November 15th, 2019
NORFOLK
We are settled into Norfolk thanks to Gary and Greta of the Ocean Cruising Club who welcome club members to their marina. They are so kind on many levels including taking in our washing.
This morning I had a paddle about the harbour and as you can see I managed gave the USS Wisconsin a friendly pat on the nose. It was pretty cold but I was warm as toast in my Finisterre thermals, hat and jacket.
After my shower, we visited the Chrysler Art Gallery and were blown away by a glass blowing demo. It was mesmerizing and I have decided that on conclusion of this trip I shall go on a course.
The weather is closing in for the weekend with rain and winds of over 40knts so I have put extra lines out. Yesterday, thanks to a sunny disposition, I popped up the mast to reverse the VHF aerial in preparation for the bridges on the Inter Coastal Waterway.
Looking at the forecast it looks like we shall be off on Monday for our final dash in our quest for the sun and rum. Thanks to the cold we are pretty motivated and have prepared ourselves mentally for a proper push.
November 13th, 2019
COLD DAY
Once the snow had blown through the skies cleared to plummeting temperatures and create a freezing cold morning. Our destination was Gary and Gretas marina in Norfolk so we topped up with hot tea and toast before wrapping up for what turned out to be a nice trip. That said hoisting the main was a bit of a shock for rain had pooled in the sail, frozen and then proceeded to drop on us from a fair old height.
November 12th, 2019
SNOW
I know I have said this before but I just cant get over how volatile the weather is about here. Yesterday we had a picnic in the sun in t-shirts and today its bitter with snow.
November 12th, 2019
SQUIRREL
Squirrel are scampering about topping up their stash - winter is a coming.
November 12th, 2019
ROTISSERIE
I was taken by this ingenious rotisserie that is powered by weights
November 12th, 2019
Capitol Building
We loved the Capitol building which is where the colony thrashed out any issues with the Crown. The building on the right housed 120 Burgesses (think county leaders) representing the people. Here they proposed and thrashed out new legislation which was then walked across to the left hand building where twelve Royal Council gave the Crowns approval or requested changes. If a complete impasse was reached the big conference room spanning the two building on the upper floor was put to use. In were locked five Burgesess and three Royal Council and they were not allowed out until an agreement was reached. The record was two full weeks with food and potty changes done under guard. One wonders if this magnificently simple approach might not have put to use in resolving Brexit. It would have probably taken two weeks to choose the sandwiches but in the end would have to been quicker.....wouldnt it?
November 12th, 2019
CARPENTRY
One of the things that I miss terribly at sea is not being able to pop into the workshop and make something. As such it was a joy to visit a working joinery shop and smell the wood shavings. This carpenter is coming to the end of a four year apprenticeship and will either stay working full time maintaining the museum from making period furniture to building repair or move on to itinerant restoration work. He says there is plenty of opportunities out there. I'm quite envious.
November 12th, 2019
CANON
Veterans Day brings the cannon out.
