Norfolk, VA

Well, we finally made it through the Dismal Swamp and into Virginia. Our generator went wonky and we went without power for 3 days. That meant no hot water and no heater and no stove, and the temps were down in the 50s. Then I got aggravated at Scott for telling me how to do my job on the lines (aka ropes, for you landlubbers out there), so I took the helm for the second lock and he did the lines. He was sweet enough to tell me that the lock master said to him that he wished everybody would bring their boat in like I did! I think we both learned to appreciate each other's jobs a bit better....
Norfolk was a pleasant surprise. When we first came in on the Elizabeth River there was just a bunch of industrial stuff on both sides. But when we got to the marina and started exploring, we learned what a beautiful city it was. The waterfront is full of interesting places: a park, a nautical museum, a mall, a Japanese garden, and an historic district.

Norfolk is a town with a huge naval history and evidence is everywhere. I think one of the most heart touching things I have seen so far, is an area in the park where they have taken the words from actual letters from soldiers and a nurse (during all the wars from the Civil War up to the Gulf War) to relatives back home and written them on large bronzed plaques that resemble papers that have blown across the park. All of them died very shortly after the letters were written...all together they tell quite a story. The one I have posted to read says at the end, "War looks a great deal better in the newspapers, than anywhere else." He died four months later. Another was full of a young man's dreams that he felt sure would keep him alive until he came back home. The nurse wrote how she had lain awake til 2 am thinking about things...she compared human life to a fire, that even though it goes down to an ember, if there is at least a spark it can be nursed back to life. She died the next day. Another spoke of needing civilization to learn to use the international courts to solve disputes instead of war, "Living from generation to generation with wars seems like mankind admitting it doesn't know how to be civilized. There must be a way." He died 3 days later. I wish everyone would learn to pray for peace the way the Jesus taught in the Bible, "Thy kingdom come..", for that is truly the only way it will ever happen.

The Freemason Historic District was exactly what I have always thought of when I pictured New England - lots of brick and ivy, wrought iron fences and tree-lined streets.

Duffy and I decided we wanted to go to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. This meant catching a bus with our bikes (they have a rack for them on the front of the bus!), but it didn't go all the way. It was supposed to get us within a mile and a half, but we ended up getting off more than 3 miles away! We stopped at a gas station and the first person we asked directions from was a 24 y/o named Angela who, bless her heart, gave us and the bikes a ride to the gardens! We had a great time once there, as it was, coincidentally, bike night! This allowed us to ride around the gardens and since it had taken us almost 2 hours to go the 10 miles to get there, it was a very good thing. It was worth it when we went through the 155 acres of amazing arbors and gardens.

Poor Scott's sightseeing was limited mostly to the bilge, where he and Rich (the mechanic) bonded over the generator's water pump. Though we did manage to get together for dinner at Freemason Abbey where Scott enjoyed a prime rib for his hard work getting our heat back on.