MY INTRODUCTION to the s

It was a day to remember! We stayed the night at Top Rack Marina yesterday. After filling with fuel we decided it was too late to continue on to Norfolk. I made reservations to stay at Bay Point Marina there as they had the best prices for my situation. 2 weeks for $850, 4 weeks for $850.... strange, it's no typo. Right across the channel (100 yds) from the SEAL's trading base. Today we watched them in rubber boats running upon the front doors of Landing. Rafts. 

Coming up here this morning those 30 miles it was rainy, very cool, and windy until we reached the channel, which enters the lower part of the Chesapeake. The seas turned ugly and waves were hitting us head on with 5/6' waves, many coming over the bow as the anchor plowed into the next one. 

Not being used to this, I must say.... it was exciting but PHANTOM was doing her best to plow through each one. Sometimes running at 10 mph and other times at a crawl. The Coast Guard stopped a fishing boat running too fast and close to the Naval yards with 5 aircraft carriers. They boarded and were looking throughout the boat for a good 1/2 hour. Then a tug pushed an aircraft carrier out into the Cheaspeake besides me. She fell in behind me for 5 miles with the waves coming over my bow I had to slow almost to a stop and she passed me. At that time my first container ship passed by and I almost missed seeing the waves which came from her wake. They were a good 6/8' tall and combined with all the others, it made for an wild ride through it all. As we came closer to a bridge the water began to calm down and we made the marina and docked PHANTOM and sat down for a well deserved rest.

Norfolk is of course home to a large Naval contingent. Where we are docked is right across from the Navy Seals training base. This afternoon they were practicing in little rubber boats running upon the front gate of an LST. This is a craft you see in old war movies running up to the beach and discharging combat troops. 

I'll be cleaning and servicing PHANTOM and unloading some things I probably will not need any further. I'm going to rent a car and go to New Bern for the Loopers Rendezvous next week and hopefully drive to TN for a few days after that.