Washington DC

May 11 to 15, Thursday - Monday

We arrived at the Gangplank Marina in the rain and fading light on Thursday.  The resident marina manager helped us into a slip and we finally relaxed.

It rained again the next day so we just relaxed on the boat all morning. That evening we were brave and rode the metro to meet with my cousin Mary Beth at Union Station. We had a hard time making our minds up on which type of food to eat--there were many choices!

Mary Beth in Union Station

Saturday was rainy and cold so we relaxed on the boat and did laundry at the marina.

Sunday was Mother's Day and the weather was beautiful! I cooked dinner and visited.

A day of site seeing on Monday.

After site seeing we got on the metro to meet Mary Beth in Chinatown for dinner. Excellent!!

Super

Wed-Thurs May 10-11

We only traveled about 35 miles on Wednesday, but the stop at Colonial Beach was well worth it. We happened on their Wednesday prime rib special! It was the leanest, most perfectly cooked prime rib I have ever had. And it was enough to have leftovers. The place is a tiki bar, but they know how to cook!

So we get going on Thursday in some light rain and it continued all day. We only saw 2 boats all day until we got close to Washington DC. Every crew team in DC was out rowing in the rain in the middle of the channel!

Congratulations to our oldest grandaughter Sierrah!!!! She  graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University!!! So proud of her!

Pack It In - Boats and Travel

Wed-Tues May 3-9

We arrived at Coinjock Marina at 3:30, the owner and dockhands took our lines and tied us up 1' in front of a little sailboat. The next boat came in and they tied it up 1' from our anchor! Wow, we are being packed like sardines because there are more boats to arrive. By evening every foot of the dock was full--all 1'apart. Early morning saw most of the boats depart, but we have a car reserved to go to the Outer Banks and see the lighthouses. (Judy, I hope you like the lighthouse pictures.)

 

Currituck Sound Lighthouse

I got up early on Friday to take the car back to Enterprise amidst tornado warnings and downpours. More rain and west winds would make a rough crossing on the Currituck Sound. By evening the dock was packed tight again. Too much water for the low lying swing bridges, so they were closed for 2 days. Several boats were rafted to get everybody tied up.

Finally on Sunday the bridges opened back up. All the go-fast boats left early, we left at 11 am to arrive about 5 at Atlantic Yacht Basin just south of Norfolk.

On Monday we went straight through Norfolk, past the Hampton Road bridge tunnel and into the Chesapeake Bay. It wasn't too bad to start, but as the day wore on we bounced and tossed and turned to keep the waves from hitting us directly on the nose. By 5 we were so glad to get to Deltaville Regatta Marina. And have docktales with the other loopers there! 

Thimble Shoal Lighthouse

The next morning I used the courtesy car to run to the store for some supplies and off we go again into the Chesapeake Bay. It wasn't as bad as the day before!  At 5 we made it to St. Marys at the Point Lookout marina near the mouth of the Potomac river.

Smith Point Lighthouse

Loop de Loop

Mon-Mon, April 25-May 1

Wow what a week! Loopers and more looping! Loopers like us - in progress on the loop, people planning the loop, and gold loopers (people that have completed the loop). Each of the gold loopers talked about a particular section of the loop along with plenty of pictures and helpful hints. And of course, sponsors that have things to sell or marinas to visit. And plenty of boats for sale! We are looped out! (I know, we are loopy anyways.)

Kelly was a little bored sitting all the time, so he made out his bucket list.

On Sunday we made it a long day and cruised to Belhaven, NC. Dowry Creek Marina is very quiet and 3 miles from town, but they offer free laundry!! And the owner came by with free strawberries! That evening we met with all the other boaters in the clubhouse for docktales and snacks. A lot of sail boaters, but we talk to them too! 

We departed mid morning Tuesday to  go up the Pungo-Alligator Canal. But we were very disappointed that we did not see any alligators. We passed the Tug Royal Engineer again on our way to the Alligator River Marina.

The marina had their own lighthouse.

And today was supposed to be a good day to cross the Albemarle Sound with only 6 mph winds. When we got out in the sound the winds were closer to 20 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Worse waves and salt spray ever for us! We felt like we had rode amusement rides all day and it was not fun! But we did make it to Coinjock Marina safely.