Norfolk VA July 1-4

On the journey from Coinjock NC to Norfolk VA, we encountered our first lock on the Intracoastal, at Great Bridge VA, where this sign told us how far we had come (from Jacksonville).  Answer to the Army Corps of Engineers: you are doing just fine and we appreciate it!


Mile Zero on the Intracoastal is the site of Waterside Marina in downtown Norfolk.




We docked here just behind the plaza stage of Waterside District, a newly-refurbished dining and entertainment venue that reopened just this Spring.  And a happening place it is, especially our first night here when the band MOER played well into the night.  Can you find Sea Bee backstage in this photo?

Sunset in Waterside Marina

Norfolk's mascot is, not surprisingly, the mermaid, who appears throughout the city in various garb:


 Across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk is Portsmouth VA, easily reached by the ferry that runs back and forth continuously between the two cities.

Norfolk-Portsmouth ferry

Further up the Elizabeth River is Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base.  Naval history is documented throughout the area. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is home to the stunningly long and tall WWII battleship Wisconsin.
 


These waters saw the battle between the Civil War ironclads Monitor and Merrimack.


Today young mariners learn to sail here.



The nearby Armed Forces Memorial at Town Point Park commemorates those who served in our nation's wars (1775-1991) with bronze plaques inscribed with letters written home by U.S. service members who lost their lives in war.  The letters are scattered across the Memorial as if blown there from the sea by the wind -- a thoughtful and sobering memorial in a meaningful location.








Not everything in Norfolk is nautical.  A nice long, but not too long, walk through downtown Norfolk took us to the Chrysler Museum of Art with its lovely galleries and fabulous vintage and modern art glass collection.

We could have shortened the walk some by using The Tide, Norfolk's light rail.  We rode it the next day to see more of the city.
The light rail station easy walking distance from the marina. Behind it is a full size indoor mall complete with Nordstrom's, Dillards, and movie theater.

Sparkling clean, quiet, with stops at Norfolk State U. and Harbor Park, the Triple A Norfolk Tides baseball stadium.


The same $4 (1/2 price for seniors) day pass allowed us to use both the light rail and the ferry, so we also made a short trip to Portsmouth on the ferry and saw some of its nicely preserved historic district.
Portsmouth -- To Our Confederate Dead
Portsmouth

Fourth of July in Norfolk:  For those of you who have missed news of Sea Bee's mechanical health, the captain spent part of this holiday morning re-installing the auto-pilot that he had sent to the manufacturer for repairs earlier in the trip.  Behind this deceptively simple looking box is a maze of multi-colored wires that had to be reattached exactly right -- no small task for a large man squeezed into a small dark space under Sea Bee's dash.  Nonetheless -- done!



 On to the celebration, from our ringside seat:


Boats gathering for the fireworks.
Another rockin' band -- huge happy crowd despite some rain.

And the rockets' red glare . . .


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