Sept 27-October 22, 2014 On to Norfolk and then back to Wisconsin and returning to Norfolk

I was up at 6:30 and helped Dave, single handling his Krogen 42 Jeremiah, off the dock.  Dave pulled in late yesterday and we struck up a conversation with him.  Turns out he knows Rob an Sue some other friends of ours from Marathon.  After he was safely away I got Mary up and did all the things we have to do when leaving a dock.  We spun away from the dock easily enough and headed out the harbor into the Patuxent_River.  We had to zig zag a bit to avoid a bunch of fisherman anchored almost in the channel.  I wonder what they catch around there?

I was easy cruising with little or no boat traffic.  We were making good time so decided to stretch the day a little and by-pass Fishing Bay which was about half way to Norfolk.  Instead we headed for Mobjack Bay and an anchorage there known as the Point Comfort Bight.  Mobjack Bay is a bay on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia in the United States.  It lies between the York River on the south and the Rappahannock River on the north.  Today was an 88 mile day but left us with a short hop into Norfolk and Tidewater marina the next day.

The Bight is a wide open area of water protected from the Bay by a beachy spit of land.  Since the winds were light there was little bounce during the night.  The night sky was clear and the stars were out but the settlements along the western shore of  Mobjack Bay added just enough light pollution to make it a good night for stars,not a great one.  And of course a really bright quarter moon didn't help much either.

We made water and did a few loads of laundry while the generator was running.  Other than that not much else except sitting around outside and enjoying the cool air.

The next day it was uneventful cruise the 37 miles to Norfolk.  We did follow the crab pot free channel this time and found it to be, well, free of crab pots.  Nice!  It can be a difficult time dodging crab pots and also difficult spotting them.

There were several big Naval ships that were outbound from Hampton Roads but we were too far away make out any details.

 As we entered Hampton Roads a sail boater called the Coast Guard and reported a floating telephone pole in the channel.  The Coast Guard requested the guys name and phone number and the exchange between them got rather humorous since the guy didn't own a cell phone and the Coastie on the radio had a difficult time grasping that idea.

We went right by position of the reported pole was floating and saw nothing.  But we did note that all the aircraft carriers and most of the bigger ships and submarines were all out somewhere leaving the Navy Base almost barren of ships.

As we poked our way up Hampton roads into the Elizabeth River we were passed by a late model Hatteras going very fast and throwing a huge, huge wake.  I was able to turn into it so we only lost a few things off the shelves in the salon but another boater who received a taste of this guys wake was on the radio complaining of broken wine bottles on his white carpet.  

We entered Tidewater  Marina and were directed to slip E15.  I had to back it in which is a bit unnerving since I cant see anything behind me.  But I guess were old hands at it now and it went just fine.

Did a little cleaning and packing and ate at the marina restaurant, The Crave.  An it was pretty good.  Tomorrow I call Hertz at 8:30 and hope they can come fetch me to get the car.  The office is 9 miles away.  And then a 1100 mile drive to Green Bay!  

Jessica from Hertz picked me up at the marina around 9:30.  Nice young lady from New York who was pregnant unless she was an over-indulgent beer drinker.  Having made the mistake of commenting on a woman's rotundness more then once, I have learned to bite my tongue and just never make any comment at all.  Much less risky.

I had reserved a small Corolla type car but all she had was larger ones.  So she offered me a Chevy Impala.  A next generation one too with all these gadgets.  I'm used to technology but when a car asks if it can help you... well it’s a little much.  It took several stops before we figured out that what we thought was a dysfunctional radio, was really a satellite radio.  Sheez ..

We left Portsmouth and ended up taking theTunnel under the Elizabeth River and then a few minutes later, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel over which we had cruised the day before.  Lots of detours and construction.  I think we were supposed to pay a toll but,  well, no one asked so …

Stayed in Beckley West Virginia the first night.  Nice Marriott.  Not a bustling metropolis Beckley, but I hear there is a coal mine there you can tour.  We didn't.  But we did pay for breakfast which incensed Mary who always picks places to stay that have a free breakfast.  Oh well.

We drove through or I should say around Richmond and Charleston West Virginia.  We wound our way through the mountain passes where the leaves were just beginning to turn.  Very scenic.  We were driving on I-64 which just up became a toll road, the West Virginia Turnpike.  It was a nice road too.

We were lucky and arrived in Indianapolis right before rush hour.   Made it through  there without too much congestion (5 lanes of traffic!) and after a few hours stopped at a Denny's some where in Indiana.  True to their word, they serve breakfast anytime so Mary ordered this enormous breakfast plate with some huge cinnamon pancake.

Nearing Chicago, I stifled my hatred for paying Illinois tolls and took the 294 by-pass around Chicago to avoid the latent rush hour traffic which was clearly identified by the glaring red lines on Google maps.   4 tolls at $1.50 plus the last toll of $2.80.  I refuse to do the math. 

After an hour or so we stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in Racine at Hwy 20.  Mary turns on the TV and we're greeted by a 4 back to back political commercials.   Tis the season ... 

  

We took our time driving up to Green Bay and the Suamico Country Inn Suites where we had reservations.  But before we checked in, we stopped at Woodmans and loaded (and I do mean loaded) up with with dry good grocery type stuff.  Then hit the buck store (Dollar Tree) store right near the hotel for more "stuff" which included a bonanza of reading glasses to replenish my dwindling supply.  I've dropped about half a dozen in the water all up and down the Bay.

We finally rolled up to the hotel and checked in.  It was a wise decision to have made a reservation this summer when we were here.  There is a Packer home game on Thursday which is the day of our marathon doctor appointments and the place was packed with Packer revelers.

 We then walked over to Shopko to buy a few cold weather clothes we hadn't bothered to pack.  Again.   You'd think we know by now that Wisconsin is not the warmest place on earth.

So now we have a trunk full of stuff and have to put the suitcases in the back seat with Mary’s basil plant which isn't taking to riding in the car very well.  Cant imagine how it would have fared in a smaller Corolla. 

Next day we were up early to start the marathon tour of doctor visits.  We are are all fine.  Except we both gained weight.  Me 10.  Mary, classified.

After the doctor appointments it was nearing game time and with no prospect of a hotel within 50 miles of Green Bay we decided to try Door County reasoning that most folks would opt to stay between Manitowoc and Green Bay.

Well, that theory was only partially correct since most of the hotels in Sturgeon Bay were booked.  But we did find a vacancy at the Beach Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay.  Not pretty but ok.

We ended up passing on the resort bar and instead went to the Stone harbor Resortt bar and had pizza while watching the game.  We took over a vacant table and as the bar filled up we invited two older women, Laurie and Denise to join us since we had 4 vacant seats.  Laurie lives up in Sturgeon Bay and Denise is a flat lander.  We had still had two extra chairs so offered them to two young guys both named Robert.  Emily, a "friend" of Robert's showed up briefly and then disappeared.  Long story about that.  Quite a fun time with four strangers!

We left right before the half.  Packers winning 21–0 and drove back to the resort in the rain and fog.  And exhausted, we went right to bed.  All those doctors visits just suck the energy right out of you.

Well, it does float.

We left early in the morning and headed up to Fish Creek to buy more olive oil from the Oilerie.  Besides its Door County and we always try and get up there when were in the vicinity.   After buying a load of oil we didn't loiter and headed south through Sturgeon Bay but had to  stop to take a closer look at this interesting yacht that was just launched.  Yikes!  

We continued on through Green Bay and made our habitual stop for cheese at the cheese factory in Kaukauna.  Hagens like cheeses and since were staying in their house ...

The rest of the week was pretty busy.  I left our cameras battery charger on the boat so dont have many pictures.

We relaxed for a day and took care of ordering some boat parts.  We only went to the YMCA once the whole time we were there.  We get in by taking Jonah with us.  The Y has a pool and great exercise facility.  And its indoors and moderately warm!  

Best of both worlds.  Use a grandchild to get in for free and use our age to park in the closest spots

You want more?

After we stopped at the Chocolate Facotry for ice cream.  Do all grandparents have these favorite places where grand children can be spoiled without parental interference? 

Ice cream is cold I guess

Too heavy?

Spent an afternoon with Jack and went to the movies where he got the 20 gallon bucket of popcorn and ate the whole thing (with help from Mary).

We also watched a few of Jack's volleyball games and took Jonah to his soccer practice.  If you ever get a chance to witness 3 and 4 year olds at  a soccer practice, go!  Hilarious!

On the weekend LeAnn came in from Minnesota so we got to see her and had a little party at Dave

Batman (Seany)

and Jen's house.  The super heroes were out in full force.  That's Jonah and Sean who are in their super hero phase.

Coiffed, cut and fluffed.

On Thursday we drove back up to Green Bay to see Amanda so she could fix our hair before the wedding.  Dont ask.  

She happened to mention she was trying to give her Rottweiler away to a good home.  Mary was all ears and immediately decided we had to go see him.  Like I had a chance to nix that idea.  

So when we were all clipped and fluffed she took us to see Pain.  Nice dog and only about a year old.  But big (90 lbs.) so it would have been problematic getting him off the boat.  We ended up having to decline.  

Pain.  Wish he were just a little smaller

On the way back we stopped to see my cousin Kathy.  Lovely time.  I even was able to hone my chicken couping skills because Kathy has chickens and we had to get them all into the coupe.  Actually I had wandered outside to look at the chicken coupe and when I turned around to head back to the house I was faced with this mob of chickens all staring at me.  There has to be a horror movie out there with a scene like this.  Later we walked around the property which really is a little slice of heaven!  Later we met up with Dave, who was working on the golf course all day, for dinner at Riverside Brewery and Restaurant.

We had a chance to watch a few of Jack's volleyball games and were able to take Jonah to his soccer practice.  If you ever get a chance to witness 3 and 4 year olds at a soccer practice, go!  Hilarious!

Milwaukee zoo treats the bears right.  Hammocks!

We spent a morning at the zoo with Greg and his son Sean.  Seany is all about super heroes and later in the day sure enough.   Out came Batman! 

Batman!

That evening we stopped over to see Dave and Dana at their house in our old neighborhood.  Another great time with them!

Gene sort of reluctantly heading out to dance

Friday was our nephews wedding was the Friday. The ceremony was held in the chapel at St. Johns Military Academy and the reception was at the Red Circle Inn, a place we frequented when we lived in Oconomowoc.  What a great wedding.  And fun in laws!   Sorry Sara.  Next time I'll cut a rug with you!

We elected not to leave Saturday because, well because we woke up way too late to make it to Ohio.  So I extended the rental car another day and we left Sunday.

We stopped to see Mary's brother Gordy and his wife Joanne in Kettering, Ohio.  Great to see them again.  And that ice cream really was the best!

 We stayed for lunch the next day before heading down highway 35 again, and on to I-64 ending up in Lewisburg,West Virginia,   The colors seemed to have intensified a little from 10 days ago when we came through this way.  It was even more scenic in the evening as the sun was setting. We stayed in a Hampton Inn this time so we were able to eat for free!  

We left around 10am and made it back to Norfolk by 2pm and had the car unloaded in an hour.  Didn't put anything away, but at least all the "stuff" was out of the car.  And of course we turned around and headed right for Walmart for a few other things.  But almost didn't make it.   Mary fell overboard trying to get off the boat.  She and her purse got soaked but she was fine.  And her cell phone made it out ok too!  

So after she showered off and changed we tried again and made it!   Walmart first then a stop at the Food Lion.  We were on a roll!  Made it back to the boat and had all of that unloaded by 5! Now all we have to do is put it away. 

I took the car back next morning but had a little trouble finding the place.  Its a dingy little office in an old car dealership.  But I eventually found it by calling the office and getting directions.  So much for technology. 

Superb packing job Dave!

The next morning I was surprised by the marina dock hands.  The outboard motor I wanted to buy from Dave, a friend of ours form New York, had arrived.   He was lending it to us until we meet up with them in Florida.  It was in an impressive crate.  Heavy too!  And along with the motor were several other packages of boat parts and cleaners we had ordered back in Wisconsin.   

So we spent the day replacing light bulbs and stowing stuff and tossing out old stuff we never used.

Now what do we do with this large hole?

Next morning after talking with the marina, I removed the broken ice maker and tossed it in the dumpster so now we have a nice big space.  Looks like a hole in the wall.  Another ice maker or a cabinet door ... the discussion is continuing. 

I also finally mounted the master stateroom depth sounder display on the bulkhead so all the wires are run inside the cabinets.   Now I can just glance up and see what our depth is when we're anchored.  And Mary tried out some fender cleaner she bought and it appears to work rather well.  We have clean fenders.  Now all we need is a clean boat so they don't look out of place.

Clean fenders!

Between fixing this and cleaning that, we managed to have a few nice conversations with a younger couple on a Catamaran who are heading for the BVI's with their two teenage children.  Nice couple!  And home schooling them too!  They are the 3rd couple we've met who've  decided to quit their professional lives and go cruising while they can. 

Yesterday we took the ferry across the river to Waterside and stopped in at Hooters to watch the Packer game.  Greasy food, but good TV.  There was a Wine Festival in full bloom with bands and wine seminars and of course wine tasting.  It was a little too rich for us but I swear they had James Taylor performing.  But since we didn't pay the rather steep fee to get in all we could do is listen from the street.

We're planning on leaving Norfolk near the end of the week and heading back down the ICW to Florida.  It'll take us several weeks,  We'll be pretty much retracing the route we took getting up here except going out on the ocean might not be possible after looking at the weather forecasts and long term predictions.  Also Field Trip, having been rammed by that go fast boat on the Potomac is being repaired a few miles north of us and might be able to join us.   

And I just found diesel for only $3.09/gallon at  marina nearby here so it'll be a cheaper ride south!