Friday - 11-11-11

 A big THANK YOU to all our veterans today – past, present and future for giving us freedom and keeping us safe! God bless you all…..and on this patriotic day of 11-11-11, Catrina and crew traveled 111 miles from Arbuckle Landing to Dowry Creek Marina near Belhaven, NC. It was sure nippy this morning (42) but bright and sunny and with the generator we were warm and toasty. We went thru our 2nd and final lock leaving the Dismal Swamp Canal at South Mills, NC. We so enjoyed all the beauty of this man-made canal and the entire 22 mile trip was straight on except for one very slight left bend. The speed thru the canal is only 5 mph. While the colors were so picture perfect yesterday with leaves falling on Catrina, today was very little color and most of the leaves had already fallen.

Just as we were coming into Elizabeth City and out of the canal, the Coast Guard came along and stopped us. Two of the men came onboard asking to see our life preservers, fire extinguishers, paper work and checked our bilge. They were on their way and we were soon on the Pasquotank River as we meandered around many twists and turns. That brought us to Albemarle Sound – the winds picked up and while they were behind us, the last hour of the 2-hour trip was pretty rough as we turned and had beam seas! Alligator River is very wide and was somewhat choppy but nothing like the Sound. Finally we were in the Alligator Pungo River Canal and that brought us to Dowry Creek. We had blinding sunlight for part of this afternoon making it really difficult to pick out buoys and markers! All in all….a good day on the water!

Tomorrow we’re off to Swansboro and planning to meet friends, Mark and Barbara for dinner.

Thursday - November 10

We have the first day of fall cruising under our belts traveling 45 miles - what a day!!!    Mark returned the rental car, we unpacked all our stuff and left Cobb's Marina at 10:00   It took us 2.5 hours to go around Norfolk, but saw so many Naval shipyards and ships.

The Dismal Swamp is the oldest operating artificial waterway in the US, completed in 1805 (12 years after it was started).   It's also rich in  history and folklore and after going thru Deep Creek Lock, we were officially in the Dismal Swamp and  for 22 miles we meandered down the canal to thee most spectacular fall scenery...non-stop brilliant orange, red, gold and bronze-leafed trees.    Fall in its prime with us here in Virginia's Dismal Swamp (dismal it was NOT)!!!   

November colors thru the Dismal Swamp

Mirror reflection

Tonight we are at Arbuckle Landing (Chesapeake, VA) - one dock (but a very nice dock) about 8 miles from the end of this beautiful journey.   It's just us and nature in all her glory!

Happy to be back cruisin'....

Wednesday - November 9

We are on Catrina!!!!!     Long day of travel leaving home at 9:30 and arriving on the boat at 8:30 in Norfolk!    Stopped for a $143 Wal-Mart run and now settling in!     Tomorrow, we are back cruising!

Night night!

Monday - November 7

Happy, Happy Birthday to Mark....

64 years "young"!

Mark started his day with a trip to the dentist and then breakfast with the neighbors/friends (I brought treats from the Grove Street Bakery).    I got a haircut and ran some errands.   

It wasn't a nice day weather-wise - very dreary and off and on rain, but balmy!     Anne, Patrick and boys came for birthday dinner (bar-b-que ribs) and the boys helped Grandpa open his presents followed by birthday cake and ice cream!    A fun time for all...

Ready to blow out the candles

Liam, Anne and Patrick

Wednesday we leave for Norfolk and Catrina.....I'll be back with daily blog updates!

Halloween - November 5

 What a spectacular fall we've had – gorgeous colors and pleasant temperatures. Halloween could not have been more ideal for all the little people out and about and they came in great numbers this year!

Our favorite trick or treaters..

Crypt Master (Liam) and Ninja (Connor)

I left Tuesday morning for Mendota to visit Dad and my cousin, Jim and then brought Aunt Marian back for her 2nd cataract surgery. She did great and spent the night and we celebrated her birthday which was the 4th.  Mark went to 8:15 Mass for All Saints Day and I went at 12:05. Liam and Connor were with us while their folks went out for dinner and then to church.

Liam and Connor with their Great Great Aunt Marian

Aunt Marian had follow-up visit with doctor at 10:30 on Thursday and then Mark took her back to Mendota, stopped in to see Dad and Jim and then to Dixon to see his parents and also visit with 2 of his sisters, Joan and Sue.

I started in with the decorating Wednesday afternoon (we'll be gone for 3 weeks and don't want all that to do when we return). So......made good waves Thursday and Friday and certainly looks Christmasy at our house. Bought a new 9' pre-lit slimline tree last year 2 days after Christmas, but 3 branches around the bottom would not light up! Arghhhhh....ALWAYS an issue at our house EVERY year with lights not working. They were just fine when put away, but apparently something happens to them over the spring/summer/fall and makes both of us crazy (especially me – Mark just says “throw 'em away”!!!!) Store where we bought the tree replaced the bottom section and we are good to go – they were baffled, too, as to why it wasn't all lit as their electronic volt meter did not show the problem??? Just a dud that is going back to the manufacturer.

Liam and Connor spent Friday night with us – they helped put some ornaments on and chose some to take home for their tree. This morning, we took the boys home and enjoyed breakfast with Anne and Patrick – pancakes, bacon and baked apples! Mark and I then headed for Farm and Fleet and Wal-Mart. Finished trimming the big tree in living room and about 95% done with the decorating (not turning on the lights). Still have some shopping to do, but rest is wrapped!   I'm on a roll...........

Grilled burgers out and enjoying a nice quiet evening at home sweet home!