Hello Mudda..... Camp Granada in Norfolk
07 June 2015 | Norfolk VA
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Camp Granada
After four days here in what can only be cheerfully described as November in Scotland weather, including thunderstorms and one period of continuous 24 hour rain the sun is back out. 80 degrees and crowds of people enjoying the sunshine at the Norfolk Harborfest.
Billy Joel is in concert just 15 miles away tonight and if we can find transport we might go....or we might just stay here on our sofa and enjoy the free music.
The good news of the rain was that we had good reason to do the indoors stuff. The Historic District, an original antique house, the Douglas Macarthur museum (I will go back) and the Chrysler Museum.
I did feel slightly conned by Anne on the Chrysler. I thought it was a collection of old cars. All gleaming chrome and fins. But no, plates from around the world and more giant oil paintings of old people being murdered and saved by demons and cherubims respectively.
We are also getting into the local food. Soft shell crab is a speciality. As our neighbours on the next boat (from Gourock!) said, it would go down well at home is the poor wee beastie was deep fried. Unfortunately I think it needs a bit of a makeover, perhaps Embarrassing Bodies or similar as it looks a bit like deep fried Tarantula. Poor Anne had to close her eyes as she failed miserably to make a meal of it.
Harborfest started after the US bi-centennial Tall Ships visit way back in the seventies. Since then its been an annual event brining up to 1 million visitors over three days. We have Tall Ships including Eagle, the US Coast Guard cutter and a Brazilian square rigger. A destroyer and some military PT boats.
Endless amounts of food stalls selling everything from chocolate bananas to burgers. Crab to kebabs. Fireworks tonight at 9:00 if we don't take a run to Billy Joel.
Greta and Gary, the OCC Port Officers here had us and two other boats for dinner last night. Home cooked BBQ southern style while overlooking the Elizabeth River.
From Orkney to Alesund to Marathon, Oriental and now Norfolk we've enjoyed stunning hospitality and assistance from
OCC members. Thanks again to all if you're reading this nonsense.
The sunshine today heralds a new wind pattern so come Monday we're outta here for a 48 hour passage to The Big Apple.