Finally, it's our turn.

We have watched an estimated 700 boats pass thru the Great Bridge Bridge in the last two weeks - all heading north.  Saturday morning was finally our turn.  Originally we had planned on leaving Friday, but severe weather was headed in our direction - we decided to sit tight, tied to the dock.  Turns out that was a wise decision.  Two tornadoes skirted us, one to the south in Elizabeth City and one just to the northeast of us hit Hampton (the direction we would have been heading).

It started out as a waterspout - then moved onto land.

It had been very sweaty here, once this system moved thru we had to dig out our cool weather stuff - very nice temps.  

 Friday while settling up our bill at the marina - Liz, the office manager informed us that their diesel prices had dropped to 3.37 a gallon.  Funny thing - we didn't need fuel, but how could you pass up $3.37 a gallon for diesel!  After an early morning wake up call - headed to fuel dock to add a couple of hundred gallons.  Turns out if you put in 200 gallons the price drops to $3.32 - WOW. Can't believe we are excited about paying $3.32 a gallon.

Then we place Izzy in her spot on the watchberth in the pilot house ( which should be her first indication we are leaving) and pull away from the dock - oh no, we are leaving the dock!  You do settle into the safe, secure marina lifestyle fast - hard sometimes to cut the lines loose.

 But, here we go - our turn to pass under the Great Bridge Bridge and transit the Great Bridge Lock.

So what have we been doing all week, you ask?

Well Monday being Memorial day, we researched the Internet for ceremony options and the possibility of a parade.  Rick found a ceremony to be held at the U.S.S Wisconsin downtown Norfolk and Deb heard on the news about a parade in Portsmouth - hailed as the "Oldest Continuous  Memorial Day Parade in the nation, celebrating its 128th year - ok, we are set.

First off, just seeing the U.S.S. Wisconsin was a treat. 

The ceremony was held at the statue of the "Lone Sailor" - a replica of the original statue at the Naval Museum in Washington, DC

The Lone Sailor looking out at the U.S.S. Wisconsin in Wisconsin Square.

The ceremony was chock full of dignitaries, politicians and Admirals.  Actually there were more of them then  people attending, kind of sad.  

Placing the memorial wreath at the Statue of the Lone Sailor.

Then it was across the bridge to Portsmouth for the parade and  

Patiently waiting for the parade.

We lasted an hour or so - temps were near 90 with 85% humidity.  

At our local Memorial Day ceremony back home, Deb's dad is in charge of raising and lowering the flag and

 this year presenting our school education fund with a check from American Legion Post 507.

Thanks to my sister Joni for the photos.

Tuesday was completion of projects.

New water spigot, new exhaust fan and grill and by the way - it is working great.  

Wednesday we rented a car so we could leapfrog our vehicle to our next leg of our trek  - Garrison, New York on the Hudson River.  Rick's sister and family live there and we will spend the night, leave our car with them, return to Norfolk and then head north on the boat to the Hudson River.  I know, it's crazy, but it's how we are making this work.

We decided to drive up the Eastern Shore which means crossing the Chesapeake using the Chesapeake Bay  Bridge Tunnel - it's a hefty $12.00 toll, but shaves off 100 miles in distance and it's a much prettier drive. 

The tunnels allow passage of large Naval ships.

One of the tunnels.

23 miles long from toll plaza to toll plaza  - the crossing consists of low level trestles interrupted by two approximately one-mile long tunnels. There are also two other high level bridges,  Designated "one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World - and no tax dollars were used, but financed by the sale of revenue bonds.

Here's the kicker - our next door neighbor Anna grew up on the Eastern Shore - on our trip back from New York  I googled the Chesapeake Tunnel Bridge, only to find out that in 1987 the Bridge was renamed the Lucius J. Kellam, Jr Bridge Tunnel after one of the civic leaders who had long worked for it's development and operation - he's her grandfather, she's never even mentioned it - you would think that would be something to bring up at cocktail hour while the rest of us our talking about our insignificant achievements.

We had a great time on the Hudson visiting with the Nice's

 Our beautiful great niece Samantha.

We could hear him, but couldn't find him - turns out he was hiding in the patio umbrella.  

So back to the Eastern Shore - on our road trip home (by the way the New Jersey Turnpike sucks) we decided to find our neighbor Anna's homestead.  It is now foresale, but we understand - the maintenance is  a killer.  The adjoining properties of Windingdale and Mount Pleasant - her family home and her grandparents home.

Windingdale

and its view.

and on a connecting driveway - you find her Grandparents home - called Mount Pleasant.  Ok Anna, you have alot of splaining to do.  

Hey, they even have their own cemetery.

Anyway, we are underway,  Saturday proved to be a bad bumpy day on the bay, we stopped early after slamming for four hours and anchored in a well protected area.  Today, Sunday we made 85 miles to Solomons, MD. We will see what tomorrow brings. This is boating - what we managed to travel in 8 hours by car will now take us at least a week, weather permitting.