To the ICW, and beyond...

To bring the two or three of you who are still following our adventure up to date, here's what's happened the last couple of days.  Saturday we moved the boat to Little Creek to be a little closer to Virginia Beach where my sister-in-law, nephew, and niece live.  It turned into another wild downwind adventure!  At one point, with just the full main we hit over 10 knots.  Fortunately Little Creek is easy to get into, and was well protected so we could get the sail down.  Getting tied up to the dock was another matter, but no damage done.

We spent the rest of the day taking showers, doing laundry (I think Sue is looking for the perfect laundromat) shopping, and relaxing.  Sunday Lynda, my S-I-L found us, and brought us a couple of packages (even on the boat Sue is still able to shop).  Then we met up with my nephew Trey, his wife Jenny, and their daughter Alexis, and all went out to eat.  (Here's an insider tip, stock up on pumpkins and pumpkin products.  Apparently there is some sort of shortage, and you can never have too many!)

Where the boat was docked the last two nights is right next to the naval amphibious base.  There were all kinds of landing craft right next to us, and I guess it's not uncommon to see Navy SEALs doing their exercises. 

This morning we motored through Norfolk and Portsmouth on our way to the start of the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway).  Lots and lots of naval ships (no navel oranges, they're all grey!)  Also lots of signs like "Keep Out" and "Use of force authorized"  Gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling seeing my tax dollars at work.

Now we've started the ICW.  I hope tonight isn't typical.  We just went through the one lock on the ICW and a couple of lift bridges.  There were ten other boats in the lock with us.  There are 23 power boats either tied up where we are or that kept going, and nine other sailboats here or that kept going.  It might be a crowded trip going south!

Note the privacy shield on the sonar dome.

One of the many schooners.

USS Wisconsin - what a war ship should look like.

Apparently when we were sailing down the Bay Friday there was a schooner race ending.  44 schooners left Baltimore and raced to Norfolk.  We didn't see a one of them.  This morning though, they were all heading back to Baltimore, or at least out of Norfolk.

I forgot to mention, and I hate to rub it in, it was 83 degrees and sunny today