have to worry much about the waves or the weather, as there are only a few spots that winds can affect us. The bad news is we are back in “the ditch” and that means lots of narrow channel; shallow water; and a whole lot of “pucker factor” that I’ll be dealing with. My main goal is to get the boat to Florida without a ding in the props. We’ll see.
I’ll keep you posted.
Bob
