Boat with dock underwater, The antique at a mall named after him

Away we go....

Finally the rains stopped, the water receded and Noah, his wife Pam and the Ark (Cloud Nine) set sail for the southland.We didn't get two of each animals on board, but Devlyn, the wonder dog is fine and well and becoming a great boat dog. He learned to poop on the bow of the boat right where we told him to poop (now if I could only train Tom)

Day 1 (November 16th, Monday)

We left Sarah's Creek on the York River at 0845..the sun was out and it was warm! Our rusty boating skills came back as we fired up the GPS, dusted off the charts and learned to navigate once again. Our route took us through Norfolk Va to the entrance of The Dismal Swamp Canal.Norfolk is always hairy because of the heavy commercial and Naval boat traffic.The US fleet is here and there are gigantic war ships and aircraft carriers plying the water. It is awe inspiring to get right up next to these ships. As we were headed south on the Elizabeth river, just outside Norfolk, two helicopters swooped down and hovered over a small cruise ship.The next thing we knew, the helicopters lowered a bunch of navy men onto the ship. Meanwhile, 4 coast guard inflatables with armed men in the bow surronded the boat. Since we were now alongside the cruise ship they motioned us (with their guns) to stay away.Yikes!!!!Tom got on the radio and asked if we should move somewhere...the coast guard replied that they were doing an "exercise" and not to be alarmed. I felt like I was in the middle of a movie.

Last night we made the last lock through onto the Dismal swamp. It was 4:00 pm and the lockmaster, Robert, remembered us from 2 years ago. He held the lock for us and thank God he did...there was no place to anchor and it was dark by the time we made fast to the dock outside the lock.There were 4 sailboats tied up and Robert invited us all for breakfast this morning.How cozy to be inside the lock tenders house having coffee and pigs in a blanket with our fellow boaters. All 4 of the sailboats were headed to the Bahamas and points south. All 4 were full time live aboards. One couple had lived in Europe on board their sailboat for 8 years!

We're now at the south end of the canal and headed for night 2 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

More later

The Almost Perfect Storm

Well after a nearly two year absence Tom and I are back on board "Cloud Nine" to deliver her to Miami Florida where she will offer her wonderful accomodations to other boaters in a charter service run by our good friend, Jim Brinckerhoff.

We arrived here in Gouchester point Virginia on Tuesday night along with our new dog, Devlyn. The weather was warm and overcast and we stowed our belongings and assumed our favorite position on the aft deck to enjoy the serenity of Sarah's Creek.

A slight drizzle fell softly so we went below to make dinner and enjoy our first night on board. That slight drizzle persisted and got bigger and the winds increased and the boat, even though it was tied to the dock was really rockin' and rollin'.

All day Wednesday the rains slammed down on us and soon the docks were covered with a couple inches of water. Still, we stayed on board hoping the storm would pass. By Thursday afternoon the weather channel was predicting record high tides in the area and wind gusts were over 50 mph. Our dock had about 12 inches of water over the top and this was 2 hours before high tide. We were worried that if the tide became too high electric boxes could be impacted, and the boat could slip its mooring. Tom put two more lines on the boat, forward and aft and we prepared to abandon ship. We got into our foul weather gear, rolled up our pants, put on boat shoes and got off the boat. I went first. The only way to get off the boat was by the stern ladder onto the stern platform. I then had to pull on the lines to get the boat close to the dock. The wind was blowing about 30 mph and the rain was coming down in sheets. I finally got the boat close to the dock and had to step down into the water until my foot finally found the wood. I sloshed over to the middle of the boat where Tom handed me the dog. He put a life perserver on Devlen and then used a boat hook through the preserver to lower him to the dock. Devlyn was a trooper and followed me slowly. It was scarey walking through the water with the winds howling so hard I could barely stand up.
I put the dog in the car (that was also surronded by water) and sloshed back to the boat where Tom handed me the computer. Tom then checked the boat for the hundredth time and got in the car.

We found a nice, warm dry motel that takes dogs. It's completely full, and if we hadn't left the boat when we did we probably would not have found a hotel room. Bridges here are closed, ferry service has stopped, and there is massive damage to the dunes that protect the shore on the ocean.While this storm is not categorized as a hurricaine, the locals here say its impact has been almost as great as Ida, the last storm through these parts. So, bad weather is a part of boating. After a two year absence and our confidence level about boating already a little rusty, this experience was trial by fire. BUT, what's that old saying? Oh, I know, "that which will not kill me will only make me stronger" Right On!
We'll keep you posted. Oh today's date, Friday November 13, 2009

Back In the Saddle again!

Hi intrepid travellers...
Tom, Kodi, and I are back in Barrington wondering aloud to each other every few minutes "Wow, this house seems big (it isn't), and what do we need all this stuff and all this space for anyway? Interesting how living aboard a boat for a year changes your perspective!!!!
I took a 10 day trip to California to see my kids, then came back and immediately did a two day real estate seminar which was terrific...now if only I can figure out how to unlock my desk at work, re-start the computer, and find where I put my real estate signs we'll be in business.
We're doing a Frech family outing every couple of months with Carrie and Bob Frech...we have a series at Steppenwolf theatre. We plan on taking advantage of Chicago's many wonderful offerings. We're also both taking a travel writing class so that should be fun.
For any of you in Chicago..we just saw a great play at the Appollo Theatre called "The Sparrow" I highly recommend it. I'll update you with any interesting tidbits as they occur...

Happy Anniversary

Well, tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept 18th marks the one year anniversary of our departure from Chicago! What a year Tom and I have had. Thank you to all of you who have been riding along with us! Your interest and comments have encouraged me to keep "blogging". We've learned so much this year, and feel very fortunate to have had this experience. To any of you out there who are on the fence about making a move, or doing something special in your lives...just do it.
The rewards are so rich!

We will be leaving the boat in Deltaville, Virginia until next April when we resume the trip. Until then, we will return to our home in Chicago where I'll pick up my keys, lock box and contracts and resume being a realtor. Until then I won't be writing this blog regularly, but will make some entries from time to time.

If you have any questions about the trip so far, please e-mail me at pamfrech@ameritech.net
I'll leave you with a few last postings over the next few days. We're currently in Williamsburg Virginia where we've now spent three solid days touring...if you haven't been to this area and are looking for a great place to be belly to belly with living American history...come here..it's amazing...until later
cheers

Loop Pictures

pictures,pictures,pictures

Just thought I'd fill in the blanks with some pictures taken over the last month. We're currently en route to the York River, just north of Norfolk, where we'll pick up our friends Rosemary and Rob Redmond. They don't know it, but they're in for a treat because Tom and I have learned how to catch crabs (not the scratchy, crawly kind) the kind that come from the sea....we're going to make our own crab cakes tonight...we're using steak for bait....enjoy the pics!

Cruising the Cheasepeake

August has been a month of company for us...We cruised to colonial Williamsburg with Tom's daughter Carrie, and her young friend, Emily and thoroughly enjoyed the living American history Williamnsburg is known for...Did you know that George Washington was not paid during the American Revolution? After all, when you think about it there was no country, no structure to pay him...but, when the nation was formed, ole George, who kept meticulous records, was reimbursed $100,000 for his efforts...Another little known fact not in the history books.
We were joined in Solomon Island, about half way up Cheasepeake Bay, by my dear friends Jeanne Lauritsen and Karin Cumming...I was so glad to have the "girls" on board...Tom became an honorary girlfriend for the 4 days (when he could get a word in edgewise). We visited Annapolis and the magnificent Naval Academy..truly impressive and the credentials the cadets have is pretty heady. I didn't realize that one of the requirements to be a cadet was success as an athlete. Also didn't know that the Naval Academy trains officers for both the Navy and the Marines.
Next we were off to Baltimore where we were joined by Tommy Weinert and Bob Frech...Baltimore is such a surprise..a city of neighborhoods..the rest of the country could learn from Baltimore and their dollar house program...they literally renovated hundreds of blocks of the inner-city by rewarding urban pioneers who took on remodelling homes...the result is pretty stunning...
With Tommy and Bob we took a "Duck tour" of the inner harbor of Baltimore...this is a vehicle that goes on land and sea...they gave us all little "quackers" which Bob and Tommy turned into musical instruments as they "quacked" their way through the tour...also went to the American Visionary Art museum...this a museum for Non artists, many are autistic or somehow mentally challenged...we saw art made from bits of paper, from bottle caps etc...it was the most amazing museum I've EVER been to...
We were joined for a day by Tari Pasquale and Courtney Tillotson...went to an Italian Festival in Little Italy...
WOW was that neat...the whole festival was put on by a local parish...we played bocchi ball and ate our way through Italy.
Tom and I will remain in Baltimore for another week before we head south down the eastern shore of the Cheasepeake
Stay tuned

"BUGGED" Or how we survived the Dismal Swamp

When cruising to Norfolk Va from the south, the mariner has two options: Either you can go route 1, or the Virginia cut route, or you can take the Dismal Swamp canal. Tom and I, always the adventurers elected to take the swamp cut because it sounded romantic and interesting.
The Dismal swamp is a huge tract of land that lies in northern North Carolina and southern Virginia. It was an early business venture of our first President, George (wooden teeth) Washington and "lighthorse" Harry Lee (Robert E Lee's Father) to drain the swamp and harvest the timber. The venture was abandoned but Washington did supervise the cutting of the canal through the swamp...Today the whole area is a Naional Wildlife Refuge and the canal is open only to recreational boaters. The canal is 30 miles long, and at some points the canal is only 50 feet wide with tree branches overhanging the cut. There are two locks on the Dismal Swamp Canal (at the beginning and end). Before I go any further in our story, let me say that at most times of the year the Dismal Swamp canal is probably very beautiful...there's lots of wild life to be seen, and the water is almost black because of the tannins from leaves...it is peaceful and pristine. BUT, and this is a big BUT...DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS TRIP IN MID-JULY!!!!!! We were attacked by flying green bugs that bit us from ankle to hips...we swatted, sprayed and lathered on creams....we did this for about two hours in 100 degree heat when my brilliant husband looked at me and said "why are we piloting from outside when we have an inside steering wheel?....DUH! So we ran down below to our main cabin, turned on the generator and the airconditioning and finished the DISMAL swamp canal from the comfort of inside. The lock tender at the end of the swamp told us that these bugs are only present in July..meanwhile, I had an allergic reaction to the bugs and swelled up like the Goodyear Blimp!
The lesson here, of course, is that we DO have inside steering which we obviously do not use very often...But we probably won't forget we have it again...
P.S. Benedryl spray finally cured the bites