Position 36:51.14N
76:17.89W
Date 2359
- 27 May 2011 (UTC -4)
Regrettably the bowthruster motor was not a refurbishment job.
The commutator, for whatever reason, had delaminated and chewed up the brushes
which meant a replacement. Auto Electrical Services, however, were
great. They organised a new motor and shipment from Massachusetts with a delivery date of Friday
so we had to sit and wait.
On Tuesday we visited Nautica, the maritime museum, and the battleship Wisconsin that is moored
alongside as an exhibit.
The museum was excellent and the Wisconsin
a real education. Wisconsin was built
for the final stages of World War II in the Pacific; saw service there, in Korea and Vietnam. She was
re-commissioned in the 1990’s for the first Gulf War where her 16 inch
guns and Tomahawk missiles were used to devastating effect.
Walking back to the boats we saw black clouds coming from the
west. Black indeed! Within twenty minutes we had winds gusting to
60 knots blowing straight into the slip, lashing rain and water that appeared
to boil as it surged us backwards and forwards. With help from Andrew we
got extra lines on Caduceus which prevented any damage to the boat; we did
however destroy a dock box on the pontoon with our anchors. Fortunately
they are easy to replace. There have been numerous devastating storms
this spring on the eastern seaboard and this was one of the worst causing large
scale damage and death. In one small town in Mississippi this storm killed over100 people
and 200 are still not accounted for.
On a happier note we spent time “street walking”. The
old part of Norfolk
is particularly attractive and there are footpaths along the river that
are full of interest.
It was our intention to take Gary and Greta out for a meal to thank
them for their incredible hospitality. At Greta’s suggestion and Gary’s preference
this turned into a delicious take away meal provided by us. This allowed Elizabeth to get some
serious dog therapy from Bella.
On another early morning walk we met a retired doctor, Al Roper, and
his dog Nicholas.
We think that Nicholas is dead ringer for boat mascot Rodney.
The dognapping was, fortunately, not successful.
The replacement bowthruster arrived mid morning on Friday and after a
very sweaty session in the sail locker, where the now thruster is located, and
not a little blue language it was fitted and tested. As a treat after my
technical exertions, and a shower Angus, the owner of the motor boat moored
between Alice and ourselves, invited Andrew and I to join him in the Norfolk
Boat Club for Friday Happy Hour. The Boat Club is an all male club formed
over a hundred years ago as a rowing club. Its statutes say that it
should have exactly 100 members. Rowing has been replaced mainly by power
boats. The club house is next to the Pilot House dock. The
photograph was taken as we were leaving the dock. Angus’ boat is on
the left, our berth next to it, the Pilot House Condominium is just left of
centre and the Norfolk Boat Club is on the right.
