In Hampton, Virginia

We headed up the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) to wonderful River Dunes community and marina for a couple of nights (North Carolina).  Mazu was ecstatic to get off the boat and simply run free after 5 days at sea.  The next 3 nights we spent at free spots:  an anchorage at the end of the Alligator River canal, very protected with plenty of space and depth. The next day we crossed the Albemarle Sound up to Elizabeth City, a place we'd heard so much about, but with the exception of the cafe, Muddy Waters, we found the town quiet, friendly, but sad.  The finger piers were the tiniest we'd ever seen, about 7' long.  Bow in, we had to jump off by the anchor!  Many boaters rave about this place because frequently the mayor greets everyone, a man hands out roses to all women, and they have a reception for new arrivals.  The 48 hour free docking is a draw.
  Next day we continued up the Dismal Swamp Canal, pretty, narrow and shallow, 6' at times.  This particular day is kayak day on the canal, and it is dotted with 50 kayakers strung out 12 miles between the Dismal Swamp Canal Visitors Center crossing into Virginia

 dotted with kayakers, looking back.

to the turn off for Lake Drummond.  Kayakers are wandering into the middle of the channel causing frequent delays but fun to see. They are the dots in the picture above.  It was fun thanking them for moving aside and telling them we were coming from Miami on our way to New England, Marblehead, MA. (about 1200 miles)

After waiting for the Deep Creek Bridge opening just before the Deep Creek Lock we came to Elizabeth Dock and 8" of water at the bow (I measured it after we tied up.) We tied up in 6'6" of water per depth sounder.  Can't believe we squeezed in there at the front of 4 boats tied up to the dockside.
It's called Elizabeth Dock, built by a husband in memory of his wife.  It's a great location, a short walk to a market, restaurants, park, nature path and a porta-potty.

Couldn't get any closer to land and float.

Perfect to get the 8:30 am Deep Creek Lock opening the next morning and arrive at High Street Dock in Portsmouth, VA by 10:30 am. 
Shawnee's tell-tale yellow dinghy, Tweety, hanging off the davits.

We again walked to the historic Commodore Theater for lunch and a movie, Disney's "Jungle Book" where Mowgli is a dead ringer for our grandson, Tate - looks, attitude, and speech mannerisms.  Recommend the movie for everyone.  We later ate dinner at a new delicious restaurant, Still, on Court Street, a tapas place with a terrific chef and bar with a huge selection.
We also visited the historic Portsmouth Lightship that had worked off Nantucket, Boston and Portsmouth, VA I believe before becoming mothballed and cemented to this place for tours.

Across the way and on our sail to Hampton - a true sail day - we saw Norfolk's US Navy yard.

Always impressive since these ships line the river for several miles, and the chatter on the VHF is always about submarines arriving "stay 500' off" and other Navy official talk.

We left High Street and headed to Hampton Public Piers to do a little work on the in-mast furling gear that has some weird pin sticking out.  Drew describes it as, "a pin that locks the furling spiral to the extrusion that goes up the mast that the sail is on.  It makes it so that when you pull the sail it furls. Without the pin they aren't coupled properly," and it doesn't work efficiently. The pin is between the vertical inside furling pole and the outside wall of the mast.  So...he had to drill a hole in the mast to try and drive/hammer the pin back in.  It's taking days and lots of emails to Zimmerman Yacht Yard, the last yard that took the mast down in August, '15.  For some reason it hasn't kept the mainsail from working.
  The fun fix was a minor one on top of the mast.  I was hoisted/winched up 54' on the Bosen's chair and took a few pix as did Drew.

 Ready to go up - no fear of heights.

Me at the top.

looking down.

All of Shawnee from the top.

View from the top

The wire I fixed.  It was sticking up.   I took a phone picture and texted it down for Drew to see the problem up close and followed his texted directions.  I clipped the plastic cable tie, pushed the orange wire under the light bracket so it was better protected, and then secured it with another cable tie.  Took 7 minutes.  I enjoyed the view and hanging around.

Light on top of mast with orange wire sticking up.  Before fix:
:

After fix:

Anemometer up close at the top.




















Instead of the sunset we saw this amazing bird on the piling right next to our boat.  I need to look it up to find out what it is;  I think a Night Heron.  Long feather off the top of the head.  So regal. 

Presently reading: A Little Life: A Novel by Hanya Yanagihara,  long book, highly recommend, about 4 males growing up - a lawyer, actor, architect and artist - all always there for each other and how life surprisingly unfolds.
Life with Drew on the boat is conducive to the writer's life.  Love all the reading I can do.
I'm still active as treasurer of two gardening groups and on their Boards - meeting attendance via speaker phone.  At home I attend meetings and help with their missions.
  Today Drew phoned CVS for prescriptions to be available at a local branch we could bike to and do some marketing as well.  Life carries on...