June 30, 2012 - Reedville, VA to Colonial Beach, VA to Occoquan, VA to Washington D.C.

It’s been awhile since I’ve written – let me get you up to date. 

After Debi returned from her 2 days in ATL, we departed sleepy Reedville last Sunday.  A four hour trip led to a one-night stop in a nowhere kind of place – but it did have a pool for the hot afternoon.    We left early the following morning in order to travel with the tide rising behind us (pushing us up the river)  – we were out on the Potomac by the time the sun popped over the horizon at 5:45.   Beautiful.

Before 8 a.m. we were in our next location – a surprisingly enjoyable Colonial Beach, within miles of the Potomac shore birth homes of Washington, Monroe and Robert E. Lee.  It’s an old-fashioned weekend or summer home town; modest cottages aged 50-100+, presumably for those in the D.C. area (about two hours away by car).  The marina had a first in terms of amenities – the owner loaned us his golf cart, which was just perfect to get to every point of interest in the community.   A couple of good restaurants - including one that was as good as almost anything we would find in Atlanta, one beach bar that was closing when we sat down for a drink at 9:30 p.m., and some beautiful Potomac shore homes.  One of those homes was owned by Alexander Graham Bell and is now a B&B.  We played the “we own a B&B too” card to score a tour. 

The day after arriving in Colonial Beach, Emily’s boyfriend’s (Drew’s) parents, Mike and Gina, arrived for three days.  They totally fell into the boat groove and have already asked about possibilities for a return visit.  They were also of great assistance by having a rental car, which we used to buy a new TV (old one blew up in some sort of electrical malfunction, along with the DVD player) and some boat supplies.   They also assisted with the complex installation into the wall, with cabinetry framing, etc.  Mike was also kind enough to lose both bocce ball games to me. 

After a 5 hour trip to Occoquan, we visited and dined in the quaint historic downtown, a very colonial style 6 blocks or so.  Our guests left the next morning.  They must have seen the weather forecast, because the 112 heat index afternoon was followed by a severe storm that night – you probably saw the news – 9 deaths so far.  We lost power for the rest of the night and slept outside (on the flybridge) where it was slightly cooler and where we had a great view for the incredible lightening show.

We left this morning – they still had now power.  Today was special – cruising down the Potomac into D.C.   Passing Mt. Vernon on our port, coming around a bend and seeing the Capitol building and then the Washington Monument.  Then passing Old Town Alexandria, then National Airport (right under the flight path as you might know – planes right overhead), and finally to our marina.  Although I’ve spent a lot of time (including a year of residence) in this city, I had never seen it from the water – a whole new perspective.  We are one half mile from the National Mall (pretty close to the Monument).  Tonight we are just hiding inside – it’s too darn hot for exploring the city.   

Not much in the way of pictures.  My brand new Sony camera broke before I could take a real picture.   But here are the folding bikes that travel with us on the boat.  

Hope you are all staying cool – wherever you may be.

-----A few more pics added at the end of Jim's notes below. These are from Colonial Beach
      and during the cruise up Potomac to Occuquan.-----

June 19, 2012 - Cape Charles, VA to Reedville, VA

 Finally got out of Cape Charles after the winds died down.  Reminds me of Prairie Home Companion this past weekend when Garrison asked his guest (a native of Tulsa), "What did you get out of Tulsa?"   Answer - "I got the hell out of Tulsa"  

Anyway, we had a 4 hour trip NNW across the glassy bay - easy and beautiful trip, accompanied by dolphins and the odd fishing boat.  Arrived in Reedville, a fishing village on the peninsula that forms the south border of the mouth of the Potomac.  We are here for its strategic location more than the destination.  It's pretty sleepy.  But it has an amazingly interesting fisherman's museum and a good ice cream parlor. 

More importantly, our friends Wayne (one of the birthday boys) and Ginny came by for a brief visit - had dinner with us and spent the night on their way from NC to NY.  Short, but very nice. 

Today's pictures are to be found on Smugmug - see link below.  They were all taken in a 15 minute span, all on the exterior of a small railroad maintenance building, all with my iPhone (as you can see if you are paying attention).   My real camera died and until the new one arrives, that's all I have.  The photo of the rail tracks that go to nowhere looks that way because they really go to nowhere.  The train cars used to be loaded onto barges for the  trip over to Norfolk and then back on tracks there to head south. 

http://jimemshoff.smugmug.com/Other/cape-charles-RR-bldg/23668209_mnTQws#!i=1915843704&k=CCGZhWX   Click on "slideshow" in the upper right hand corner and when the pics start click on "fast" in the upper left corner.  It will take less than a minute of your busy days. 

Keep those cards and letters coming!  Debi's heading to ATL for a couple of days and I'll be stuck alone in Reedville!

p.s. Peter - we will definitely still be here on the 22nd.  Come on by. 

June 14, 2012 - Cape Charles, VA

My last posting was Saturday and I told you of playing piano for my supper at the marina bar/restaurant.  A couple of hours after writing you, we went to a gallery opening.  The gallery was attached to an old theater that we had hoped to see while walking around town earlier in the week.  Luckily, they opened the door for people to see the theater - there was a Steinway grand in the front - and they invited me to play it (at Debi's request).  Though the first pic doesn't show it, I ended up with a small audience. 

The next night we went to the theater to see Mutiny on the Bounty - part of the Tall Ships Festival here in our marina. When we walked in, I said hi to the theater manager we had met the night before.  As we waited for the show to start, she walked in the back of the theater and yelled over everyone, "Where's that piano player?"   Which led to a pre-movie mini-concert (someone informed the crowd after the overture to the movie that "the piano player was better").   

Tuesday we were going to join the parade of Tall Ships leaving here and Norfolk and heading towards Baltimore - we were stopping at Tangier Island.  But after getting up at 5 a.m. to beat the forming storms, we decided the weather was already impassable.  Some of the tall ships even had to turn back and reported 6 foot waves.  We had made a good choice.  Unfortunately, though the storms have stopped, the winds have stayed and so have we.  Not sure when they will let up - we will probably be here a few more days.  As someone said, "If you want to see a rainbow, you have to learn to like the rain." 

In the meantime, we are enjoying Debi's delicious meals with local fresh ingredients, our new local friends (See second pic), as well as Debi's friend Julie from NC who has been with us since Monday.  

Please write us to keep us posted about YOUR worlds!  We have lots of time for email and phone calls right now!

June 9, 2012 - Cape Charles, VA

Two nights ago I played for my supper - crab cakes and beer.  I think I got the better end of the deal - but management seemed happy, too.  In my memory, there were throngs of people surrounding me - but the picture seems to tell a different story - see attached. 

We are still in historic Cape Charles - the weather and festival for the Tall Ships are all too good to leave.  So we've been absorbing the local culture and..... sittin' on the dock of the bay - wastin' time. 

Debi likes to make up projects so she can keep biking up the old-fashioned hardware store on Main St. and talk to the old guys in the rocking chairs outside. 

Music from the stage at the end of our dock drifts down to the back of our boat where we sit eating, reading, working, etc. 

Miss you all - happy Saturday!

June 4, 2012 - Cape Charles, VA

Actually setting up a blog seems more ambitious than I am - but I do think I will send occasional Boat's Notes.  Doubt I will have many more tornado adventures - these may be more like slice of life.  It will NOT be a daily account of every activity, but just a few tidbits to give you a feel for this.  If you don't want to hear it you are welcome to tell me or just discreetly delete.   

Yesterday started beautifully - an easy and beautiful trip from the west shore (Hampton - tornado land) to the east shore (Cape Charles), an old and now revitalized railroad town. 

When we arrived, I was filling our tanks with diesel.  Twice the fuel hit some sort of vapor lock (or something) and the fuel shot out of the tank and all over me - in my eyes, in my mouth, my clothes, etc.  It has a lovely aroma. 

Today was an example of the little stuff that makes this fun.  Took a bike tour and visited a B&B we had made contact with (longer story), stopped at an old-fashioned soda fountain for a sundae, then found a farmer's stand and bought fresh vegetables for tonight's sunset dinner on the back of the boat.  We also made friends with a guy renovating (and it is a MESS) a 50-year-old trawler.  Yep, those would be the highlights.  That, and the fact that two tall ships docked in our marina - part of a much larger group traveling up and down the Chesapeake this month.  We hope to see a parade of the whole armada later in the week. 

BTW - here is a picture from our flybridge a couple of minutes prior to the tornado.  It actually got a bit brighter before we spotted the funnel cloud.  And one from the next day - yes, that guy is being lowered onto the tree lying on the back of the house. 

Hope all is well with you on land. 

June 3, 2012 - Hampton, VA

A few people suggested we should set up a blog to chronicle our boat adventures for the next five months.  I thought about it but then thought - "how interesting is this, anyway?"  - wake up, exercise, do some email, maybe a little work, read, blah blah blah, have a beer, blah blah blah.   Repeat. 

Well, tonight was different!  It had been storming for awhile while we blissfully (excuse the use of your names) were fooling around on our laptops - until it got pretty dark, pretty windy, and generally felt intense outside.  So I walked outside, up to the flybridge, looked on the horizon and said, "Debi - what is that?" just looking for confirmation.  Because it sure LOOKED liked a tornado and it was heading this way.  Within two seconds of her looking at it, the bottom of the funnel lit up with electric flashes like they do when power lines are blowing up.  OK - I'll take that as confirmation.  

What to do?  Make a 3 minute run to the bar through the storm - and get soaked trying to beat it there.  Or hunker down in the bottom of the boat?  That seemed wiser until I remembered the video of the Dallas tornado throwing those semi trucks up into the air.  I thought if they can take semis, they can probably take us.  I've got to tell you, that's a weird thought to have - thinking about the boat you are sitting on, your only realistic shelter, flying through the air like a marine version of Wizard of Oz.

While contemplating this, the funnel disappeared.  I noticed the wind had changed 180 degrees.  And two minutes later, it changed back 180 degrees, so clearly  both sides of the storm passed over us.  When the rain was gone, we headed to the bar to see if we could learn more.  Of course, everyone at the bar was.....drinking..... and not paying the least attention to what was going on outside.  But the Weather Channel was on and showed that the tornado had dissipated while it went over our heads, only to re-form on the other side of us, heading out on the Bay.   Sort of what happened at our lake house last year.  Is this bad luck or good luck?  Both, I guess.

Anyway, I wanted to get this out to you now, because for the last half hour, they've been showing our Hampton tornado on the Weather Channel.  I expect they'll still be showing it tomorrow, maybe on CNN as well, I would guess.  Apparently, there was some substantial damage downtown (Hampton).  Have not heard about injuries yet. 

 So tune in for another EMSTAR adventure!