The Chesapeake!!!!

Eighteen hundred plus miles and Charis nosed into the Chesapeake bay via the Elizabeth River on Saturday morning June 30. With the 4th of July holiday week at hand and water weary crew we found a snug berth at the Norfolk Naval Station and tied up for the week to rest and clean up the much neglected boat.
On Sunday we went to church at the base Chapel where we were astounded as the Southern Baptist Chaplin preached a Hell fire and Salvation sermon reminiscent of an old time camp meeting. Wonders will never cease. Tuesday was boat work day and Wednesday we spent with new boat friends Jason and Laura aboard their sailboat at a downtown marina very close to the great fireworks display put on by the city. Thursday was off with Laura and Jason via rental car to scout marinas in the Patuxent river area. After several disappointing queries we stumbled on a small marina at a very fair price ideally suited to our needs as a home base for our summer cruising. Almost too good to be true. It is owned and operated by the Comfort Inn chain and in their back yard and most convenient to all stores and services.
Friday saw the boat work finished and Saturday ended with a outing to Fort Story to see a play on the beach, depicting the first days of the Jamestown colony replete with the "naturals" (Indians), John Smith and other rowdy English. Sunday was church at the Ocean View Baptist Church near the Naval Base. Really nice folks, Chuck and Daryl Ferris, took us to lunch and to return the rental car.
Tomorrow Monday 9 July, we are off to anchor in Chrisman Creek 30 miles north and then on to Deltaville to explore boatyards for winter layup. We hope to be at our new home in the Solomons by Thursday.
It is great to be able to slow down and smell the seaweed. No real cruising plans yet but will be about that shortly.

More pictures posted to be posted to picasaweb.google.com/lropka