Sea La Vie: Goodbye Norfolk

The Great Loop

This web site is an attempt to provide a quick and easy way for our family and freinds to keep up with us on "The Loop"

The Great Loop is a 6000 mile jouney down the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway to Mobile, Alabama. From there around the coast of Florida via Key West with a side trip to the Bahamas. Back to the coast of Florida we head up the east coast to the Chesapeake Bay. From the Chesapeake we continue up the east coast through New York Harbour, up the Hudon River, and across the Erie Canal. Through a series of canals we go across Lake Ontario into Canada. We will spend a month in Canada. Back to the US, we will cross Lake Michigan to Chicago. Following the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers back to Tennesse.

LOOP CLOSED: 8/12/09: 310 days, 6170 miles, 107 locks, 3 countries, 16 states, 85 different marinas, 10,050 gallons of diesel fuel, thousands of photos, countless new friends, and priceless memories...

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Goodbye Norfolk

Norfolk Virginia was a surprise to me.....just a lovely city on the water....the symbol of the mermaids were thru-out the city in many colors and styles. The Nauticus was an interesting Naval museum that took us several hours to absorb....what fun....a great place for your kids.

More super yachts...

Several naval ships in for repair...

Cruise ship leaving Norfolk... I also didn't know that Norfolk was one of the largest cruise ship port...

War Memorial letters from soldiers on bronze plaques... These were heart wrenching.....many of the letters were written to loved ones a few months or even days before their death.....many soldiers lost their lives...it really brings it to life....Jay and Nancy have been here before but seemed to enjoy it once again.

USS Wisconsin... with teak decks and absolutely all gray....this is supposed to be the best color to camouflage in war. But I really saw no reason for the inside to be all gray.....a few paintings of pretty ladies on the walls would have cheered the troops up....wouldn't you agree?

JERRY POSING WITH THOSE BIG BIG GUNS.......................................................

Norfolk and Waterside night skyline below......JUST AMAZING .................