Diamond docking at Coinjock, VA

Bottle tree at Dowry Creek Marina

Cypress tree on the waterway

Shipyard Norkfolk, VA

Waterside downtown Norkfolk, Pride II of Baltimore at the dock

Captain Dave got by her

Here is her cargo

Shrimp fleet in bay at Old Point Comfort

Sunset on my birthday

Godspeed

USS Cole

Chamberlin, formally a hotel had a 7 year renovation, $55 million.  Now it is a 55 plus community.

The palladium window are the dining room

My birthday dinner a day late

Col. Ed Shames front right and Col. Ashley on front left

Port Comfort Lighthouse built 1802

A moat surrounds Fort Monroe

Quarters 1, A. Lincoln met here with strategists in May of 1862

Robert E. Lee was housed here while he engineered the fort

Flag Hill

View from flag hill

Day 10, at the head of the Chesapeake Bay

Blog Number Three, day 10

Our trip from Windsong to Coinjock was uneventful.  We did learn that we had missed a gem, Dowry arina and Resort on the Pungo River.  Lucky for us the Alligator River and the Albemarle Sound were like glass.  Great for us.

We docked overnight in Coinjock we passed on the famous prime rib at the restaurant and had a nice meal and met some nice folks.  One couple from New Bern (Riverbend) in a Hattrass on their way to Cleveland.  They had done the LOOP in a 33’ Pursuit. Another couple in a Gozzard 36’ heading back to Pierce Creek off the Neuse River.  The jaw dropper was Diamond, see the photo.

We had a 45 minute wait at Great Bridge, just before the only lock, so we anchored, had lunch and Dave napped.  On the other side of the bridge we waved hello to Frank and Diane on Utopia.  They took advantage of the free tie up between the bridge and the lock.  As we passed by the Norfolk ship yards we were awed by the constant commercial traffic.  Here is where we encountered our only heavy shower.

Riverside in downtown Norfolk was gearing up for the big Harbor Fest.  Ships like Pride of Baltimore II, the Rover, Virginia, Godspeed, Lynx and the USS Cole.  By the way the Cole used to have Trega’s chair backs in their dining hall.  We were surprised to see so few Navy ships in port. 

On to our anchorage at Old Port Comfort. Dave out ran the container ship and we had a wet ride, but the captain was happy. Dinner on board on My birthday and a interesting sunset.  Thank you all who called and sent me greetings.  (Nate here is where I took the sunset picture but it is on my phone and I am not working where I can download it.  Next time buddy.) 

Dave managed to stub his toe on the same cleat as I did so we both have black and blue toes but I do not think they are broken.

The next morning during breakfast we watched a captain, single handed, raise the sails on his 42’ Irwin and sail off the anchor.   There are times we do miss sailing.

We called the marina at Old Port Comfort ( they are now public since Fort Monroe was  decommissioned in 2011) and got a slip for two nights.  After difficulties with bike tires and hours wasted we walked to the sea wall in front of the Chamberlin Hotel to watch the parade of ships.  We then walked the water front around to the beach and through the old fort back to the boat.

Dave made early dinner reservations at the Chamberlin and I had a dinner in style, a late birthday celebration.  Champagne/cucumber soup followed by beautifully served swordfish over risotto topped with greens and flower petals.  I ate half of mine before I thought of taking a picture.  The beautiful building is now a senior living center.  Google  historicchamberlin.com   We watch ships entering and exiting the bay and the ocean.  Dinner was early because we came across the Air Force setting up of the Air Band and Chorus concert honoring the  70^th anniversary of D-Day.

The Jazz section of the band was dressed in WWII uniforms.  Tributes were made to Col. Ed Shames, a member of Easy Company and the Band of Brothers also a Col Ashley a pilot who was shot down over Germany on Christmas Day 1944 and after a member of the resistance was forced to give the group away taken in to a Prisoner of War Camp.  The other gentleman to be honored unfortunately passed on the 5/24.  Both of these courageous men stood to speak to each person who came to thank them for their service.  As the evening progressed military members former and present were recognized.  We experienced this at the last performance of the band we attended in Myrtle Beach two years ago.  A very inspiring, soul searching evening.

Presently  Dave is making a run to the grocery store with the one working bike and I am doing laundry.  He did not bring enough tee shirts to get him through a week…… there is room in his drawer!

After chores we are going to the Casement Museum.  I was surprised yesterday to see a fort with a ground embankments, a moat and then all the homes and barracks inside.  The military has decommissioned the fort and is renting the homes and keeping the area groomed.  The architecture is very interesting, the first settlement here began in 1609.  Google Fort Monroe VA.

Tomorrow we head to Urbana, VA to visit a friend and stay at her dock.  Later in the week we will be at Walt and Mary Keith’s dock in Reedville, Va.  We also will get to see Nancy Fisk.

Irene and Danny

Roy and Kari

Danny and Dave

Our breakfast appetizer at Yana's

 Jane and Elvis

CrossOver in Beaufort, NC

Check the height of this mast

We were told they sent up the newest crew member

Familiar landmark, we knew Windsong would be right up the creek

Diane and Frank Albani

Mel and MaryJane Portnoy and their beautiful home on Campbell Creek in Windsong

Kathy and Mike Orr

Sunrise on Campbell Creek

Six day into the trip

We are under way:

Wednesday night we spent on board.  Thursday morning we were ready to untie the lines and the engine would not start.  Dave discovered that the starter had gone bad.  He was devastated to say the least.  He pictured a long delay.  I was able to get local information on a shop in our neighborhood that could repair it.  The next step was remover the old starter without breaking any rusted bolts in an inhospitable area on the engine.  Dave was successful by noon.  When he took the starter to the shop the man said, I have two of those on the shelf.   “SOLD.”  The new starter was installed easily and after, lunch and showers  we were underway by 2 PM.  My amazing Captain and Mechanic!

By now the day was overcast, with very light showers all the way to our intended anchorage at Wrightsville Beach. We set the anchor at 6:25 PM.  Leftovers for dinner and a quiet evening in the harbor.

Aboard CrossOver we tend to be early to bed; early to rise.  At 7:10 there was a brief swatch of sunshine during breakfast.  Dave pulled the anchor and we came around the marina by all the beautiful boats.

We are lucky to only need 11feet of clearance under a bridge so there is no waiting for openings.  Three playful dolphins swam along with us through the Wrightsville Bridge.  That is always a good omen.   

We made our way up the ICW to our destination/rendezvous in Swansboro, NC.  Along the way we passed the training grounds for Camp Lejeune.   No firing today!

We arrived at 12:30 PM  the same time as Southern Cross and Blue Skies, both 36’ Trojans.  The first boat belongs to Danny and Irene Bailey, from whom we bought our boat.  They were most anxious to see all the upgrades both exterior and interior that Dave has made.  It was quite a boat handyman’s swap fest.  Irene did not recognize the interior. They were most impressed.  We then toured their sister boats.  The Brinson’s and the Bailey’s had finished their interior differently to suit their family needs.  Temperatures remained cool and skies overcast but rain did not materialize for our walk to dinner.  Taking the power boater format, chairs were brought out on the dock and we sat around sharing stories until it was too cool to be comfortable.

Breakfast was early at Yana’s Restaurant because Danny had a meeting to attend.  Can you imagine the breakfast appetizer I posted, Apple Fritters?  We got the boat in order and motored on to Beaufort, NC remembering other visits along the Bogue Sound.

We joined the ranks of the BIG boats at the Beaufort Town Dock around noon and were admired by the passersby.  Dave worked on the boat and read and I explored the shops. Some stores were still there and others had changed since our previous visits. Later we had a beer and pondered who might own the large yachts, both sail and power and the stories they might tell.    Dinner at Clawson’s Restaurant was part of my agenda but the Shrimp and Grits did not live up to my memory.

Morning dawned bright, sunny and cool.  After breakfast aboard we watched as a crew member was cranked to the top of the mast to preform repairs.  I could tell Dave was glad his days of going up the mast were over.

We started out for Sunday’s destination, Windsong, where we had lived for 8 years.  This is a trip we had made on many occasions and it was like a home coming. Adams Creek was the easy part of the trip.  We should have known that wind from the East would result in a NASTY crossing of the Neuse River.  5 foot waves to power into; thank goodness for the new two speed windshield wipers. No lunch at noon today. At the mouth of the Bay River we waited for the PCS Phosphate barge to clear the narrow channel.  The waters were protected and calm only to be   greeted by the deer flies.

The Portnoy’s saw us enter Campbell Creek and hailed us.  When we got to the dock about 2 PM we were surprised to see another sailboat. Aboard Utopia were Diane and Frank, a couple we had met in Stuart, FL in March of 2013.  We had giving them Mel and Mary Jane’s name because they both had Caliber sailboats.  They then met is the Bahamas at a later time;   now they were headed home to New York.

Many stories were shared over good drinks and a delicious dinner with a surprise.  A birthday cake for Diane and myself.   Her birthday is June 3^rd  and mine is June 5^th.  Thank you for being so thoughtful MJ.

Diane and Frank left Monday morning and we all drove in to New Bern for the usual errands, drug store, West Marine and Verizon stores. The town is growing but the food at Morgan’s Grill continues to be special.  It is sad to hear our favorite Pollock Street Deli had closed.

In the evening we had the pleasure of having Kathy and Mike Orr join us for another of MaryJane’s tasty dinners.  The Orrs bought the house we built here on Campbell Creek.  It is so nice to see friends and neighbors again!

Today we saw a few other folks and hopefully we will catch the others on our way home.

New paint, antenna and air horn on cabin top

New floor

Windows and new space

All complete with ice box and locker door

Follow us on another trip with CrossOver

FOLLOW US ON ANOTHER BOAT TRIP

I am back blogging again.  That means we are headed out on CrossOver.

Since our return to NMB in April of 2013 Dave built me a real laundry room on the first floor and a studio on the second floor.  Love that man he is so good to me.  He couldn’t wait to finish that so he could begin the next upgrades on CrossOver.

They began in the nearby boat yard in October of 2013.  He stripped the boat of all the outside hardware and readied the hull and bottom for paint.  That was complete by the time our cold winter began.

 Old windows were removed and replaced.  He has added blinds and valances to that upgrade.

The 20 gallon water tank in the aft was replaced with a 40 gallon tank under the V-berth, forward.

A reverse cycle Heat/AC unit was installed.  With that completed Dave was then able to design the remaining space. This is all in the area on the port side between the galley and the V-berth.  The space allowed for three long drawers, a hanging locker, with shelves atop. (Dave packed light and I went overboard and it all fits.) On top of the AC unit he built a removable cooler that is the same height as the counters and shelves.  This will be used in conjunction with an Engel Cooler that freezes.  (Located in the cockpit under my feet, a great foot rest.)

Teak and holly flooring in the saloon area.

As the weather got warmer Dave fashioned gunnels around the deck to allow better fit for the bow rail.

Next he sanded and put down a non slip surface on the deck.

The external hardware was reinstalled and we were back in the water.

Engine alignment and new mounts make for a smoother running engine.

The 41 year old windshield wiper motors rusted tight so those have been replaced with an up graded model.

A TV antenna is installed on the cabin top and we are all set for on the air or cable shows.

Adrienne gave us a super set of air horns.  You will know when we arrive!  You will think there is a barge at your dock or an 18 wheeler at your door.  Sail boats without names visible will know when we want to pass and jet skies will scamper.

A new larger capacity port a potty is an added plus.

I did all new coordinating canvas for the exterior and throw pillows for the interior and bought new linens.  (the female touch)

How wonderful to be married to a man who is so talented!  Of course he is already thinking of his next project.

Meanwhile, yes we are heading on another trip.  This trip is to the Chesapeake Bay where we will visit our good friends and special, memorable spots along the way.

Departure date is Thursday, May 29, 2014.  Wednesday evening after the boat is readied for trip we are going to dinner with 3 couples then back to the boat, show it off and then sleep aboard.  We will be under way in the AM with a planned anchorage at Wrightsville Beach. 

Friday, May 30th  we will spend the night in Swansboro at Casper’s Marina with the former owner of CrossOver.  Danny and Irene have been keeping up with all the changes and are anxious to have a first hand look.

Saturday, May 31^st (our daughter, Adrienne’s, 45^th birthday) will find us on the way to Windsong (where we lived in NC for 7 ½ years).  It will be good to catch up with friends there for several days.

More to come!  We are so excited to be heading back to our roots of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and friends there.