Sat, Oct 26 - In which we begin to understand the importance of dollar stores

Ingram Marina, VA to Tidewater Marina, Norfolk

There was an absolutely incredible sunrise sequence as we pulled out of Ingram Marina and headed back out into the Chesapeake Bay.  Black silhouettes of trees made the colors pop. Or so I heard.  I haven’t actually been up for a sunrise since the Reagan Administration.  I feigned seasickness in order to stay in bed a little longer. 

See our Atlantic Great Loops Cruising Association Flag!

Less rocking and rolling today, so that made me happy.  We came down past Newport News and into the huge navel facility that is the Norfolk VA port.  It took forever to come through the port as it is so big, but there was so much going on/to look at that no one minded. 

HUGE dry docks, floating machine shops, five aircraft carriers and military boats of various sizes on all sides.  It really was an awesome sight.  Our tax dollars AT WORK!!

We stopped for fuel at the Tidewater Marina – diesel fuel is less expensive then regular gas, but you get so much of it at anyone time (150 gallons usually) that there is some sticker shock.  The ecological footprint of our adventure does continue to bother us.  We can’t recycle at most marinas, and we are always running a motor…  It’s troublesome.

Then we go to dock at the Tidewater Marina and Let.  Me.  Tell. You.  That does not go well.  By this point Karen and Scott’s Navy Seal friends have shown up plus all the live aboard dockers have come out, hungry for fresh meat to talk to.  There is, therefore, an audience.  There was wind, a decision to back into the slip (which is always a terrible idea), etc.  In the end tempers flared, mistakes were made, words were exchanged, and we all needed a break from each other.  So Rick and I got out our new cute folding bikes and went for a ride.  To the dollar and grocery stores, of course.  This is not the last time we will go to either of those, I'm sorry to say.

Coming back all was calm, and we treated Karen and Scott to dinner at Fish and Slips (get it?!).  Great buffalo shrimp taco, btw. 

As with every night, we fall in to bed.  9pm seems like midnight…

Fri, Oct 25 - In which we learn where to poop

Solomons, MD to Ingram Point Marina, VA

As we left we stopped by the pump-out station, but it didn’t work.  However, there was the opportunity to use a public restroom for ‘business’.  It’s amazing how quickly one gets used to the idea that pooping anywhere other than the boat is commendable… 

It was another long day of sailing, with lots of learning going on.  Karen and I felt we were getting the upper hand in regards to the ‘stuff’ on board.  The things-to-buy list kept growing..  Sigh. 

Ingram Point Marina was a disappointment, except that the water was totally calm and flat so we both got to practice pivot and docking. Rick successfully docked in a slip both forward and backward; Melanie on the facedock.  There was no one really at the marina so we found water on our own, and showers – but never managed a pump out.  The marina was run down and unimpressive.  But Mel was happy to be on actual land!

Thurs, Oct 24th - In which we set sail

Kent Island, MD to Solomons, MD

Tired, we were up at the crack of dawn.  Probably the earliest Mel has been up since elementary school days.  There were a couple hours of information dump, as the trainers helped us check all the systems and learn all the prep for getting underway.  The Scott and Rick (two mechanical/maritime peas in a pod) took us out of the harbor while Karen and Mel (two clean/organizing peas) began to unload, clean and inventory every single storage space on the boat.  And, believe us, there are a boat-load of cubby holes.  We headed out into the large body of Chesapeake Bay.  Instead of the perfect calm conditions we expected, there was some wind and waves, so Melanie got to see if her Bonine would hold – which it did!  There wasn’t much other traffic, other than the occasional HUGE barge, which would come up over the horizon looking like a speck and eventually blot out the view.  How can those things even float?!

The day was mostly a blur of learning and organizing, and much longer day than we would do normally.  But Scott wants to get us through Norfolk, VA and a lock before he leaves us, which means long days.  That’s Ok because, hopefully, we will be back this way in the spring.  

I told my mother I would always be in sight of land – this is a big body of water but there is a tiny piece of land!!

We were very ready to rest up by the time we got to our ridiculously picturesque anchorage in the back creek at Solomons. We successfully reviewed anchoring and got settled in a snug spot a little off the tiny channel.  Darling buildings and sailboats all around…   plus a pirate ship!

Mel and Karen woman-handle the anchor.

We were exhausted by 8pm, but there was still a couple of hours of learning to be done.  Karen and Scott are nothing, if not thorough…