Annapolis and the Eastern Shore

Annapolis is a great destination for people that need repairs... and that means us! We hit the town and went shopping. First stop was the Sailrite store for fabric to repair our trampoline (see previous post- my sewing machine sure is coming in handy!)
The next stop was a run to the Battery Warehouse (in a taxi, in the rain) to purchase what we call a "battery bank". Seems our new motors (see another previous post) over-charged our old batteries and killed them. Who knew?!?

(this is just a free beautiful picture for you- our morning view)

Then our friends AJ and Lisa came to town, and took us to Bacon's, which is a sailor's consignment shop. Great fun, but no treasures for us... which is ok, really!


Another highlight of our Annapolis visit was getting together with my oldest brother, his wife and daughter- and her new baby, Curtis. Hurray for me! a baby fix! :)
They live 45 minutes away, in Maryland, and drove over for the evening. We shopped...

and walked...

and enjoyed dinner in a downtown pub.

That was last week.
This week we're across the Chesapeake, cruising up and down the Eastern Shore.

This guy, known as a "waterman" woke us up at dawn the other morning. Guess we were anchored in his crabbing spot. So he got to work anyway- coming up and down the river plucking bluecrabs from a baited line he spreads along in the water. Over and over again. While he listens to sports talk radio. Loudly. Crabs are $35-40 a dozen. I haven't eaten any yet. But everyone else in Maryland seems to be eating 'em.
I'm fine with chicken.

We're in Cambridge, now... for those who are following us . Nice town. Not as tourist-y as most of the places we've stopped. Kind of a nice change. Walmart and a PCA church were the draws... we'll be here till Monday. Then I think we'll head back over to Annapolis, where we'll hang out till Teddy and Teresa come visit on the 8th. Looking forward to that! (very much.)

When the kids were small, we had a video called Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. Friday was definitely a blustery day, Roo!

Our trampoline didn't fare so well. Eh. So what's one more repair?... More sewing pictures, soon folks!

But then, the very next day, we got halfway to our destination and the wind just died. Gone. It was back to motoring across a glassy bay. Noisy, but otherwise easy on the annoyed inner ear of a certain seasick individual. That's a smile. Not a smirk. I promise.


Pictures, you say? ok!

Seagull fellowship hall (they're waiting for the potluck dinner to start!)




Wolftrap Light (these lighthouses are out in the middle of Chesapeake bay... very cool!)


One of the bazillions of war ships we've seen, heading for the shipyards of Norfolk.


And this is our anchorage in Lewis Creek, in the fine city of Lexington Park, Maryland.


It's Sunday, so we'll stay put for the day. Rode our bikes to church this morning; it was so good to be in the House of the Lord. Visiting random churches has been one of the hard parts of this trip- and we're so blessed when we come across a church where we feel at home, and can worship well. Today we're thankful for Cornerstone Presbyterian... fresh water for our thirsty souls!
Again, just have to say.... God is Good!

Elizabeth City and the Dismal Swamp Canal

God is good to us.
I admit, Belhaven was a little sketchy... but the very next night, as we were anchored in a little cove just past the Alligator River, we spotted a familiar boat coming in.

FRIENDS!
We really just met AJ and Lisa, on the SV/Susan M. Jackson while we were in Beaufort, SC. However, they own a Seawind catamaran too- and that sort of makes us automatic friends.
We were both headed to Elizabeth City and- since they were way faster than us- they saved us a spot at the free city dock there.
We enjoyed getting to know them better while we were in town (even went to a real museum with them...with air conditioning.)
What a nice town Elizabeth City is! They throw a free wine and cheese reception for the new sailors that come in, complete with a rose for all the ladies. Ms. Tourism encouraged us to stay till Tuesday, when there would be a farmer's market and movie in the park- so we stayed- and enjoyed ourselves tremendously.


On Wednesday we took off (following AJ and Lisa) to sail up the Dismal Swamp Canal.

It's beautiful. Not dismal at all. It's quiet, narrow waterway that runs through a lush swampy forest for 51 miles. That takes two days for us... but there's a (free) dock at the NC welcome station half-way through, with room for 2 or 3 boats. Such a deal!


Ted got some great pictures...

I'm steering with the auto-pilot remote...trying to find some breeze and shade.

rafted up with the Susan M. Jackson, waiting for a bridge to open.

Working the lines in the lock, a first for me... but I just copied what AJ and Lisa were doing. ;). It all worked out.
And then up a lazy river...


We're finally in the Chesapeake tonight! We're surrounded by the Naval Station- and lots and lots of warships.

It appears that we're close to the local yacht club, too- because we were treated to a little regatta as we sat down to dinner... This life is seldom boring, eh?

And now... the Chesapeake Chapter begins!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

August 5th marked 32 years of marital bliss, and it was fun to stop for a few days in Belhaven, NC to celebrate our togetherness. When we were newlyweds, we lived in Jackson, MS, where Ted attended Belhaven College. So in some sort of round about way, we were being sentimental, you see!
Belhaven North Carolina (population 2042) is an interesting town. Kind of reminded us of Mayberry, RFD (Opie and Barney Fife in real life!).

Ted took me here for our anniversary dinner date.

(He owes me!)

We enjoyed our stay at Water Street B & B (the highlight of the stop)... the owners are boaters who fell in love with the town, and stayed. Meet our new friends, the Fishers... they fed us well and told good stories.


Belhaven has a museum that I can't begin to describe. Upstairs, over the police station, is a combination of one lady's button collection (I'm talking millions of buttons arranged on cardboard squares) and assorted dead things (like two-headed baby pigs) in formaldehyde, accompanied by Nazi memorabilia and canned goods from the 1940's that have started exploding black ooze all over the shelves. All without the added benefit of air conditioning. No kidding! (I got all the way to the back of the building-where the putrifying canned goods were- and realized if I didn't get out of there quick it was going to be bad...)

You should go there if you're ever in the neighborhood.
Yes, it was a memorable Happy Anniversary.
We crack ourselves up! :)

Ancient Wisdom

Ah, grasshopper...


take time to enjoy the sunset.

Along the Waterway

We're in North Carolina now... Passing through Wrightsville Beach, to be exact. Here the ICW is separated from the ocean by just a thin strip of sandy dunes and marsh. In the distance, we can see the beach houses of the rich and famous to the east of us...

and then, on the other bank, an occasional "van down by the river". (note the blue tarp yard).

or geodesic dome house. (doesn't it remind you of a pac man?)

Or giraffe... (who knew!)




I guess I should say "whatever floats your boat".
Or not, if you get out of the channel like these guys. (And isn't there always the guy in the littler boat coming along to make you feel worse. "Ya'll need any help?")



Our pace is timed to bridge openings (which frustrates the captain to no end!)

... and we're just toodlin' along, heading north...