US Navy Yard-Norfolk, VA

It is the world's largest.  We have been by it 3 times before, but I get goose bumps every time we do a slow cruise out the Elizabeth River from Norfolk past the United States Naval Shipyard.  You have to see these big guys up close to appreciate these magnificent ships and our US Naval forces.

The yard seemed a bit less busy this time than two years ago, which tells me that we have more ships deployed across the oceans.  The first most impressive ship you see as you approach the yard is the #77, USS George HW Bush Aircraft Carrier.  It is huge, and I am sure these photos will not do it justice.   Use as your measuring stick for size,  the tiny men standing on her deck looking down at us as we cruised by.   Plus there were six Navy Fighter jets on the deck that we could only see from afar.   It is HUGE!!

The USS George HW Bush--this is just the front third of her in this photo

Those guys on top do not like us getting too close.  Also there is an electronic fence in front

The newest ship to the Navy fleet is the #24, USS Arlington.   She is a San Antonio class Amphibious Transport and Dock Ship or LPD.   She was just christened this last April, 2013.

USS Arlington

Notice the more Stealth look of the newer ships.   There were two more LPD's in dock.  The USS Mesa Verde and the USS Bataan.   These ships are designed to carry marines, and their amphibious assault equipment to a theater of war, along with their helicopter escorts.   They can put a bunch of marines anywhere in the world pretty quickly with these guys.

USS Mesa Verde LPD 19

  Finally, in her home berth in Norfolk is one of the Navy's hospital ships, the USNS Comfort.   Her primary mission is basically a seagoing Level III trauma hospital, supporting all branches of service with mobile surgical and acute medical care.

USNS Comfort in Norfolk, VA

She has 1000 beds and 12 Operating Rooms

There were dozens of other ships, destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious deployment ships.   It is the largest fleet in the world and they keep us safe.   It was a cool, fascinating experience to cruise by these ships and see them in person.  We all ought to be thankful for what they do, and how well they do it.

Marc

Baltimore and the Chesapeake

It has been a month since my last posting.  We had a beautiful trip down the New Jersey  coastline, up Delaware Bay, and into the Chesapeake to get Rock Chalk to Baltimore.   Our main purpose for going to Baltimore, other than its very nice Inner Harbor, was to have our boat in the Baltimore TrawlerFest in late September.  On arrival in Baltimore's outer harbor you have a great view of one of the most historic sites in our country, Ft. McHenry.  

Ft. McHenry with the Baltimore, MD skyline

   The fort has some impressive canons on the parapets surrounding it for 270 degrees, all with a commanding control of the harbor.   It was 1814 toward the end of the War of 1812, in which the British navy was pounding Ft. McHenry and Baltimore.   Francis Scott Key was captive on a British frigate watching the barrage all night as he penned our National Anthem.   Today we cruised by a red, white, and blue buoy marker in the harbor that marks the location of that British ship, and the view that Mr. Key had that fateful night.  Just another in a long list of history lessons we have been able to observe from Rock Chalk in our 3 year voyage.   

Too bad it was closed to all visitors due to the Obama Government Shutdown

TrawlerFest is a three day meeting of sorts for couples investigating the cruising life.  There are classes on all kinds of subjects, and over 40 different manufacture's of trawlers have boats there for the participants to crawl through.   It is an excellent way for those in the market to capture in one place,  many of the different types of cruising boats available in the market.   The owner of Endeavour Trawlercats knew we have been considering the sale of Rock Chalk, and asked if we would be willing to put our boat in the show.   It was a good opportunity for Endeavour to generate interest in new yachts, and for us to get a feel for the market.  

We had dozens of couples come through the boat, and many showed a real interest, but no offers.   We were relieved by that, as we still feel like we have some cruising to do on Rock Chalk this winter in Florida and next spring in the Bahamas before we really get serious to sell her.  

Once the show was over, Shelley and I headed south, with the next stop of any length, Charleston.  You may remember that our travels north through the North Carolina sounds and the Chesapeake last spring were pretty horrendous.   Very bad, wet windy weather was the signature of that trip.  Quite the opposite this fall.   It was beautiful.   Here are some photos of absolute dead calm on the Chesapeake and the Alligator River in North Carolina.

Point No Point Lighthouse off the mouth of the Potomac

Sunrise on the Alligator River--Red Sky in the Morning...TS Karin was on its way

How often can we see our wake on the smooth waters of the Chesapeake?

We had glorious fall weather all the way down the Chesapeake and into Abermarle Sound.  From there the winds remained quiet across the Alligator, Pungo, and Pamlico Sounds as we made our way south to Beaufort, NC.   We stopped for a couple of days to catch our breath, and then it hit.  We are still sitting after 4 days of Gale force winds, and sideways rain.  

Maybe tomorrow we can continue down the Intercoastal toward Charleston!!