CHESAPEAKE, VA

June 8th, arrived at the Atlantic Yacht Basin in Chesapeake, Va. After our incident with the anchor, we have ordered a new anchor/chain windless system. While we are here, we decided to have other work done on the boat. Everything is going well and we should be able to pull out of here by Thursday, June 19th. Chuck and Fabin (Whichaway) cruised to DC and we will hook up with them on Sunday in the Chesapeake Bay.

While cruising to Virginia, we experienced the North Carolina Fires. The smoke was very thick and we had ashes all over the boat. We stayed one night in Elizabeth City, NC (located at the mouth of the Dismal Swamp Canal). The canal is about 63 miles long. It is beautiful, swampy and hot! There are two locks on the canal system and when we went through the first one, I truly thought I was going to faint. It was so hot I could hardly stand up. But we made it and anchored in the Norfolk Harbor.

That weekend was the Norfolk Harbor Fest and Fireworks. We were on the 50 yard line for the fireworks....the best we have ever seen. Norfolk Naval Station, the largest naval installation in the world, is homeport for aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, nuclear submarines and admiral's barges.

Our next big destination will be New York. Due to delays in our trip, we may not be able to spend much time there. Just have to wait and see how it goes. You can click on each picture to enlarge it. Note the picture of the "sign" that was in one of the locks. It show "mileage" north and south.

Until our next entry.......Jess and Cindy

ANCHORS A-WAYYYYY

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC: June 1, 2008....ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CRUISING

This is a story to really mark our one year anniversary. We arrived in Wrightsville Beach (which is right outside of Wilmington). It was a windy day and we decided we would stay in a marina. Chuck and Fabin on Whichaway planned on anchoring. As we approached the marina for docking, Capt. Still had to make a left turn into the marina then a tight right 90 degree turn at the dock. The wind and current slammed us into the pilings at the 90 degree turn. We had to back out into the channel and try again. A huge yacht was docked on the outside of the dock that we were trying to get to. As we backed out, we hit the swim platform of the huge yacht. I felt so sorry for Jess...he could not control the boat for the winds and currents. Of course marina was packed, open air restaurant packed and the whole place stopped and stared.

We backed out and left the area to go anchor by Whichaway. We called the marina to see if there was damage to the yacht and of course there was (very minor). Owners were not there so we left our name and number with the dockmaster.

We made it to the anchorage and after five attempts, finally hooked. Friends of ours that we met in the Bahamas live in Wrightsviile and came out to see us. They took us back to shore and we went out to dinner. Chuck and Fabin stayed on their boat and kept an eye on ours. A fast and furious storm blew through with winds clocking 50 mph. Chuck called us and said our boat was moving to shore and he couldn't get his dinghy down for high winds. Jess and our friends left the restaurant and headed back to the boat.

IT WAS A MIRACLE. My Cin was sitting at a huge pier right off the beach. Not one scratch on her and right behind our boat was a small ski boat. We just couldn't believe it....this was the "wake up call" that we have to change out our anchoring system. So we are in Chesapeake City, VA ordering our new system and will be here for 10 plus days.

Pictures show the small boat behind us, the pier where My Cin drifted to and a picture of us getting on our friends boat. In that picture you can see the beach and the pier in the background where she drifted to. The picture of the small boat sitting on a sandbar shows what can happen when you don't stay in the channel - run aground and then the tide goes out.

We will head north once we leave here and our goal is New York late June. Jess and I both said our prayers of many many "thank you's" after this incident and are very very blessed. We have wonderful angels taking care of us.

Very grateful......
Jess and Cindy