... Continued from Part 1. ( Click Here if you have not read Part 1)

Docking our boat is always a stressful ordeal. Even more so when you are as out-of-practice as we are and laden with the fatigue of over a week at sea. Initially, we pull up to the fuel dock (the easiest spot they could direct us to). Unfortunately, with a busy weekend at hand we cannot stay there. Instead they point at a slip on the other side of the fuel dock and I say that I can get it in there. I speak with more confidence than I actually have.

It was a very small slip between two very narrow fingers of slips full of boats. I narrowly avoid hitting two boats on my way in, but I did miss them so I guess that is all that counts. Fortunately, there were two dock workers and a few trainees on hand to take our lines. (The trainees are going to need to be shown how to tie a cleat hitch, though. Twenty wraps around the cleat is completely unnecessary.)



We immediately called Customs and Immigration and they sent someone over to the marina to clear us in to the United States, inspect the boat, and take our garbage (don't ask me, but foreign trash is suspect in the eyes of our government). By the time darkness was settling in, we were off to a restaurant to find some food. After not spending a dime in over a week, our budget can handle the treat of dining out.

So, this is where we will spend the Memorial Day weekend, Little Creek Marina. It is nice here, and we have a lot of boat cleaning and research to do before moving north up the Chesapeake, so we could be here for up to a week.



CURRENT LOCATION: Docked at Little Creek Marina, Norfolk, VA, USA
36 55.373' N, 076 11.155' W

In conclusion let me say this about long distance travel by small boat. While it certainly affords on the distinct advantage of bringing all the comforts of home along with you wherever you go, be prepared to strap them all down, because both you and they are about to be subjected to a 24-hour-a-day nonstop funfair ride. Interestingly though, for me personally, I found little about this experience to be fun. Instead, there was anxiety, boredom, frustration, and outright fear. Oh, and finally, a growing sense of accomplishment. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but I also have absolutely no desire to ever repeat it. Other than being able to share these experiences with the woman I love, the only thing I truly enjoyed about making long passages is the same thing I enjoyed about making short ones: The End.