2014-05-10 AYB to Mojack Bay (Severn River, Bryant's Bay) and Cavlert Marina, Solomon Island

We are off on the second portion of our Great Loop...we left Atlantic Yacht Basin, in Chesapeake, VA earlier today...and now weaving are way through the commercial and naval vessels, bridges and waterways of Norfolk...

You can tell that the "Hampton Roads" is one BIG, busy port!

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

We're now outside the Norfolk area into a more 'open' part of the Chesapeake and storm clouds are a buildin'

 

The rain has begun... 

Yes, I have my life jacket on and Captain Ron is reporting gale force winds in the 40-50 mph range.  Although seas were rolling only one to three feet, the winds were giving us a good test of the seaworthiness of Spirit Journey.  She handled it well - we lost one 'koozie' and a chair cover that got blown off the aft.

 

Sun is starting to pop out...the lighthouses of the Chesapeake are

a lovely sight, and the seas are calming... 

A "loaded" ocean freighter passes by

Ooops...having a little trouble moving these pictures in order...stormy, choppy waves from the storm.

 

 

The Chesapeake lighthouses are charming!

 

 

 

 

 
We have a new "bimini" - canvas top to the boat and matching cover for the dingy...in a dark-almost-navy-blue.  It also provides more of an enclosure for the flybridge - there are 'windows' we can unzip and open.  Ron *loves* driving from the flybridge!  (our cushions are not out on the seats today...)

 

 

 The 'dinghy' - sits behind the flybridge.

2013-11-5 to 7 Mojack Bay to AYB for Winter 2013 - 2014ga

Up early for a start from Solomons to Atlantic Yacht Basin (AYB) in Chesapeake, VA.  We planned a two day trip with a stopover in Mobjack Bay for one last night on the anchor before calling it a year.

 

 



Beautiful morning with calm seas welcomed us back onto the Chesapeake

Sunrises like this make the O-Dark Thirty get up a lot easier to accept....

 

Welcoming us south in all her glory....

New Port Comfort told us we were getting close to our evening anchorage....

Found an anchorage with the setting sun....

unfortunately, it was reasonably quite putting the hook down... and then the 20 to 30 knot winds came up to rock us thru the rising sun!  Michele even put her sea-bands on to wear to bed...

But the sight of the blimp overhead in the morning gave us assurance that it was going to be a great new day!

 

Several of these little guys with the BIG GUNS welcomed us back into the Hampton Roads area



we weren't really this close..... but it seemed like it...

yes, there real.... and BIG

Cruise ship left shortly after we arrived...

 

 

Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a Norwegian ship built in 1914 arrived shortly after we put into dock in Norfolk.  All the little red figures are actually young seaman/women in training aboard the ship.  They sung Norwegian songs as they climbed up the sails as she came into the dock!!!  It was just starting to rain so they all had on their rain gear!

 

The one Lock we need to clear near our winter storage marina (AYB) was broken so all south and north bound vessels had to hold for a few days.   We waited out the broken lock until conditions were such that they would let a few boats thru at a time. 

Our friends Heather and Bill Caillet, developers and owners of the very successful Virginia Beach Woodcraft store joined us for the trip from Norfolk down to AYB. 

 

 

Bill took Command of Spirit Journey and put the Admiral right to work!

 

Boats were 'stacked up' waiting their turns to get thru the broken locks..

 

Despite the lock situation we all had a great time and some very pretty views.  Heather and Bill it turns out live just off this waterway.

 

Bills confident that we'll make it thru before midnight.... and we did!  But not by a lot..... 

 

Aerial of AYB...  Spirit Journey spent the winter in one of the covered sheds in the upper part of the photo.

AYB dock space on the ICW

 

 

Southbound vessels passing AYB

What a fantastic year we've had!  Thanks to all of those who made all this possible.  It seemed like only a few days ago we were boarding Spirit Journey for the first time in Stuart, Florida....  but the calendar tells us it was over 6 months and 2,500 miles ago.....

we'll be back in the spring......

 

 

2013-11-03 George Washington Birthplace National Monument (Popes Creek)

Pope's Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia, about 40 miles south of Mount Vernon is the birthplace of President George Washington

 

 

We took a drive north to visit this famous birthplace... what a neat area George had to spend his childhood days in....
 

 

 

Much of the grounds are still used for raising livestock

The homestead is reflective of an 18th century tobacco farm - Popes Creek is a tributary off of the Potomac River.

The homestead has been maintained to reflect it's history.

this was Georges bedroom and play area...

original era furniture and dinnerware were evident throughout the home.

cooking areas were often located adjacent to the main quarters....

the workshop included a pedal lathe....

house staff and field hands lived adjacent to the main house ....

I believe the tree that George cut down was originally somewhere in this area... much of the original homestead had been burned down....

 

The grounds were just really enjoyable and well maintained.

Popes Creek....



 

Thanks George for all you did to help launch and protect our great Country!!!!