Mile O.....the beginning and the end

Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA - Tidewater Yacht Marina, 5/4-6/19
​Deltaville, VA - Regatta Pointe Marina, 5/7/19

The End.....of the Atlantic ICW
The cruise up from Coinjock MM49 to Norfolk/Portmouth, MM 0, was quite the trip!  We had 12 bridges - seven had to be opened and one lock that was timed with the opening of the bridge right before it.  For the most part we've been cruising right along on the ICW without interuption or delays so we weren't expecting so many bridge openings and a lock on our last day on the Atlantic ICW.  Crazy! 

This bridge is The Great Bridge Bridge. No I didn't stutter :) Seriously. Tom and I giggled when we called the bridge tender. This bridge was the one that coincided with the lock.

This was our first lock since the Tenn-Tom River. It was tiny compared to the locks we are used to. In this lock we had to have our own lines on the bow and stern and the lock attendant grabbed them from us and wrapped it around a huge cement bollard and then handed it back. That was a new one!

 We arrived in Norfolk, VA on Saturday.....along with just about every other Looper!  There is a big Looper Rendezvous in Norfolk this week and a portion of the Loopers that are enroute on the East coast participate.  The Rendezvous is a mix of both current and future Loopers.  There are seminars that focus on everything from buying a boat, to the reluctant spouse, routes and everything inbetween.  Since we've been to a Rendezvous already, we decided to pass on this one and so did many in our marina, but it was great to see so many Looper flags flying when you walked down the docks.
Sunday we met up with the Halvorsons.  Jim and Jo have lived in Virginia Beach for forty years but are originally from Hooterville.  It was great catching up with them.  They took us across the Bay Bridge and tunnel to Cape Charles, a town on the East Coast of the Chesapeake.  We had a little lunch and a bump and then headed back to their home.  They are in the process of renovating a new home, so we got to see that as well.  The day was capped off with a Cinco de Mayo dinner with some of their friends.  It's alway so much fun to see friends and family from home while we are on the Loop.  The Halvorson's were so gracious and hospitable.  Thank you for spending the day showing us around your neck of the woods!

Tom and I with Jim and Jo Halvorson

The Beginning - Exploring the Chesapeake Bay
​Monday we were suppose to take off for Yorktown but Wallace the Weather Bear got up early and evaluated the wind, wave, tides and weather and canceled our travel day.  We were able to stay another day at the marina in Portsmouth, which is always a good thing when they let you stay because of bad weather ;), had a planning pow-wow for our upcoming time on the Chesapeake Bay, made reservations and got some groceries.  Sometimes delays aren't a bad thing.
Tuesday was much more hospitable weather-wise and we had a great run up to Deltaville and Regatta Point Marina.  It was a great little place and we really enjoyed the laid back vibe.  Below are pics from Norfolk/Portsmouth and also from Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville.

View of downtown Norfolk from the Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth, VA

Pretty maids all in a row....

Sites around Norfolk....

A working boat. Don't mind the wake.....

The cruise ship port was right across from our marina.

Morning shot leaving Norfolk

Hampton, Virginia from the water

Grill'in and Chill'in

Happy hour pool

We went from downtown in Norfolk/Portsmouth to rustic in Deltaville.  We loved the front porch rocking chairs overlooking the marina......

We enjoyed our first stop on the Chesapeake Bay in Deltaville .  For years we wondered what it would be like on the Chesapeake.  Father Engels told us that Lake Pepin reminded him of a tiny Chesapeake Bay.  He was right.  They say you can spend season after season on the Chesapeake exploring all it has to offer.  Both the East and west coasts have tons of marinas and anchorages and towns and villages that are all about boating and the bay.  Deltaville was that kind of place.  We look forward to the rest of our stops on the Chesapeake.
​More later~