2014-05-13 — Real Welcome Home w/ The Musketeers

Our first sight of Virginia was actually in the wilds of the Dismal Swamp a few miles south of Norfolk/Portsmouth VA. It was hard to believe….

2014_05_11_09_11_56_AWB-038

Mile Zero of the Intercostal Waterway (ICW) is in Portsmouth VA. I did not realize the highway system used the same mark as well.

2014_05_12_12_28_28_AWB-036

We made a brief visit to the MacArthur Museum/Memorial in Norfolk. We did not see the entire exhibit but we will make time next time through. One small note, when MacArthur retired from the Army he was invited to address a joint session of Congress. I cannot imagine that happening today! Like I said, we will be back.

2014_05_12_12_28_54_AWB-034

Magnolia departed Portsmouth, VA bound for Deltaville VA. In route learned not only would Eleanor Q be meeting us there but our friends on Mandala as well. What a complete surprise treat! While waiting the “fleets” arrival Annette and I toured the re-built Maritime Museum as well as a nice walk around.

2014_05_14_14_26_06_AWB-033

2014_05_14_14_27_30_AWB-032

As I described in my last post just before Eleanor Q & Mandalas arrival a significant thunderstorm passed through the area. Thankfully both vessels and crew arrived just fine!

2014_05_15_19_14_28_AWB-029

2014_05_15_19_18_58_AWB-028

2014_05_15_19_34_40_AWB-026

2014_05_17_07_20_00_AWB-021

Tradition has it the vessel not traveling that day host dinner aboard. Lucky for us Mandala had caught a number of fish on their offshore passage so we gladly added those tempting treats to the menu! It was great to have this crew back together though there were a few boat friends missing! Sad smile

2014_05_15_21_51_54_AWB-023

2014_05_15_21_52_18_AWB-022

The next morning the entire crew got underway for Solomon’s Island on the Patuxent River.  As we passed Naval Air Station Patuxent river we saw an un-manned drone fly over which was cool.

2014_05_18_08_30_26_AWB-011

2014_05_18_08_34_22_AWB-010

2014_05_13_14_19_05_AWB-006

2014_05_13_14_20_21_AWB-007

2014_05_13_14_20_39_AWB-005

2014_05_13_14_18_11_AWB-003

2014_05_13_14_18_11_AWB-002

We all had a nice visit to Solomons but it was time to get on down the road, Magnolia into Galesville & West River while Eleanor Q will return to her homeport of Annapolis. Mandala will be in Annapolis for a while, well until the ice clears in their homeport in Maine!

Magnolia is currently anchored near the red circle in the chart below. If you look closely you can see our exit route from 7 months and 3 weeks ago. By the way that is also AT LEAST 3797.85nm miles ago. I have not been 100% on the mileage tracking so we suspect it is closer to 4400-4600 nm. Tomorrow we will start Magnolias “maintenance availability” but today, we are just going to revel in the accomplishment.

Capture-3

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.