Friday, March 30th to Tuesday, April 17th, 2018
What a trip! The weather stays unusually cold most of the way as we continue north. From Oriental, NC we head to Belhaven, NC and stay at a nice marina called River Forest and explore the town. It is one of the few stops along the way where we have seen a town improve since we last visited it 6 years ago bringing Silver Maple down the coast.
Silver Maple (right) on the dock at River Dunes in Oriental, NC
Osprey keeps an eye on us as we depart from Oriental, NC
Bouncy ride on the way to Belhaven, NC
Randy at the River Forest Marina in Belhaven, NC with Silver Maple on the dock behind
This is the River Forest Marina and event center in Belhaven, NC. Clearly, not your typical marina!
Silver Maple looking lonely in Belhaven, NC
The next morning we head towards the Pungo-Alligator Canal and Alligator River. When we get to the Alligator River Marina, we meet a nice couple, Sophie and Stephane from France on their trawler named Troll. We have cocktails together and then meet them for dinner again at our next stop in Coinjock, NC.
- Beautiful calm morning on the Pungo River leaving Behaven, NC
Coyote crosses the canal in front of us swimming as fast as he can to get out of our way
Danger? What danger? Hmmm…
Captain enjoying some down-time on the deck through the Pungo-Alligator Canal
Water is red/brown as if there is blood in it
Coast guard does a fly-by
When we exit the canal and enter the Alligator River, the wind picks up and so the sails go up too. Yeah!
The Alligator River Marina is very modest — basically it is a gas station with some docks
Silver Maple at the Alligator River Marina at sunset
Silver Maple with Troll (Sophie and Stephane from France) at the Alligator River Marina
- Sophie and Stephane passing us the next day in the Albemarle Sound
Dinner at the Coinjock Marina restaurant with Sophie and Stephane (Troll) from France
From Coinjock, it is on to Portsmouth/Norfolk, VA marking the end of the Inter-Coastal Waterway (ICW) and the Carolinas. It is a beautiful calm day with Ospreys nesting on almost every channel marker. But, it is a hectic managing the timing of multiple bridge openings and a lock, so we are pushing Silver Maple’s engine hard.
We spend a day in Norfolk exploring and waiting out bad weather, then carry on to our next stop at Deltaville, VA. In Deltaville, the weather turns bad again so we stay put for a few more days before heading to Solomons, MD. The Chesapeake Bay is cold, windy and wavy both days we are on it. Heading to Annapolis from Solomons, our last day on the water is probably our roughest day yet.
Building!
Beautiful calm day on the canal with only being the ones we make
Nesting pair
Flying away as we approach
Watching us from the tree as we go by
The water is like glass — gorgeous!
Amazingly calm
Like a big mirror
Waiting for the bridge to open so we can make a dash to catch the opening of the next bridge
You can take the boy out of the country, but…
Coming into Norfolk the scenery changes quickly to a busy port of military and ship building
Working on an Aircraft Carrier
…and Destroyers
Making us look small
In Portsmouth, VA the town across the river from Norfolk
Walking along with river in Portsmouth looking across to an Aircraft Carrier in Norfolk
The city of Norfolk, VA from across the river
Silver Maple on the dock in Portsmouth, VA at the Tidewater Marina
This little guy spends a lot of time looking up at us over the rails of Silver Maple on the dock. Apparently, he has learned that people on boats feed him, so of course we do!
Ferry to cross the river from Portsmouth to Norfolk
Lee and Randy on the ferry
Approaching the Nauticus and Naval Museum with the Battleship Wisconsin
Big ship
Would be interesting to have an office with that pointed at you
Tomahawk missile launcher on board
From the ground it looks even bigger
Silver Maple at sunset in Portsmouth, VA
Leaving Norfolk and heading out towards the Chesapeake Bay
Up close and personal with the Coast Guard as we leave Norfolk
Cold morning as we pass the Aircraft Carriers docked in Norfolk as we leave
We get passed by this strange looking military vehicle. Amphibious?
Lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay
Bouncy ride from Norfolk, VA to Deltaville, VA
Busy shipping channel on the Chesapeake. We have to change course to get out of this guy’s way…
Captain takes a little nap at the helm
Lots of military aircraft fly overhead as we approach Solomons, MD
Silver Maple on the dock at Zahniser Marina in Solomons, MD
Last day on the Chesapeake is our roughest yet (click photo below to view video)
When we get to Annapolis, MD, we take 4 days to pack up all of our belongings and move off of Silver Maple. Our friends, Ruth and Bruce drive down with their trailer from Canada. We load it up and say goodbye to Silver Maple. The drive home is a bit treacherous with snow and freezing rain.
Packing up!
Randy packing up the storage locker
Silver Maple on the dock at Bert Jabin’s Boatyard and Marina in Annapolis
Bert Jabin’s is busy putting boats into the water for spring launch
The harbour has sailboats as far as the eye can see…
Ruth and Bruce to the rescue! They drive their truck and trailer down from Canada to get us.
Out for dinner in Annapolis with Ruth and Bruce. Happy 34th Anniversary guys!
Last look at Silver Maple (far side of dock on left) in Annapolis
Rain and sleet on Hwy 401 after we cross the border back into Canada
It is snow on Hwy 507 as we get close to home
Winter wonderland at home when we arrive. Perhaps we are home too early…
Randy gets the tracter out to clear the snow
Trailer with all of Silver Maple’s contents waiting to be unloaded and unpacked
Now back at home, winter is still in full swing. Lots of unpacking to do to keep us busy until spring arrives. Which, hopefully, will be sooner rather than later…
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