Mid July, 2011
This section:
North of Charleston to NYC
Beaufort, NC;
Boxport, NC; Locks South of Norfolk, NC;
The mermaid of Norfolk, VA
People enjoying the white sandy beaches along the way.
We stopped almost daily for a swim from the boat.
We didn't see many larger boats on the ICW.
When we did, there was an opening not too far away to enter the Atlantic.
A beautiful sunset after a short storm with thunder rumbling in the distance.
Then up into the Chesapeake Bay on the East side to the small fishing waterside village of Crisfield, MD. It was previously a bustling city with garment sweat shops, furniture making, and a lot of industry. Today, it remains a very quiet, small fishing village with 26 churches and known for their delicacy of blue crabs.
Sleepy and quiet Crisfield full of local fishermen.
One of only a handful of places to eat out.
Crisfield in it's heyday.
A typical house on main street reflects the prosperity of the past.
Street reminders of the blue crabs.
The fishing pier with the mail boats and tour boats that leave daily for the islands.
The Crisfield Heritage Foundation aquarium.
A working crab shanty in back of the historical museum.
This is a representation of a local fishing shack.
Inside are fish of local varieties for the tourists to see.
They looked like swimming pickles to me. It's actually a Northern Puffer locally called 'Swelling Toads'.
When you turn it on it's back and rub it's belly, it puffs up.
On to the Islands of Tangier and Smith.
Coming into the island of Tangier, VA.
Tangier is a small fishing island 2 1/2 miles long by 1 mile wide with a population of 600 people.
Most everyone is related.
We learned a lot about catching blue crabs and local oysters.
Waiting for the fishing boats to return.
Colorful traps and a typical fishing boat.
Because less fishing permits are given out, the younger generation
must leave the island searching for work in New York or Maine.
Bicycles are just left where they last used them.
The best restaurant in town.
Locomotion is by bicycle or golf carts which can get stuck in the snow in winter.
Hot steamed crabs. You can't get any fresher than this!
The dock leading to the marina.
Making the wonderful cakes of Smith Island.
10 layers of melt in your mouth cake. Yummm.
Annapolis, MD is next. With 40,000 people, it's known as the capital of Maryland, the
U.S. Naval Academy, it's sailing community, and the charm of the colonial town.
Our anchorage near the colonial part of town.
Single houses and duplexes.
Tight quarters. Parking is always a challenge in the colonial neighborhoods.
The most interesting Indian pipe I've ever seen.
Senate Chamber of the Capital Dome from 1797.
'The right is more precious than peace...'
Chesapeake City, MD has around 21,000 people. We arrived just in time for the fireworks. Thank goodness because we are a larger boat in a very small bay.
The restaurant on the water. It's actually a very, very small town.
The small bay to anchor in is on the left in the photo.
Maryland loves it's state flag. You see them displayed everywhere.
Main Street.
You can see the ICW at the end of the street.
Main Street.
Cape May, NJ where the Delaware meets the Atlantic Ocean is one of the oldest vacation resorts on the East Coast. With many, many Victorian houses, it seems most people come here to enjoy the sun on the beaches.
The marinas are located about two miles away from the beach. A nice bike ride.
The shopping area near the Victorian homes.
Ducks in the window.
It seems people have been coming here year after year.
A New York City Virgin
My first time in NYC. 23 square miles with 1,585,000 people. As I moved around the town, I realized how many references I've had of it in my lifetime. Movies: 'Barefoot in the Park'; TV: Seinfeld; Phrases: 'What do you think this is, Grand Central Station?'; New York Pizza; New York Deli's; pushy people; dangerous streets; bodies in the East Hudson River...I could go on and on. So even though I am accustomed to living in large cities, I was apprehensive when I went out on my own the morning after arriving.
What I found was a city that was easy to navigate via color-coded subway and buses that are safe 24/7, extremely helpful locals, no pushing and shoving, no guns, and no bodies. It was all very pleasant and I found myself wanting to live there. Each neighborhood has it's flavor and since it's only such a small land mass, it's easy to get around. I can see why people like to visit.
We arrived in NYC at 3am. The Statue of Liberty was dramatic in the early morning hours.
The 79th Street City Marina has a breath taking view of the city.
Chotskies at Walmart.
Times Square. Everyone had their cameras out. 'Oh look, I was there!'
The next day we rode our bikes down to Battery Park to take the ferry to Ellis Island.
Wall Street was on the way.
On the ferry. The Statue of Liberty was first.
You can see just how big it is here.
The Brooklyn Bridge was next.
Bicycles beat walking any day. Although I must admit,
riding a bicycle downtown NYC without a helmet is like playing Russian roulette.
Grand Central Station is so beautiful. The subway and the trains all meet here.
The Transit Museum showed how many ferries used to connect New Jersey to NYC
before tunnels and bridges. When we were anchored near the 79th Marina,
the trawler was already rocking enough!
See Audrey Hepburn hanging out on one of these?
This is East Village.
East Village
Borscht soup.
East Village. I would live here.
Someone from NYC can certainly tell me which street/neighborhood this is.
I love those impressionists.
A detail of any painting could be a painting in it's own right.
The thick paint...
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Goodbye New York. It's been fun...
New York City is where my trawler journey ended. 'Dess' needed extensive repairs before she will be put on the market to sell. Because of the short summers in Quebec, the works needs to be started in August and she will soon be on the hard. I decided to stay in NYC for a while and then go on to visit my son in San Diego.
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