A tanker crossing our bow during our ocean crossing back to the U.S.A. (At night all you see of large ships like this are three small running lights in the darkness.)
Gail inside a giant fiddler crab, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (OK, so this is really made for kids. But, how could we just walk by a prop like this?)
The Spooner's Creek anchorage, NC (Now a bulkheaded basin circled by nice homes and boats.)
Our stern view of the ICW just north of Beaufort, NC
Our view heading up the ICW just north of Beaufort, NC
Alsios safe in a slip in Oriental, NC (She's already starting to re-develop an "ICW smile" on her bow from the tannin water.)
Slade Creek, NC (One of the most beautiful anchorages we've ever been in, not a house or other boat to be seen.)
Merchant's Millpond State Park, NC
The end of a nice meal with our friends Paul and Joyce
The Goat Island anchorage in the magical light before sunset (The trawler is named Lazy Dolphin. I radioed them two days later and emailed the photo.)
Lining up for the South Mills Lock, The Great Dismal Swamp Canal, NC
The mass of lift bridges approaching Norfolk, VA from the south (The two highway bridges in front and behind it are down.)
An aircraft carrier being worked on at dock, Norfolk, VA (I felt uncomfortable taking this photo post 9/11, but no one chased after us.)
Giving a tug and gravel barge a "one-whistle" pass, Norfolk, VA
Matthew - drenched after setting anchor in the misdst of a 40+ knot squall, Norfolk, VA (This dangerous squall, with quarter-inch hail, came with only 5 - 10 minutes warning.)
The "nice" Norfolk waterfront, just 2 hours after the squall (Although sunny and peaceful, the fire truck and ambulance sirens were still blaring.)
Hospital Point with Portsmouth, VA and ICW mile marker zero in the background (Portsmouth and Norfolk face each other across the Elizabeth River.)
Commercial docks, Norfolk , VA
A container ship at dock, Norfolk , VA
Coal freighters at dock, Norfolk , VA (The one on the right is full. The one on the left is partially empty.)
The sailboat, Drama Queen, asserting its right to the center of the channel. (We were dumbfounded that this sailboat didn't yield to the oncoming tanker.)
Passing the U.S. Navy destroyer by Norfolk, VA (The figure at the bow is manning a big machine gun.)
Old Point Comfort Light at Fort Munroe, Hampton Roads, VA (Rounding this point at the mouth of the James River marked our entry back into the Chesapeake.)
Anchored in the East River off Mobjack Bay in Virginia (a bit before sunset)
Fishing Creek off the Little Choptank River, MD
Fishing Creek off the Little Choptank River, MD
Waterman trot-lining for blue crabs in Fishing Creek off the Little Choptank River, MD
Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank River, MD (It's late morning and the gray skies from the previous evening's cold front have not yet burned off.)
Mansion off our stern, anchored in Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank River, MD (We didn't see any lights or activity in the mansion and assume it is only a vacation home.)
Waterman trot-lining for blue crabs in Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank River, MD
The "House on the Cliff", Herring Bay, MD (This is our day-mark for finding red #2 to round the shoal when returning home.)
The view of Tracy's Creek and Rockhold Creek from Herring Bay, MD (Returning home after 7 months living on board)
Rockhold Creek, Deale, MD (We're a bit further down the Creek. But I had to put the camera down and dock the boat.)