Back in Virginia

We left Isle of Palms 7 June, a relatively calm trip further north. Spending the first 2 days on the outside, returning to the ICW after Cape Fear on to Portsmouth. The Albemarle Sound was an evil witch this crossing, with 25 knot NE winds creating a very rough chop and brown water (same as green) over the bow. The rest of the trip up the Dismal Swamp Canal was a little chilly but pleasant. Bernie had a chance to visit with some of his former firefighter brethren in Deep Creek while docked awaiting the bridge & lock opening. Our timing was just about right, arriving in Portsmouth after Harbor Fest, when the anchorage had thinned out a bit. We spent a week visiting with friends and doing some shopping. Bernie got a chance to visit some more firefighters in Western Branch and worked a day at West Marine. We are now at the Naval Base (Norfolk) marina for an overnight. Some of our small things to do are just easier to accomplish from dockside, besides Gilligan really likes wandering off the boat once in a while (as the pictures attest to). Up till now the winds have been pretty much northerly, but NOAA claims they should switch around from the south tomorrow, sure would be nice not to beat into it all the way up the bay. Won't be spending alot of time going up the bay, as we hope to be in Havre-de-Grace by the first of the month for Mom's birthday and spend a month there. Bernie has also arranged to move our storage shed stuff closer to family the first part of July. If possible we will try to get a little further north this summer, of course everything on Cat's Cradle is subject to variations.