Long story….

Sunday, still at Calvert’s, Solomons. Brunch at Hidden Harbour, the eatery on the marina grounds. Walked to AnneMarie Gardens and Art Center. Walked about a mile each way in the heat. Very nice show on display with artists from all over the country. Additionally, it was their “art in bloom” weekend, where flower arrangements are made to complement the paintings. Then we walked the sculpture garden. Very cool. Most statues from the Smithsonian. What a hidden treasure.

Tuesday-Thursday, at Calvert’s. Then Thursday, on our 37th wedding anniversary, we had a one day window to return to Deltaville. It was a 10 hour ride. Spoke to another boatyard. Stayed there for 6 ish days because the weather was horrible. SSE 20+…. Everyone on the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays were stuck for days….met some boaters we traveled with during our loop and made new friends on Harmony. Patti, coincidentally was born 25 minutes before me.Rented a car, toured, went out to dinner with marina mates……white caps in the harbor. Bouncy, even at the dock.

Finally, on Thursday, the 26th, we had a one day window to return to Solomons. Easy ride. Straight to Washburn’s Boatyard. Panda Bear was out of the water by Friday afternoon and we drove home Saturday afternoon. Panda Bear needs a little tender loving care. This is her spa time….She is 30 this year. Another boating season over.

Sunday, still at Hampton. Drove to Richmond, VA. Went to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Very good-wish we had another day there. Then we went to Canal Walk and took a boat tour of the canal. Quite a great deal of history. Could still see a couple of very old locks ( or the remnants of the locks). Then we went for a drive around Monument Avenue. This street was major Confederate monuments that may be removed in the near future. These are huge monuments.

Monday, still north winds in Chesapeake Bay…..food shopped, returned the rental car, went to see another IMAX movie. This time:”Carrier 3D” . Took the ride in the museum where you are in a simulator. We were upside down a couple of times. When we finally decided how the controls worked, the ride was over.

Tuesday, I went for a nice walk then we departed Hampton. We left at 12:25. Saw some really cool flying fish while I was at the helm. We were already on Chesapeake Bay by then. Arrived at Deltaville by 7:30. Still very hot and we were beat. Light dinner, egg salad over lettuce and tomatoes……..too hot for a big dinner.

Wednesday: met with first of several boatyards/mechanic…..headed out for Solomons, MD. Started out nice then got bouncy. Could see Lizzie debating: should I go forward and bounce or deal with engine vibration aft?”. Looks like vibrations in the saloon won. I went up to the pilothouse and filled in the table with a cushion and settled into my playpen. Arrived at Solomons at 7:30. Great cloud pictures….more ospreys…..anchor down by 7:30.

Thursday, moved to Calvert’s Marina. Saw a crab swimming about a foot under water in the approach to the marina….moving at a good clip. Usually, I believe they travel on the bottom. Another mechanic visited. He just couldn’t handle the work-he was short handed.

Friday, met with another boatyard. I went for a long walk. Then we went to dinner at the local spot, Hidden Harbour. Best bread pudding with buttery rum sauce. Larry said his grouper sandwich was good too.

Saturday, borrowed the 1987 Mercedes from Calvert Marina to run errands. Took a ride around Solomons. Waiting for an estimate on Monday. Now making lists of things that have to be done and things that have to be packed. Always a busy time. This is as if we were moving twice a year.

Sunday: Left Coinjock around 8:40. Easy cross of Currituck Sound. Nice north breeze. Saw a dead cormorant hanging from a green channel marker….hanging by a leg…bet it got its foot stuck there….what an awful way to go. After Currituck, what I refer to as “osprey alley”. There is a nest on every channel marker and this time of year, lots of babies in nests. Camera always on along this section. Crossed into VA.

Tied up at the Atlantic Yacht Basin (marina) by 2:15. (MM 12). 93 degrees. Feels like 103 and an air quality alert to boot.

Monday: stayed at AYB for another day. Morning started with Lizzie dodging and head faking Larry as he tried to give her antibiotics. Her wound is healing very nicely. She has no problems with wound cleaning and spraying of medicine but the antibiotics dosages are are different issue. Walked to breakfast at Lockside. Then walked to Farm Fresh, the grocery store, in the opposite direction. Gone! It’s a shame-always a good stocking location. So….we got a frozen smoothie and walked back. Got our cardio in the heat. Later that night, walked back to the Lockside for $5 burgers. We were reminiscing about the $5 Monday night burgers in Fort Lauderdale… and what a good time we had with our friends almost every Monday.

Tuesday, up and at it….ready to leave then Larry found a broken hose in a head (bathroom) compartment. Bilge water at that-yuk. Larry had to go buy hose and fix it-I cleaned up then sorted-cleaned-tossed everything that was stored in there. Finally, we caught the 2:00 Great Bridge and corresponding lock. The crape myrtles were in bloom along the waterway. All in deep pinks. The lock master was a very nice young fellow who told us all about last winter’s weather and all the frozen water…unusual. Continued on to Top Rack Marina for fuel. Nice new dock master, Ryan. Ended up staying the night for $35 ( good price). Else, we would have to wait 2 hours for a restricted bridge. Lunch at the Lantern Deli. Good and the gal, Britney, was a sweetheart. The dock master in prior years was also very nice. He is off to college. This marina has a knack for hiring good workers with good personalities.

Wednesday morning, left at 7:50. Thought we had to catch a restricted bridge but turns out it has been replaced by a 65 footer. On to Norfolk. Now comes a very industrial section of the ICW. But if you look at the shapes, colors, and shadows, quite interesting. Anchor down in Norfolk area, Hospital Point, ICW MM 0. Mile marker 0 always a welcomed sight. ICW completed. July 4th. Waterside Marina was all lit up and the adjoining park had a Ferris wheel. Great fireworks! Larry positioned us perfectly. We were right under them yet the smoke was off to our port side.

Thursday, off to Hampton, VA. Last stop before Chesapeake Bay, which was misbehaving. Little too breezy and rainy. Tied up at Hampton Public Piers by 10:15. About a two hour ride to get there. Rain by 10:20. Went to the VA Air and Space Museum. Saw the IMAX movie: Amazon. Actually, joined the museum. Later, walked around town and went back to finish a painting I was working on for several weeks.

Friday; lazy morning. Trying to schedule work on Panda Bear. Went to another IMAX movie, “Hubble” (the telescope). Walked back to boat in rain and thunder, lightning. Cooked dinner on board.

Saturday, rented a car. Enterprise is right next to the docks. Drove to Newport News. Visited the Mariners Museum. Saw two 3D movies there…. also walked part of the Nolan Trail. Went back to Hampton for a street festival then sat at an outdoor restaurant and listened to a really good blues band. Nice ending to another travel week…..