Sailing Encore

These last few weeks have been so much fun. Filled with family and adventure and a bit of the usual boat works. Once we arrived in Norkfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia we lined up the fiberglass boat repairs to the soft spots on the deck and the bow damage from hitting the dock as we departed Charleston.

Once that was settled, we took long hot walks around Portsmouth and cleaned the boat to ready it for family to visit and stay with us.

It was in the high 90s outside but we had AC below when hooked up to the electric at the dock. Some Canadian Honker Geese camped out beside our boat. One of them could not fly and when the other 4 left because the rain water dried up we hosed down the lone goose.

We visited the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk and saw some wonderful art donated by Walter Chrysler Jr., son of car company founder.

Chrysler donated over 10,000 works of art to create this museum and you can view it for free!

My son, Steve and wife, Sarah drove down from New York with my darling granddaughters, Minerva (2 years) and Irene (9 months) and stayed at Sarah’s Aunt’s home in Norfolk.

WARNING:

The majority of pictures that follow will contain cuteness (my granddaughters) along with nature, history and art.

We visited the Virginia Aquarium:

The kids play area at the mall:

And local zoo:

And we got to help with baths and bedtime books and just hanging out.

Steve and Vernon took off on Encore for two long days of motoring up the Potomac to get the boat to Washington DC.

They immediately started experiencing the usual boat shenanigans. See these texts from Steve. The photo shows a piece of my white cutting board jerry-rigged to the auto pilot rudder sensor.

Meanwhile Sarah and I drove in air conditioned comfort to meet them. They put the boat in Capital Yacht Marina, walking distance to the National Mall, Museums and Monuments. Great Marina with nice people.

Steve, Sarah and girls stayed in Annapolis at Sarah’s Uncle Chuck’s home. And my daughter Kaylyn and husband, Drew, flew in to DC and stayed with us on the boat at the marina.

Each day we headed out to meet up at the museums and parks. We enjoyed the Smithsonian National History Museum, American History Museum and National Art Galleries. Everywhere we went I was amazed at the wealth of artifacts and art on display for free! You could spend weeks here and barely begin to see it all.

Natural History Museum- animals, artifacts and a butterfly exhibit:

National Art Museum: Hopper, Degas, Manet, Homer, Rodin, Monet, Van Gogh, Cassatt, Renoir, and many more.

We went to the National Archives with Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights! We walked to the White House but caught in a downpour and ubered back to boat.

We spent the day in Annapolis, enjoying the quaint town and visiting the capitol building where George Washington turned in his resignation as Commander in Chief. At the close of the Revolutionary War many countries thought Washington might choose to be King of America. But he turned the power back to the people for democracy.

We had a relaxing evening in Annapolis barbequing steaks on Sarah’s uncle’s grill and enjoying their beautiful garden.

We drove to Gettysburg to tour the battle sites.

We saw the Arlington National Cemetery with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

And hung out at a park in Arlington- playing in the water fountain and having lunch before Steve and family started out on their drive home.

The last day was a bit cooler with a breeze, so we walked the tidal basin taking in the Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Korean War, Vietnam War and WWII Memorials. Then it was off to the airport for Kaylyn and Drew.

Once our loved ones had departed we did too. Taking off yesterday from DC and motoring down the Potomac. Almost every buoy (and there were over 90 of them) had an Osprey nest on it. The river is lined with big beautiful homes on both Maryland and Virginia banks. We passed Washington’s home on Mount Vernon. And barely made it under the Woodrow Wilson bridge. We need about 74-75 feet to clear our mast and the bridge is 76 feet off the water.

We are currently anchored in a pretty little cove off of St. Mary’s College in Maryland. We have not swung at anchor since Mexico! It feels so nice! From here we will head up to Annapolis and Baltimore and who knows how far north. We feel rejuvenated after our awesome family time and hopeful that the repairs to the boat are behind us. Here’s to smooth travels.

Much love,

T