Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Leaving Norfolk
Hello all!! Paul and Dennis are yacking up above...and I was asked to give a quick blog. So for those that are following us...we provisioned up again (thanks to Dennis and his car)...then we fueled up...and as of 1:30pm Wednesday, November 19, 2008 we are on our way out of the Elizabeth River to the mouth of the Chesapeake and out to the Atlantic. Next stop St Maarten...10 to 12 days depending of course on wind!!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Norfolk, Cold Toilet Seats and Isolation
First and foremost…WELCOME HOME MATT!! I do hope you are still excited about your new home. I am looking forward to seeing pictures. And…a big “thank you” to all of our Vets that have sacrificed to keep our country free!!
To Norfolk…as always I try to put pictures of where we are…following are some pictures of where the Lady H is anchored. Much more open to the wind and weather (which is now a steady 18 knots with the boat swinging in the breeze)…not the best holding (as Paul stated when we anchored here last Wednesday and was confirmed by the cruisers I met Sunday) and VERY COLD!
Hence…the cold toilet seats. I guess after living in Z for the colder seasons previously and then being on the boat for a year in warmer climes…I forgot how cold toilet seats get…and, well maybe in a nice warm house they don’t get that cold…but here on the boat…suffice to say…first thing in the morning…well, I’m more than ready to get south!!! And, to the isolation…it was very sweet to hear from a friend via email that if I needed anything that he could be here in 8 hours (versus Back Creek…friends from Baltimore could have visited for lunch or dinner…and if I am to “need” any assistance – time to “rescue” - 30 minutes)…so, yes, I was not happy with Paul’s decision to isolate me here in Norfolk.
But as always…I am trying to make lemonade!! Sunday I went knocking on a boat close by…met a cruising couple and told them I was by myself for a week. How sweet and supportive they were! I then took the dingy over to the “far” side – downtown Portsmouth proper - and rode my bike around the red brick road. On this adventure I found a lot of historical homes still kept up in their “old” glory! No pictures as I was wary of taking the good camera while alone as a young man who had served Paul and I a blooming onion on Saturday said the trail might not be the safest ride alone. Not to be dissuaded I went riding anyway. As I rode…a sign…estate sale!!! There is something about estate sales…so I locked up the bike and stopped in…found a few small treasures…there was a beautiful table that I would have loved…but no need on the boat…and shipping would have been a nightmare I’m sure as it was a beautiful glass top. When I got back to the boat I was invited to go to the “other side” of Portsmouth with the cruising couple and watch football at a sport’s bar…was great to be included even though I’m not much into football anymore.
They were having some engine problems which is why they had been in this anchorage so long…this anchorage is usually used by what Paul calls “ditch diggers”…so they typically arrive late in the afternoon…anchor…get some sleep…and are off early in the morning traveling down the Inner Costal Waterway…getting more miles in to their warm destination. Monday morning…Chris came knocking to let me know that they were heading south…darn. Then later Monday a young man (relatively speaking) came by in his dingy after anchoring, as I was taking laundry down…and we started chatting. I have an open invitation for “happy hour” on his boat…perhaps I’ll take him up on it this evening. He will be here a few days while he waits for crew, then waits for weather, before continuing his journey to the BVI’s. His wife and kids will be flying down to meet them there.
Oh, and for those that know…my rib(s) and the bruising under my rib(s), slowly, very slowly is getting less painful…I’m still being very careful, slow and deliberate in my actions to keep from re-injuring…like I have already done once….very frustrating for me...but, I want to be able to dive in St Maarten…priorities you know! Ha ha ha!!!
To Norfolk…as always I try to put pictures of where we are…following are some pictures of where the Lady H is anchored. Much more open to the wind and weather (which is now a steady 18 knots with the boat swinging in the breeze)…not the best holding (as Paul stated when we anchored here last Wednesday and was confirmed by the cruisers I met Sunday) and VERY COLD!
Hence…the cold toilet seats. I guess after living in Z for the colder seasons previously and then being on the boat for a year in warmer climes…I forgot how cold toilet seats get…and, well maybe in a nice warm house they don’t get that cold…but here on the boat…suffice to say…first thing in the morning…well, I’m more than ready to get south!!! And, to the isolation…it was very sweet to hear from a friend via email that if I needed anything that he could be here in 8 hours (versus Back Creek…friends from Baltimore could have visited for lunch or dinner…and if I am to “need” any assistance – time to “rescue” - 30 minutes)…so, yes, I was not happy with Paul’s decision to isolate me here in Norfolk.But as always…I am trying to make lemonade!! Sunday I went knocking on a boat close by…met a cruising couple and told them I was by myself for a week. How sweet and supportive they were! I then took the dingy over to the “far” side – downtown Portsmouth proper - and rode my bike around the red brick road. On this adventure I found a lot of historical homes still kept up in their “old” glory! No pictures as I was wary of taking the good camera while alone as a young man who had served Paul and I a blooming onion on Saturday said the trail might not be the safest ride alone. Not to be dissuaded I went riding anyway. As I rode…a sign…estate sale!!! There is something about estate sales…so I locked up the bike and stopped in…found a few small treasures…there was a beautiful table that I would have loved…but no need on the boat…and shipping would have been a nightmare I’m sure as it was a beautiful glass top. When I got back to the boat I was invited to go to the “other side” of Portsmouth with the cruising couple and watch football at a sport’s bar…was great to be included even though I’m not much into football anymore.They were having some engine problems which is why they had been in this anchorage so long…this anchorage is usually used by what Paul calls “ditch diggers”…so they typically arrive late in the afternoon…anchor…get some sleep…and are off early in the morning traveling down the Inner Costal Waterway…getting more miles in to their warm destination. Monday morning…Chris came knocking to let me know that they were heading south…darn. Then later Monday a young man (relatively speaking) came by in his dingy after anchoring, as I was taking laundry down…and we started chatting. I have an open invitation for “happy hour” on his boat…perhaps I’ll take him up on it this evening. He will be here a few days while he waits for crew, then waits for weather, before continuing his journey to the BVI’s. His wife and kids will be flying down to meet them there.Oh, and for those that know…my rib(s) and the bruising under my rib(s), slowly, very slowly is getting less painful…I’m still being very careful, slow and deliberate in my actions to keep from re-injuring…like I have already done once….very frustrating for me...but, I want to be able to dive in St Maarten…priorities you know! Ha ha ha!!!
Veterans Day in Chattanooga
Tue Nov 11th 7:30 am Chattanooga TN This from Chattanooga as I;m home to see my Son Matt arrive home with his fellow US Marines from Iraq.They arrived home Sunday afternoon to a heroes welcome from the local community. Not a dry eye in the place,,,including the Capt. Matt and I spent yesterday shopping for appliances for his new home. We will back at it since many stores are giving 10% off to Vets since today is Veterans Day. Yep Tennessee is still a red state and God, Guns, and Country still mean something, I received an email from Joyce's Mom this AM. I doctored it a bit and will publish it on here as it fits today's remembrance of our fighting men and their sacrafices over generations to make and keep America the great nation it is . Thanks Matt and your fellow Marines and all the serviceman for your service, A proud father am I.
A must read for all those that voted for Obama and those that want to change America
To Kill an American
You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any
American. So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
'An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans. An American is Christian, or he could be
Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan . The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God. An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness. An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. WhenAfghanistan was over-run by the Soviet Army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan . Americans welcome
the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty ,
welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who
built America . Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from
at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages,including those that aided and abetted the terrorists. So you can try
to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself . Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They
are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
"America as described so well by this Ausie, is under attack from within. We as Americans must fight off this attack to make us like the rest of this screwed up world. We are the beacon of freedom in the world, and we must resist this new attack on our values and freedoms". Capt Paul
s
A must read for all those that voted for Obama and those that want to change America
To Kill an American
You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any
American. So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
'An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans. An American is Christian, or he could be
Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan . The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God. An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness. An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. WhenAfghanistan was over-run by the Soviet Army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan . Americans welcome
the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty ,
welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who
built America . Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from
at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages,including those that aided and abetted the terrorists. So you can try
to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself . Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They
are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
"America as described so well by this Ausie, is under attack from within. We as Americans must fight off this attack to make us like the rest of this screwed up world. We are the beacon of freedom in the world, and we must resist this new attack on our values and freedoms". Capt Paul
s
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Norfolk
Sat Nov 8 9:18 am We arrived into Norfolk on Wed. after an overnight from the Solomons. Took on a 100 gallons of Fuel...prices still going down and filled up with water before we and anchored at Hospital Point. Within a few hours the winds were up to 30 knots. The wind stayed at 30+ all day Thur with gusts to 39. We hunkered down below all day. Yesterday we took the bikes ashore and made a run to the Food Lion.
The Capt is in the dog house...he did not listen to the Admiral about where we were going to put the boat while I go back to Chattanooga for a week to see Matt come home from Iraq. I leave today and return next Saturday. Joyce takes a reduction in grade and will be Captain for the week. The Admiral wanted to be in Annapolis, up in Back Creek ...seems the Capt has this problem...a little head strong, not always listening to the Admiral.
Matt gets home tomorrow afternoon. Chattanooga being a red state, is proud of it's servicemen and throws a big party when the troops come home. I missed Matt's home coming last time by a day...not this time.. We will go from there to see his new house that he bought while in Iraq. He has settlement on Monday. I didn't have a home of my own till I was 30. He was at the right place at the right time...home prices in the tank and here he is with some cash in his pocket after 7 months in Iraq. I will post some red state patriotic pictures later next week from Chattanooga.
The Capt is in the dog house...he did not listen to the Admiral about where we were going to put the boat while I go back to Chattanooga for a week to see Matt come home from Iraq. I leave today and return next Saturday. Joyce takes a reduction in grade and will be Captain for the week. The Admiral wanted to be in Annapolis, up in Back Creek ...seems the Capt has this problem...a little head strong, not always listening to the Admiral.
Matt gets home tomorrow afternoon. Chattanooga being a red state, is proud of it's servicemen and throws a big party when the troops come home. I missed Matt's home coming last time by a day...not this time.. We will go from there to see his new house that he bought while in Iraq. He has settlement on Monday. I didn't have a home of my own till I was 30. He was at the right place at the right time...home prices in the tank and here he is with some cash in his pocket after 7 months in Iraq. I will post some red state patriotic pictures later next week from Chattanooga.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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