Since the last post in Coinjock we have moved a lot and seen even more. We celebrated Amy’s birthday, finished the ICW, and have moved 2/3rds of the way up the Chesapeake Bay area. This will be a long post, so I hope you enjoy.

Let me start by saying the transmission guy finished up at about 4pm on our second day in Coinjock. It was much too late for us to head to Norfolk based on the low bridges and the lock schedule. So we enjoyed a second night in Coinjock and we hope all is good now with the transmission.

It was only a 50 mile run but it took almost 8 hours waiting on the lock and bridge schedule. We also had to wait for a repair being done to a railroad bridge just 3 miles from Norfolk.

We kept getting buzzed by military training planes that were running the canal at low altitude. Fun to see. This was just the beginning of all the military action we would see over the next two days.

It was a clear calm day for running the last of the ICW.

Our first lock in a very long time. We only went down 4 inches! Not sure why they even have this lock.

Waiting 40 minutes for a bridge to open in Chesapeake, VA.

Fun sign in the lock! We have come a long way since entering the ICW.

You can see the low bridge we had to wait for in front of the boat.

The ICW and the canals have great history.

Getting close to Norfolk we started to see the navy ships in repair.

There are a lot of ships being repaired. This gives you an idea of just how many ships our navy has. LOTS!!

We stayed right downtown in Norfolk at Waterside Marina. This area has changed a lot since Amy and I were both here 40 years ago.

There used to be a great seafood restaurant here at
Waterside, but now all they have are bars and tourist restaurants. We did meet up with fellow loopers, Skip and Linda from Dream Lady, and had a great dinner in town and even better company! We have not seen them since Clearwater Beach. They will spend the summer in the Chesapeake Bay area and will not be north until next summer to continue their loop. We hope to meet up with them next summer in Georgian Bay and the North Channel.

Very well protected harbor.

We spent the afternoon touring the waterfront area of Norfolk.

Then the highlight of Norfolk, we toured the museum and the battleship, Wisconsin. So much history in this area from the beginning of our nation through current navy actions to protect us all.

The Battleship Wisconsin’s 16 inch guns are truly huge.

Good thing it is decommissioned! Big guns are aimed right into downtown Norfolk.

We were able to tour three levels below deck and then two levels above deck. This is a huge ship. Amy asked me if I could dock this one. I quickly said sure, it would not matter if I hit the dock with one of these! Well not to the boat, but the dock might be in trouble.

Because of our extra day delay in Coinjock, we only spent one night in Norfolk. Up early the next morning and we would leave the river system for now and enter Chesapeake Bay. We did have to go by a lot more navy ships in dry dock and in repair before entering the Chesapeake.

The run from Norfolk to Solomons Island.

Love the lone jet on the deck while under repair.

Lots of ships being worked on. It does not get old seeing all the navy ships.

Then the fun began. It was announced on channel 16 that a sub was entering the river from Chesapeake Bay and that all traffic had to remain at least 500 yards away and were not allowed in the forward path of the sub. They have two small navy gun boats circling the sub at all times and calling any vessel near them on the radio. We stayed clear and kept to the opposite side of the channel. We thought no problem, we are clear and heading out into the Chesapeake. Well they turned the sub around and it was 4-5 miles behind us as we entered the Chesapeake. That’s when the navy ships called us out by name and asked our intentions. I replied that we were continuing into the Chesapeake and then turn north. I was told that would not work as I would be in the direct path of the sub after it turned. I was told a bearing to follow at that time. Well, that didn’t work as they directed me to run right into a lighthouse and shoal. I continued on the directed bearing until it put us in danger of collision. I called the gun boat back on the radio to inform them of the issue with the directed bearing and then asked permission to turn north and continue up the Chesapeake. They did not answer back so I made the turn and never heard from them after that. That was a new one for us! I think they may have been embarrassed when I informed them that the bearing they instructed me to use put us in danger. Maybe not!!

Entering the Chesapeake Bay.

The small lighthouse that was in my direct path given by the navy to follow. I think I now understand how our navy ships keep running into each other.

This run was 115 miles from Norfolk to Solomons Island. The seas were from the south, so it was a fairly easy ride as we headed north.

We pulled into Solomons Island Yacht Club in time to tie up and go out for Amy’s birthday lunch.

Pulling into the small river on the south side of the Solomons Island harbor.

The Yacht Club building. Great facility and they give you two free drink cards when you arrive. The restaurant is open from 4:30-7:00pm daily and it was packed the night we were there.

We were on the end of their T dock for the night. You can see the nose sticking out.

A view of the yacht club marina. It was not much but worked for the night.

We went out for a nice lunch at The Pier. The melted cheesy crab dip was great.

They have developed the waterfront in town and they have a nice boardwalk.

We did save room at lunch for a little ice cream treat on Amy’s Birthday.

We ran into friends from our flotilla back in Hammond, Indiana when our trip began. We have not seen them since the river system, so it was great to have a drink and catch up. They will cross their wake this week in the Chesapeake Bay.

Amy’s birthday dinner was at the Lighthouse Restaurant. I had a crab topped filet. The crab was sweet and melted in your mouth.

Then back to the boat for a small birthday celebration.

Our friends from Darlin’ Lea handed off a traveling frog to Amy so it can complete the loop. I am not sure how we pass it on, so stay tuned on this one!

The next morning was another early morning run up to Annapolis.

Once in Annapolis we are now only 50 miles or so from the top of Chesapeake Bay.

Pulling out of Solomons Island.

There were three tugs coming in from moving a ship in the bay, and I could not figure out what they were doing until they got close. They had water cannons shooting water out the stern from two of the boats.

Another nice calm day on the Chesapeake for us.

About to pull into the Annapolis Maryland Captial Yacht Club. We will stay here for two nights to explore the area.

The Naval Academy is right across the river from us.

Greeted by a Heidler HVAC work truck at the end of the dock.

Annapolis has some quaint little streets from the harbor up to the capital building.

Had to get a picture of this book for all those who enjoy Charcuterie!

We took a water taxi across the river to the city dock so we could enjoy a 3PM guided tour of the Naval Academy.

The campus is beautiful.

This building is Dahlgren Hall where the navy did its first flight. This plane is a replica Wright plane purchased from the Wright Brothers by the Navy for $5,000 and flew inside the building

The front of Bancroft Hall where the midshipmen line up before lunch every day.

The stairs up into Memorial Hall. This was closed for a ceremony, so we did not get to go inside.

View from the stairs toward campus from Bancroft Hall.

The Navy Chapel.

The Goat at the entrance to campus. The goat became the mascot when Navy was playing Army at Westpoint in 1890 and did not have a mascot. The midshipmen at the game grabbed a goat from outside West Point to not be outdone by the mule mascot that Army had. Navy won the game, and the midshipmen brought the goat back to Annapolis, and from that game forward the Goat has been the mascot.

Last evening we had the pleasure of seeing looper friends, Carol and Gary from Legacy. We enjoyed a great dinner with them at the Annapolis Yacht Club and it was fun to catch up on their life after the loop.

It is now Saturday morning, and we will spend the day exploring Annapolis more today and prepare to move north again tomorrow to Harve de Grace. This will be our last stop in the Chesapeake Bay.

We plan to move to Cape May, NJ on Monday if the wind and waves hold for us. Then a day or two in Cape May and up to New York City area by mid week.

Until the next post I hope you have a great rest of your weekend and start to next week.