We took the water taxi across the river to Norfolk this morning for a day of tourism.
First item on the agenda was a water tour of Norfolk Naval Airbase, you can’t actually enter the base so the tour boat cruises along the waterway identifying the ships and giving details. We saw billions of dollars worth of Navy ships of all sorts. There were no submarines but the USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier is here for refit. It’s expected to have a service life of 50 years and was first launched in 1988. This will be it’s only refit at a cost of $3,000.000,000, the initial cost to build was $5,000,000,000. It’s a pretty amazing site, carries a crew of 6000 and travels up to 30 mph. We also cruised by the commercial docks and loading areas which are quite impressive as well. So many containers coming and going.
After the tour we visited the Nauticus, a wonderful naval and nautical museum in itself and it is the home of the battleship Wisconsin. The ship is there to tour, it is very interesting to see it and learn a bit of it’s history. They do offer guided tours which seemed to be quite extensive but we wandered through on our own. The ship served from 1943 till 1991 – from WWII thru Dessert Storm. An impressive ship and story.
We wandered in town a bit then back to Echo. There are two foot tide fluctuations here which can make it a challenge to get on board at high tide. Jeff had to give me a boost up to the step we have hanging over the side so I could work my way up from there. As we near a full moon the high tide will get higher, we’re told the dock will likely be under water at times over the weekend. With a full moon and the possible effect of Hurricane Sandy Things may get interesting…
Jeff was just out making plans with a boat docked nearby, tomorrow we will all add some dock lines just in case. Our new neighbor is from Australia, he and his wife bought the boat in Europe and came across in the spring. They traveled up to Maine and back in the past 6 months, heading to the Bahamas for a rest. A few nights ago there was a family from Switzerland and before that two boats from France, we like seeing all those foreign flags.
Also, A new phenomena we’ve been experiencing in the past week or so – we hear a sort of crackling sound when we’re in the cabin. Apparently it’s from shrimp eating things off our hull, clearly we’re not in fresh water any more.
Still plan to stay put and watch the weather forecast.
I was actually thinking of Anthony and Jonathan on the boat tour, I think they would love it here.
Wow, you are not in Michigan anymore Dorothy!!! The tides must be a totally different thing to get used to; I was fascinated by the pic of the Echo up so high and got a good visual of Jeff boosting you up! Should of had a pic of that! Can’t wait to show the boys your pictures of the naval yard. We talk frequently about where you are and they knew exactly where the Norfolk Naval Yard was. Always some talk of some sort of weapons in my house on any given day – whether virtual of real! Keep the blog posts coming!!!
Yes Roberta, Those floating docks are lots easier. Glad to hear we’ll see them more often as we get to higher tides. Interesting about your theories on those sounds, I guess it’s a good thing that something is eating all that stuff off the hull…
We plan to get lines and fenders situated today, thanks for the advice. Last night our Australian neighbor took down his roller furling head sail, not sure yet if we’ll do the same.
Thanks!
Good to know you are all tucked in and ready just in case. As far as those tides go, the farther south you get, you will find that most of the docks are floating docks, which makes adjusting dock lines easier. Once you hit GA, you’ll find the tides run about 6-9 feet, which will make those floating docks even more of a blessing.
We were also bemused, amused and are still confused over that snapping noise you are hearing. We have been told that it was shrimp, fish cleaning some morsels off the hull, rocks clicking together because of current and muscles/clams clicking open and shut. I’m tending to lean to the muscle/clam theory, because we still hear that sound (though not as pronounced) when we are in Abaco, and I know there are not shrimp in the marina, but there are muscles/clams.Fish on the hull sound totally different than that clicking. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
One tip we found handy during a “blow”……use every fender you have available before you need them. Even though you think you have trussed up the boat like a turkey, there is nothing like standing out in sideways wind and rain trying to push the boat off the dock to add fenders. I speak from experience!
Here’s hoping everything passes you by. Stay safe!