Well since leaving North Carolina, we have been in three states. Virginia, Maryland and Delaware are all on the Chesapeake Bay. This is where we spent the week.
We have been to Virginia as we drove thru Florida, but only once to Virginia Beach. It was a beautiful visit. This time we crossed the Virginia border by boat. Quite a difference. The Dismal Swamp was a great way to enter into this State. We saw a deer, a snake and a Canada goose.
We did one more lock before arriving into Portsmouth.
What a difference from the laid back North Carolina. We are in the largest Naval complex in the world. The largest naval hospital is here too. There are one million people living in this area.
Portsmouth was established in 1752 by William Crawford. The Norfolk Naval shipyard is housed here. It is the only shipyard that can drydock a airplane carrier. We rode past one and they are huge.
Norfolk is across the river and they have ferries to take us across. We didn't do this but it could have been fun.
My little sister and her husband visited me here. It was so nice to see family. They also delivered my very appreciated mail.
We visited the historical district and the farmers market together. We had lunch, then off they went to the Hatteras. We continued are reprovision and clean-up.
Now we are ready to enter the Chesapeake Bay where we will be cruising in an active navy port. What an array of ships, ocean ships, cargo ships, military ships, airplane carriers and even a Red Cross ship. This is us behind the war ship. It's very impressive to see.
Our first stop on the Chesapeake Bay was Deltaville, Virginia. We stayed for three days for boat maintenance and we toured the village. They have a beautiful maritime museum with a lot of outdoor space. It is built on a nature preserve. They have F.D. Crockett a 'buyboat' on display in the water.
Our next stop was at Solomons Island. It isn't an island. We are now in Maryland. It is a town of 2500. It is a very pretty place. We met up with fellow Loopers at the Yacht Club. We had travelled with them for several days in the Fall. It was nice to see Ken, Ruth and Sparky again.
Our third stop was at St. Michael's. It is an island. The population is is 1000. Very pretty downtown and an awesome maritime museum. They have several boats on display and many on the water. Most impressive is the lighthouse.
Our last stop on the Chesapeake was also in Maryland. It was in Worton. There isn't much here but it is a beautiful sheltered bay. It reminds us of home. The staff were very welcoming and the only restaurant was excellent. I felt the attraction to the Chesapeake here.
All of the Chesapeake reminds us of Lake Nipissing back home. The landscape, the expanse of water, the small towns and the boating. The only difference is it's size ( about three times bigger and 190 miles long), salt water, tide and ships.
Now we are on the upper half of the Chesapeake. All the buoys are occupied by nesting bald eagles. We are off to the C&D Canal and I will explain in my next post.
Here is our journey so far... moving up quickly.
Captain John Smith wrote this in 1609.
'There is but one entrance by sea into this country, and that is at the mouth of a very goodly bay, 18 or 20 miles broad. The cape on the south is called Cape Henry, in honor of our most noble Prince. The land, white hilly sands like unto the Downs, and all along the shores rest plenty of pines and firs ... Within is a country that may have the prerogative over the most pleasant places known, for large and pleasant navigable rivers, heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation.'
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