May 22, 2010

To The East Coast
Don and I traveled with my 4 suitcases to his boat which was docked in New Bern, Virginia. New Bern is a very protected dock as it is about 150 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. And Barry and Meps were there from Seattle on their boat Flutterby. We actually got to spend some time with Barry as Meps was in Seattle. Darn. I spent a few days getting used to the boat and each day that went by my twisted ankle was getting a little less swollen. We had the good luck of having a Bed Bath & Beyond about 45 minutes away…my favorite store! So we stocked up on a little bit of everything. That and some food, oh yes food.  Our next stop which was Oriental, NC which was where we could hook up with the Intercoastal Waterway.

June 1, 2010

ICA to Hampton, Virginia

The Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) was originally carved during WWII to transport goods in protected waters away from the Atlantic Ocean and the threat of German submarines. It starts south in Miami and goes all the way to Norfolk, Virginia. Red and green markers need to be followed from one set to the next as it weaves in and out of passageways that are often only 10 feet deep or less. One minute you are in grassy low lands on each side, the next part might have larges trees on either side.

Then it might open into a lake where you follow a snaking path forever looking for the next set of markers. In between there are bridges and a lock that must open up to let you pass. If you don't make the last opening, there are some places to anchor along the way.

All in all, it was very peaceful with beautiful song birds and the heavy smell of grass in the air. Very peaceful and quiet with only a hand full of boats passing us in the small canals.

Pictured is one of the bridges that needs to be open to pass.  We anchored three nights along the way on the way to Hampton.

After rounding a quiet bend, you suddenly come into the large, military town of Norfolk, Virginia.

Hampton is just around the corner from Norfolk. Here we rented a car and drove the 40 minute drive to Williamsburg, Virginia.

Williamsburg was the colonial capital of Virginia before the Revolutionary War. It was restored in the 1930's. There are 4,000 employees here many of whom walk around in costume of the era and talk to you as they did back in that time. The common greeting was "Good Day". It was fascinating.

We also took in a 3D Shrek movie on Imax, ate local blue crabs, drank some very good local pale ale (yes, they have good micro brews here too Seattle) and took in a history museum.

June 6, 2010

Atlantic Ocean to Montauk, Long Island, NY

It took 2 nights at sea to arrive at the northern tip of Long Island in Montauk. It's quite chilly out here in comparison to being on land. Because New York juts out, we made a straight line which took us about 75 miles out from land.

Don knew some friends in Montauk from a previous trip to St. Thomas so we got to visit Ed and Rori. When we tried to get back to the boat, it was so windy that we were going to get very wet. So Ed and Rori invited us to sleep at their house. Wouldn't it be nice if every time it was a rough trip back to the boat friends would  invite us in their house to stay over!!!

Ed also gave us a tour of the Hamptons which is a few minutes away.  Now I know where the Kennedys and Steven Spielberg hang out during the summer.