May 28 - Update

Hello Everyone!

It has been quite a while since we have updated our blog.  Since our last update, we have had quite a time.  First, we arrived in Norfolk, VA for the AGLCA Convention that was held at the Sheraton right along the waterside.  In fact, our marina was the Waterside Marina in downtown Norfolk.  We were a couple of days early, so we took advantage of the time and had a beauty day, including Heidi!  Randy was also able to have his bloodwork done and we are happy to report that all is good!  

Blue Heron crossed their wake!

By the time the convention began, the marina was packed with boats from all over the country, all in different phases of the loop.  Some were planning their trip, some were in route and some had finished.  Boaters that have completed the trip are called Gold Loopers and they can fly a gold burgee.   




Owen & Mindy Irvine, friends of ours from back home, joined us aboard Barefoot'n for 3 nights to attend the convention.  They traveled by car, as their boat was in storage further north.  Joe & Ginny Sadler, also friends from back home, were at the marina.  So we were able to take a picture of the 'gang' to send back to SPYC and the Unsinkables boating groups.  

(From left to right: Owen & Mindy Irvine, R&V Stacy, Ginny & Joe Sadler)

The AGLCA convention was a great way to learn from other 'loopers' who have completed the trip, about what you will experience along the way.  Important things like locking through the Erie Canal, motoring through Canada waterways, etc.  These are the folks that you will see all along the 'loop' and they become friends.

After the convention, there was plenty of time to take in the sights.  Norfolk has the largest naval base in the country and there were plenty of ships of all kinds in port.  

    

The USS Wisconsin is permanently moored there, and is an attraction that you can tour.  

Is that cool, or what?  

 Portsmouth was just across the waterway and there were ferries that would take you back and forth.  General McArthur's museum was a must see with everything from his corn cob pipe to his motorcycle.  He and his wife are buried right there in the museum.

After Norfolk, we headed to Deltaville and tied up to Dozier's Point.  While there we had a mini-rendevous with some of the loopers and spent a couple of days relaxing and riding bikes around the area.  The group had a cookout and celebrated Mother's Day.

Can you spot Captain Randy?  :o)

From Deltaville, we spent a couple of nights at Kilmarnock, VA.  We officially switched to Verizon and got new phones.  Our phone numbers are the same, but we are getting much better service.   

From Deltaville, we traveled to Tangier Island. This was one of the most interesting places in the Chesapeake.  The island is a waterman's village with a population of about 400.  

THE Church on Tangier's Island

Cemetery next door to doctor's office...hmmm

View across from our slip

Sunset at Tangier's Island

Homes at Tangier's 

These chairs were unbelievable!  

Almost looks islandy, but at Tangier's

  For generations, families on this island have relied on crabbing, oysters and fishing for a living.  Government restrictions seem to have had a negative impact on their economy and after visiting the museum, it appears that the island itself is shrinking.  They will need some financial help from the mainland at some point to shoal up the island. 

Milton Parks & his boat

Downtown Tangier's Island

We stayed at Park's Marina and Mr. Parks (who is 82), was there to help us dock.  He is an icon on the island.  Seems he purchased the property from his uncle many years ago for $250.  Since, he built a marina and lives on site.  Cool, huh?  


Moving on, we visited Tilghman's and stayed one night at Knapp's Narrows Marina.  From there, it was on to St. Michael's.  We anchored out and visited the museum, lighthouse and ate at the popular Crab Claw restaurant.  Guess what they serve?  

Screw Point Lighthouse - St. Michaels

Crab Claw Restaurant - St. Michaels

Barefoot'n on anchor at St. Michael's

Guard Dog - - Heidi

With buddy Bob

That brings us to Annapolis!  What a place.  Randy's good friend, Bob Powell, drove all the way from Indiana and spent a few days with us.  Also, we caught up with Joe and Ginny Sadler again and had fun walking around.  

At Annapolis Yacht Club

View of Annapolis from Barefoot'n

Unbeknownst to us, it was graduation week at the Naval Academy.  President Obama flew in on a helicopter to give the commencement speech to the graduates.  So!  With it being Memorial Day and graduation week, there were plenty of people in town.    

We took graduation day to make a run to Washington D.C.  You can catch the Metro train system and we took it all the way to the Smithsonian Institute.  In one day, we were able to see 2 museums (Museum of Natural History and the Air and space Museum).  We walked around the Capital and the Washington Monument and then headed back to the boat (really tired feet).    

  

 

The Hope Diamond - on my Xmas list! 

Annapolis is so pretty and there was so much to see.  We were able to tour the Naval Academy.  We made it a point to speak with some of the graduates and they were so polite and seemed to be so excited about their new adventure in life.  The history there was unbelievable.  At the chapel, John Paul Jones is buried.

Stained glass tribute to the Civil War

Inside the Naval Cathedral

John Paul Jones

Class of 2013

Wednesday afternoon sailboat races

Navy football field - they don't like ND!

 In Annapolis, most everything was within walking distance.  The state capital building was full of history and the governor's mansion was just across the street.  There was a parade on Memorial Day, that reminded me of the way parades used to be.  The Sheriff's car, the fire engine, a couple of bands....you know!  And the food.....was yumo.  So much to eat and so little time!  LOL  
That brings us to today.  Barefoot'n is motoring to the C&D (Chesapeake/Delaware) Canal.  We are trying to put some miles under us since the winds will be in our favor the next few days with a warm front.  We will be trying to get to Cape May, NJ and then take a peak out at the Atlantic Ocean to see if it looks OK to head to NYC!  

So from Barefoot'n.......the adventure continues!

Randy & his girl at the USS Wisconsin

May 1st - Barefoot'n is now in Virginia!

Hi From Virginia!

Barefoot'n is now in Chesapeake, VA!  We are just 8 miles away from Norfolk, our destination for the AGLCA convention.  We are just a bit early, so we are staying at Top Rack Marina and Captain Randy is working on an oil and filter change for Barefoot'n while it is raining.  

North Carolina was beautiful and we didn't know just how long the coastline was until we cruised it.  You see the scenery change from low country to huge pine trees all along the ICW.  There have been loads of ospreys sitting on big nests all along the way.  

Dinghy Barefoot'n at Morehead

We tied up in Morehead City, where we were the 'dinghy' for a great yacht that was in for some major engine repair.  We also met loopers on two boats (Sea Glide & Bucket List), and had dinner with them. 







After a night, we skipped over to Beaufort.  This a must-see quaint historic town on the water. 

Wild Horses across from Beaufort

There is a story about one of the headstones in this old cemetery.  It is a simple wooden marker and on it, it says 'Little Girl'. The story is that a little girl died while on a ship and the only way they had to preserve her body until they could get to Beaufort was to place her in a rum keg.  The headstone is actually made from the keg.  People that visit the cemetery leave her toys, beads, bears, etc. (See below)  Her father was a captain and lived on Front Street in Beaufort.

Old Burial Ground in Beaufort

'Little Girl'  

Morning at Belhaven

We just happened to be lucky enough to be in Beaufort for their annual Wine Festival.  :o)  We tasted a mango Moscato that was pretty yumo.  Beaufort also has a fantastic Maritime Museum.  The next day took us to Whittaker Marina in Oriental, NC. We caught up with the Sadlers on Slo Gin and Cindy and Larry aboard Bucket List. Nice stop and lots of grass for Princess Heidi, who yes, is STILL NOT using her pee pads.  :o(  The next morning we were off to Belhaven for an anchor out and cheeseburgers.  That was great and we launched the dinghy for ......wait for it......yep, Princess Heidi.  But we walked around Belhaven a bit and met up with some more loopers.

View of Belhaven from Barefoot'n

 The next morning, we pulled anchor and cruised through 'the ditch' on the Alligator River/Pungo Canal.  We anchored in a small cove called Broad Creek, just south of Albermarle Sound.  We had the place to ourselves!  Then we headed for the Virginia Cut and the town of Coinjock, NC.  Stayed at the Coinjock Marina.  It was a great place to stop as there aren't a lot of places along that route.  We met up with loopers aboard Rick and Roll and had dinner with them at the restaurant there.  The dockmaster had a full house that night and there was not an inch to spare, and I mean that literally.

Not an inch to spare at Coinjock 

And by special request from Slo Gin, here is photo of Joe and Ginny PASSING Barefoot'n along the river. Note the great speed with which they overtake us!  LOL

Captain Joe smiling

Slo Gin preparing to pass us to port.

That's it for now.  And the adventure continues.....

Capt Randy and the Admiral