Ocean Marine and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Mom fed me before we took off for the shipyard this morning. After we shoved off she started vacuuming the salon. Very strange! Before you knew it we were there. We had to wait around for Jay, our mechanic to show up, then... for Josh, the Marine lift operator to show up to drive the lift to get Moondance partially out of the water...Amazing!!! It reminded mom of her seaplane experience with Chalk Airlines years ago...one minute you are in the water and the next you aren't! 

So while we were waiting, M & D did a through cleaning. Mom inside and dad out. Once they got Moondance partially out of the water, Jay was able to start the unpacking & repacking of our two shafts with Mom holding a fan & flashlight for him. It is hot down there even with the floor covers off! The shipyard ran out of the type packing we needed, but thankfully Berwick, Moondance's former owner left extra on board to finish the job!!! 

Thanks Bunches, Berwick!!!

It's been interesting watching the boat traffic around here. Three large tugboats brought in a Aegis Navy cruiser to shrink wrap some of its potential rust parts while it sits in storage. Dad says these cruisers are so expensive to run that they don't have them all working at the same time. If they would be needed, it would take less than 3 months to get them ready.

Once we were finished at the shipyard, M & D cruised Moondance back to the Norfolk Yacht  & Country Club for one more night, since it is that much further north than the shipyard. 

It's good to be back here...It's so pretty and I like their grass! Sounds like M & D are eating in so they can get rid of some of their leftover meals...combining leftovers with new food items...Sounds like there will be goodies for me, so I'm happy!

Tomorrow we are off to Deltaville, VA for a night and Solomon's Island for two nights.

Bringing over the Marine Lift

Talk about a Skill!!! Driving that big lift on a very small runway

Jay helping getting the bow lined Up!

Trying to center a 43' boat on two swing lifts

Josh, our Marine Lift Operator

Jay making last checks with engines running 

Jay, our handsome and knowledgeable mechanic

The Norfolk Naval Shipyard

A USN Aegis Cruiser getting ready for storage

Here you can see the tugs bringing her to her new space

Mike cleaning our Eisen glass with it's special cleaner

Williamsburg & Yorktown, A Drive down Memory Lane

 M & D put on my barking collar this AM because I have been rather vocal while we have been here. They aren't happy with me! ...I'm sorry?!

They left me to go on their Williamsburg/Yorktown driving tour and to get groceries before Christy and Gerry helped them return their rental car and go to dinner tonight. 

I hate being left, but I do love the food they bring back!

M & D said they had a lovely lunch at Williamsburg's Aromas. Mom even brought me some of her mushroom, bacon, onion & Swiss cheese quiche. 😃 It turned out to be a gorgeous day to drive around the two towns, W & M's campus, visit Yorktown's new uncompleted Victory Center & the old Visitor's Center. Once again our USA Senior Park passes got us in free! Lots of updates on W & M's campus and Yorktown's waterfront. Both are beautiful and really well done! 👌

Coming home via I 64 we saw this big electronic billboard that said HRBT and a number of min. Mom said, "What does that mean? HELL Raising Bad Times?" Dad's response was, "Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel". Mom told me her response was more accurate during busy times!!! 😱 

Loved the yummy goodies mom and dad brought home from the Naval Station Commissary! They brought more goodies back from their Jose Tequila’s dinner tonight…Can’t wait!!! 

Mom and dad said it was really hard to say goodbye to Christy and Gerry...they are the kind of friends that we don't get to see them often, but it is like we pick up right where we left off! Hope it won't be so long between visits now that our kids are grown!!! We can't thank them enough for their tour, Saturday's lunch, Christy's fantastic dinner last night and helping us return our rental car tonight. Not to mention putting up with us for one more dinner tonight! They are the BEST!!! It's one of the reasons we are on this crazy adventure!!! 

Intense storms coming through tonight, but we are buttoned down and cozy on Moondance...Thankfully, we are in an inside slip so a bit a rock and rollin but not nearly as bad as it could be!!! I understand Mom's mellow mood is directly related to an oversized medium Margherita she had at dinner...WHOA BABY!

Just one part of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club 

If you look carefully, you can spot Moondance in the middle back

The Fitness, Pool and Yacht Office

Mike trying to decide among the terrific breakfast menu items at Aroma's in Williamsburg, VA

A Navy Hospital Ship that was in port at the Norfolk Naval Base

The Colonial Parkway

On the Yorktown Waterfront

We had NO idea that Yorktown had a really nice beach on the York River

Yorktown's Marina and River Cruise Boat 

Dinner with Christy and Gerry at Jose Tequila's

Tomorrow we take off once all the storms are through the area to take Moondance to the Ocean Marine for minor but necessary repairs...Meaning we have to backtrack since it is in Portsmouth. We will spend the night there and move on to Deltaville, VA on Tuesday. 

Obviously, mom and dad are watching the weather closely, particularly Colin. We will stay in one place until any severe weather passes over...

Norfolk Revisited!

Norfolk Yacht and Country Club                Norfolk, VA                          June 2 - 6, 2016

Leaving Coinjock was easy enough, but boy did we hit fog in the Virginia Cut...we could barely see 300 yards in front of us...Fortunately it started burning off fast because we had to go under 7 bridges and one lock at Great Bridge. Thankfully, a couple of the bridges stay up, so we really only had to wait on two of them. Things sure got busy the closer we got to Portsmouth. Lots more traffic both pleasure and commercial. We were one of 5 other boats waiting for that lock. What was unexpected was how fast & strong the tide was going through that lock! WOW! It took both mom and dad to hang on to the ropes. They got to chat with the friendly woman lock master. They discovered there was a Revolutionary War battle at Great Bridge in 1775. Once they left Great Bridge, not only did the barges increase but the amount of industry! Some of the industrial buildings were very old, like those at the Portsmouth and Norfolk Navy shipyards. Sadly, the shipyards didn't look that busy...we actually passed the one shipyard, Ocean Marine, we are taking Moondance to on Monday to have some work done. Dad said, "That having the shafts repacked was above his ability level!"
Seeing Norfolk from this view was really fun, but the waterways were busy, so dad had to be very watchful! We found our marina and were able to dock without any issues. This yacht club is really something! So many buildings, that we wouldn't be able to find anything without their signs. It has 3 different places to eat, a large fitness facility, pool, sailing, tennis and the marina. I can only imagine the incredible events they have here...the grounds are just beautiful; as is the neighborhood surrounding it. We all have a view of the Lafayette River.
Mom and dad have been having so much fun with Christy and Gerry! They took M & D to see this completely redone area of Oceanview, where they now live. Just an incredible transformation from slum to a fabulous, well thought out community in the old coastal style. These homes look like they have been there forever. Truly amazing! 

Mom and dad went to the Oceanview Pier for lunch with them, but they brought no goody bag for me. Boo! M & D did return to feed me and let me out before Gerry & Christy picked them up for First Friday on Granby St. Great fun with a bunch of their neighbors!!! 

Followed by a terrific meal at the Brick Anchor Brewhouse...Arugula and Red Oak Salad for mom with Grilled Cheese Short Rib sandwich for dad. It all sounds so good...

This morning I'm getting a proper grooming at Happy Tails Resort, while mom has her knee checked at an Sentara Urgent Care with an Orthopedic Dr there. She has been walking with her walking stick because her knee is very swollen. She is not quitting our adventure, but figuring out how to best deal with it?  Despite all the wonderful food both she and dad are losing weight. YEAH! I have to admit I do look much improved and mom has more of a plan on how to deal with her bum knee.

After returning home from our morning outings M & D went to see the Naval base...they said they hardly recognize the types of ships or the base anymore...The base is very downsized but still takes up a tremendous amount of space...They could see Oceanview where our friends live from one part of the base.

They plan to drive up to Williamsburg & Yorktown either tomorrow just to see the changes there. Norfolk has really done a tremendous job revitalizing itself since M & D lived here 44 years ago!
Tonight we are going to dinner at Christy and Gerry's house...They wanted us to stay with them which was so nice but it's just easier to stay on the boat.

The Admiral

First Friday on Granby St.

More of Granby St

In case you are dumb enough not to notice the light rail

Some kind of tugboat industry

Coming through one of the many swing bridges

IWe are all waiting for the bridge opening

Some of the tugboats with barge traffic

Art work on the the bridge housing

These fishermen were so friendly

Lily and I watching the world go by

Waiting for our chance to go into the Great Bridge Lock

Some of the industries outside of Great Bridge & Portsmouth 

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Waterside by Norfolk

Loading the container ships

Eating at Oceanview Pier with Christy and Gerry

The new improved Oceanview

Christy and Gerry's house

Try to say, Coinjock, Coinjock, Coinjock

Coinjock Marina                                               Coinjock, NC                                                        June 1-2, 2016

Mom and dad are moving slower today which I’m fine with!!! Evidently we don’t have so far to go so we can take our time. An especially good thing since we have a storm passing over us right now. Moondance gets a fresh water wash down which never hurts her. Dad ran over to the little grill and got us some tasty fresh, bacon & egg biscuits. YUM! 

M & D are hoping they have room at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, they are going to call today when they open. I heard them say we are going there for maybe four days? We can visit Christy and Gerry for a couple days, rent a car and visit some of our favorite places in the area. 

We got lucky! We crossed Albemarle Sound in a 2’ chop, but no more rain or storms. I went to sleep on mom’s lap for awhile because we were zig and zagging so much around all the crab pots!!! Keeping it on auto pilot wasn’t happening much today. 

Even with our late start we arrived at Coinjock before three. Too bad it is cloudy because although rural, it’s a pretty location on the Virginia cut. Everyone on Active Captain keeps talking about the Prime Rib meal here, so mom and I walked down there to make a reservation for it. Can you believe they wanted to know if we wanted a 16 or 32 oz one??? I’m looking forward to some leftovers for sure! If the sun comes out, mom and dad will take me down to eat at the  outside patio. Since we got here Dad is working on some minor boat issues and mom is doing her usual laundry and cleaning. 

It turns out Coinjock is Native American word for a mulberry bush which none seems to be around anymore.

If all goes as planned, tonight should be our last night in NC for this trip...

Weather didn’t improve so they went without me to dinner. Dad and Mom spent some time talking to Jennifer and Joe on Grampster’s Pride and getting some good cleaning stuff for the boat from Joe. They brought all kinds of goodies for me…YUMMY!!!

Another Norfolk marker showing where the ICW ends for now

Lily enjoying Mom's lab

Among boaters here is the famous Coinjock Marina with their generous Prime Rib servings

Mike making his side choices...there was no question he was getting the prime rib!

One of the monster yachts that pulled into this tiny place...Bek & Mike check out the name.

Charming patio wish we could have been out there!