2023-06-10 Derek's Visit and Norfolk Harborfest

We had a nice pizza dinner with Breathe at the Deep Creek Lock at the north end of the Dismal Swamp.   Next morning, to our surprise, another Manta showed up.  SeaQuell was also traversing the Dismal Swamp.  We had a short but nice visit while waiting for the next lock opening.  

Charm, Breathe and SeaQuell tied up waiting for the lock opening

Charm heading into the lock, a nice sunny day

Our buddy boat Breathe tied up behind us at the lock

Dean waiting for lock to start dropping water level to match the level seen behind him.

We made it into Norfolk with no issues, and found a nice spot to anchor.

Next day we cleaned the boat, and got ready for Derek, who got in late that evening.

We forced Derek out of bed sooner than he wanted, and walked to town, and McDonalds for lunch.  Toured the town, and stopped at a few places, then back to boat to relax.

Derek and Kris Hanging out with Ronald

Dean and Derek

Next day we headed into town with our friends Ed and Cathy on What If, to see the Chrysler Glass Museum, and Art Museum.  Both free and easy walk from Norfolk dinghy dock.  Both the Glass making building and the Art museum were very nice, and well worth the trip.

We watched a glass blowing demonstration

Hard to imagine this is made from glass

So many striking glass pieces.

Quite the sculpture outside the museum - all aluminum

We walked through the largest display of glass artifacts you can imagine - did not take photos - sorry

Then the rest of the museum - which as a collection of items from many different cultures, and some modern as well.

Derek is too large to fit Japanese samurai outfit .

That's a lot of belts

Ed, Cathy, Derek and Dean

The Norfolk Harborfest started on Friday.  It began with a parade of boats. 

Parade start, impressive volume and height of the water spray

Like the old sailing ships

You can see the cruise ship in the background dwarfs even very large boats.

After the parade, we went to land to see the festivities.  Lots of food vendors, street performers, shops, and live music.  Spent some of the time with Ed and Cathy.

MightyMike the strong man juggling bowling balls

We also toured some of the sailing ships we saw in the parade

Cool carvings on the old ship stern

Every good trip to town involves ice cream

Woke the next morning, and Dean was outside, watching a boat that seemed too close, and sure enough around 8:00 it was close enough to hit us.  We fended it off, and then Kris pounded on the hull to wake the people up, and after the guy stumbled up still looking sleepy, we asked them kindly to move.  They didn't, and only pulled in some chain, but were further from us.  Once the current and wind were inline, and we felt comfortable we would not be hit by them again we headed back for day two of  Harborfest.  We ate junk food, and saw some street performers.  

Dean and Derek helping out the "Red Trousers" acrobatic show, by holding ropes

Watched the Coast Guard rescue demonstration with Ed and Cathy, and happened to sit and watch right next to a young lady, whose husband was flying the helicopter.  Cathy and her had a good chat as Ed and Cathy's son Ben is in the Coast Guard down in Puerto Rico right now.

The helicopter can  get quite low to the water

Lifting rescue diver back into helicopter

We met up with Breathe toward the end of our Harborfest visit, and Breathe and What If stayed to watch a street performer we had already seen.   

We headed back to the boat to watch the final on water demonstration called a Tug Muster.  Watched the large tugs have a pushing contest.

The red tug won hands down

We also stopped to visit with Ed and Cathy later, so Derek could see What If again.

Ed, Derek and Cathy, on What If, last time this happened was May of 2014

Back at boat we watched the craziness and people tried to anchor in an overfull anchorage around us.  Kept an eye on What If, as the guy that hit us was close to them, and What If still at Harborfest.   

Lots of boats everywhere in the anchorage - What If on right side of photo

That evening treated to drone and firework show.

Drone show included boats, oyster, jellyfish and this crab

Saw American flag, and this fighter jet

Very close to fireworks, made for spectacular view

Many different fireworks

We will pull out today, and start heading north, up the Cheasapeake.

2023-06-04 Heading north, Elizabeth City, Dismal Swamp

We motored and motor sailed north from Oriental up to Elizabeth City.  

Had a decent first day, where we could sail a bit.  2nd day no wind, so motored the entire way.  We knew this would happen, but decided motoring in no wind was preferable to motor into 15 knots on the nose.

We anchored at the south end of the Alligator River, and had a beautiful sunrise.

Nice sunrise 

Motoring up the Alligator river in calm water

Its like the start of a bad joke - a seagull, pelican and cormorant where all on a channel marker.

We got to Elizabeth City on Monday and tied up to the Jennette free dock.  The dock is free, and all they ask is that you patronize a local restaurant each day.  We spent the time in Elizabeth City doing as they asked, but to burn off all the eating out, we walked a lot.

Elizabeth City has a nice small downtown area, with lots of art, murals and interesting buildings.

Bike racks all custom painted by different people throughout the downtown

Bunny enjoying the new grass shoots

Nice to see all the flowers blooming

Lots of wall murals, this one missing the center section

On the sidewalks we saw this several places

Several sidewalks had painted signs saying that Elizabeth City was the Hot Cocoa capital of the world, so we had to have some.   Stopped at the Kraken coffeehouse.  Kris got hot cocoa, and thought it was pretty good.

Kraken coffehouse - plus hot cocoa

We went and visited the Albermarle museum.  Had been here before, but Jason and Monica's first time, and it was fun to wander through again.   They had a new display on the moonshining of the area.

Part of the display on moonshining

We ate lunch at Big Boss Burritos, good lunch and enough left over for dinner.

Inside Big Boss burritos

Next day, more walking and eating.  The town has done a good job on trying to revitalize the downtown, and adding interest even on buildings that are unoccupied.

Murals painted on each boarded up window

Closer view of some of the murals

Old building now used for shops.  Nice glass arboretum ceiling 

String art graced the side of this building

Another nice mural, couple of restaurants down the alley

More murals

We also walked to a couple of old graveyards.  It is interesting to see the family plots, and see the dates.  Some markers in great shape, and others not so much.

 We also took a historic walking tour looking at all the old homes.  The tourist bureau provided a pamphlet that told about the architecture, and who built the homes and how old they were.

Colonial revival style

I think this was the Greek Revival style

Queen Anne Style

Huge place

All that walking - meant more eating as well.

Stopped for ice cream - yummy

On Friday, there was a "First Friday Art" in downtown, where stores stayed open longer, and sidewalk displays with art, and some live music.  Fun to walk around and see things.   Also had some free cotton candy.  One place had rock painting.  The said paint a rock and hide it around town.   Maybe someone will find our rock?

Our rock.  See if you can find it if you visit Elizabeth City

Finally was time to leave, picked a chilly foggy morning.

Early morning fog on our way out

Luckily we found this little guy, and put him back on land before we left.

Mist covered spiderweb near the dock

Heading north up to the Dismal Swamp canal

We headed north, up the Elizabeth river to the Dismal Swamp canal

In the locks, with Breathe ahead of us.

We stopped for the night at the Dismal Swamp visitors center.  

Visitor center at Dismal Swamp

Took a walk on the nature trail at the visitor center

Will head up to the north lock today, stopping at our normal spot to have a nice pizza dinner, and grab some groceries.