Norfolk, VA.

     On the Elizabeth River about 2 miles from Portsmith and across the harbor from 

     Norfolk. Aircraft carrier getting retrofitted.

    

     As we entered the "security zone" we were meet by a tender from Homeland Security.

     He went back and forth, back and forth endlessly.

    Security in front of the Navy Shipyards.

    Pretty unique veterans memorial. The black metal squares were letters from G.I.'s to 

    their loved ones from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afganastan. They were set up 

    to look as if they were thrown to the wind.

    Waterfront park.

   This is the Marina we stayed at right on the Norfolk harbor waterfront.  This landing

    Was cold and I wanted my gloves etc.  looks like the 50s for the next week.  How fast do 

     we want to get to Fair Haven?

    

   NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Headquarters. I felt like stopping

   to tell them their weather forecasts have been all wrong the last week.

     Cruising along approaching the Chesapeake and passing the Navy yard at Hampton.

     All of a sudden we see 2 Navy tenders, lights flashing, aimed right at us and pushing us 

     towards shore.

     We're wondering what we have done wrong. We see two poles sticking up and coming

     rising out of the water at maybe 100 yards and closing on us quickly.  We keep 

     moving away.  Up pops a submarine.  What a thrill and one of the highlights of our 

     journey.  Notice the tug off to the side which immediately guided the sub in. When we

     told some of the locals at the Marina they said people live here all their lives and have 

     never seen a sub.

    Chinese container ship. These ships are huge and stream in one after another into the

    harbor and create incredible turbulence when you pass.

   

Pantego N.C.

    Belhaven NC. Very nicely maintained marina, in the center of a small town with only room

    For 4 transient boats.

     Great area to put out the lawn chairs and relax 

     after a 6 hour boat ride.

    How's this for a ladies bathroom?

    Navy F-18's screaming overhead. The noise was 

    deafening as they screamed right over head on a

    landing path.

    Who says there aren't alligators in northern North Carolina.

    Coinjack Marina, Coinjack N.C.

    Slight appetizer before the world famous prime rib.

Oriental, NC

 

  

     Bella is moving up in the ranks, she now watches guard!

     This house is out in the middle of no where!

     Camp Lejeune, NC

    As you travel north on the Intracoastal you pass Camp 

    Jeune home of the US Marine Corps. As the sign says do 

    not proceed when the lights are flashing as they are literally training 

    and firing live rounds over the waterway. Quite intimidating!

    Coming back from dinner we saw ahead all this commotion in the water.  Fins flapping 

     In the water.   As we approached we saw hundreds of stingrays.  By the 

     time we had our camera out they calmed down and stopped breaking the water surface.

    

    Quite impressive! The entrance to River Dunes Marina, Oriental, North Carolina.

     This is a planned village with everything you could want. 

    Pretty much 1/2 to 1 million dollar homes.  Living style we could get used to.

    Cabanas, pool, hot tub, restaurant, steam showers, tennis, store and cafe.

   There  is also a little chapel  and on Saturday there was a wedding planned.

     It was cold and rainy.

     At 4:45 the sun came out and it was 70  degrees.  Talk about a 

     blessed couple.

    Took Bella to a dog groomer and stopped at the Express Walmart?  They also had a

     Express West Marine.  We could use these in Fair Haven?

    We had to take Bella to get her hair shampooed and cut.  The dog groomer is an animal 

     Lover.   How unusual, this peacock was the product of the normal beautiful and 

     Colorful Peacock Parents we are familiar with.  She is not an albino as she has blue

     Eyes.  The lady groomer owns ducks, geese, peacocks, chickens, dogs, and serves as

     A Rescue facility to 25 or more Mcaws birds.

     I can't explain to you how loud her office was as they screech for attention.         

     

Georgetown,SC

    Headed from Myrtle Beach to Little River S.C. And crossing into North Carolina.

    Literally in the middle of nowhere.

    Sharman took numerous pictures of the birds following the boat as it churned up 

     shrimp. It was right out of Alfred Hitchcock. They literally followed us for miles.

    We stopped in Georgetown S.C which was a real gem. At one time it was one of the

     largest rice producers in the U.S. , and before the Cival War was one of the wealthiest

     cities in the south. It has had an International Paper mill in continous operation for over 

     100 years.

    The homes here were your typical 200+ year old plantations. Historians in Georgetown 

    aren't quite sure about actual ages of homes. During the Cival War the founding fathers

    feared that General Sherman would come to Georgetown and destroy the town so they 

    shipped all real estate records upstate. A fire destroyed all the records before the war 

    ended. 

    Second oldest African American church in the south and oldest in North Carolina. It is 

    also the church that Michele Obamas grandparents were married in and attended in the 

    early 1900's. The organ stopped working in the 70's and was never repaired even 

    though this congregation is quite wealthy.

    Town clock in Georgetown, one of the nicest 

    cities on the east coast.

   

     Entrepreneurs took advantage of every bit of space and turned

     The space between buildings into an extension of the restaurant.

     din-din!

    A 1% ,er.

    Little River S.C. Lighthouse

    Oops!

Downtown Charleston

     Getting ready to take a horse and carriage tour of Charleston.

    

    Every tour carriage must stop at this shed where 

    city employees head count the number of people 

    on board so that the city gets their "cut".

    These baskets are available at the city market. The larger ones sell for $450. We took 

     20 to bring home to our friends.

    This is Front Street where all the restaurants are. Literally 2 

     blocks from our marina which was in the center of town.

    Cobblestone streets. I can't tell you what a beautiful city 

     this is.

    Street after street of 200+ year old homes.

    Notice the grey door, built for carriage entrance.

    What can I say!

    No building in Charleston can be taller than the 

     highest church steeple.

    

      The Noisy Crab, all open air restaurant.