Cape May NJ

An important milestone was reached in the Bicentennial Year of 1976 when Cape May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark City, only one of five in the nation. That designation requires that the community must retain all structures in their original form and design and will insure that Cape May will remain within the architectural guidelines of the Victorian period.

Cape May is a real life picture postcard of the past. In the summer and the rest of the year it is shared by hundreds of thousands of visitors in an atmosphere that can only be found in this southernmost New Jersey community, situated below the Mason-Dixon line.

It is a place to relax, to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean, the city's charming Mall, and most of all, to view the largest collection of authentic Victorian structures in the nation.

Columbia Ave monument the town will be holding a memorial day celebration here on Monday morning, I hope to find out then what the building (church) in the background is.

         
This is what is affectionately known as the mall. The Washington Street Mall. Not what we expect to see at home.

                                           Congress Hall has 106 rooms or units.


Providing hospitality since 1816, Congress Hall has completed a two year top-to-bottom renovation, returning one of Cape May's landmarks to a place of prominence along the strand. Congress Hall is now a haven of relaxed elegance, fun, historic charm and luxury. Its the perfect place to stay in Cape May, at any time of year. Set amid landscaped grounds overlooking Cape May's broad sandy beaches, Congress Hall is just steps from the ocean, in the heart of Cape May's famed historic district.

Some of the beautiful Victorian Homes, most are B&B's and they are lined up one after another. There are more than 30 of them in a relatively small area.

South Jersey shore still haven't seen Snooky.  But it certainly is a great place for people watching.

Beach Cabana's owned by Congress Hall for use by their guests for a fee.  You can order food and beverage on the beach.  If you simply place a flag on a long stick in the sand the beach waitstaff will take your order, it is then cooked up in Congress Hall and served to you on the beach.  How nice!

This is the Queen Victoria Inn charming.

Oh yes,  I forgot to mention nothing is free in Cape May, as a matter of fact, bring extra cash.

This sign states that if you want to go on the beach you need to purchase beach tags. Available for the day, weekend or season.

It was the right time and the right place type thing.  When we got into Cape May I was checking out the happenings for the long weekend and noticed there way a small theater here.  What luck, there was a show going on that sounded like fun, but what are the chances of getting tickets to a show that has seating for 75 people on a long holiday weekend?  As it turned out we were talking to the right person a Trustee of the Cape May Stage, when he got a cancellation on tickets we got a phone call that 2 tickets had become available  to the show for Saturday night.  The show was  "Say Goodnight Gracie" the life of George Burns and Gracie Allen. It was great fun we hadn't see a show since Stuart Fla "Chicago" Its always nice to get dressed up and go to a show every once in  awhile.

Delaware City DE to Cape May NJ for Memorial Day weekend

We arrived in Delaware City on Wed.  unfortunately we were to late to get on the free dock in Chesapeake City so we continued on to Delaware.  When we reached the end of the C&D canal it was so calm on the Bay we considered continuing on to Cape May but it was just to late in the day for a 5 hour crossing.  Delaware City was uneventful we ate on board got a good nights rest and were on the Bay at 7am.  With the NOAA reports if we didn't leave when we did we could of been stuck in Delaware City for 3 days or more.  The crossing was rough, it started out with 1 ft seas building to 3-4' about half way with a few 5' thrown in for good measure.  The last 8 miles to the Cape May canal it smoothed out again.  So we are now snug in our slip until at least Tuesday morning at the South Jersey Marina.  Cape May is a beautiful stop, we took the bikes out for a ride and went to the beach, saw the painted ladies and had lunch in downtown.  But, sorry to say I forgot the camera so we will have to do it all over again.

 This is the C&;D Canal

 Delaware City not alot to see here.

 Nice park at Delaware City

 Delaware Bay Nuclear Power Plant right after the plant we hit 4' waves with some 5' thrown in, so much for the 1-2 footers that were forecast

 a lighthouse in the Bay not sure which one, the fog started to roll in but it stayed in front of us we were never really in it.  However a boat that left right before us said they were in it the whole way.

This is the same day after we docked, in the harbor at Cape May the sun came out it was nice but still very windy.  You would never know it by this picture.

Solomons to Kent Narrows and Elk Head MD

On my last post I had mentioned our friends Twyla and Mike from Joplin Mo, our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family back home and we wish them better days as they try to put their lives back together in Joplin.

We had pizza and beers with Twyla and Mike the night before we left the Solomons where were we going next?  The original plan was to go to Annapolis again as we had a wonderful time there on the way south.  But, it was not meant to be this time, as the Naval graduation was going to be taking place in a couple of days and they were pretty well filled up so...... next time.  We had made advanced reservation at Cape May NJ for the Memorial Day weekend so we decided we better step things up a bit to make it there as you never know how the Delaware Bay will be.  It would not be uncommon to get held up  for days because of bad weather on the Bay and there is really no stopping once you jump out there.  So we parted ways with Nauti Nell as they plan to spend much more time exploring the Chesapeake Bay.  I am sure we will catch up with them somewhere, maybe on the Hudson we will look forward to that for sure!  Have fun, can't wait to hear the stories.  Safe travels!

 On Tuesday we left the Solomons this is a lighthouse at Lookout Point just before the Solomons if heading south.

 It was a beautiful day to travel the waters were very calm but hot and humid.  We had planned to anchor out for the night but just as were heading towards our anchorage the USCG gave a weather warning for heavy winds and severe thunderstorms so we took a slip at the Kent Narrows.  No winds or thunderstorms came, it was calm seas.

 This is yet another lighthouse at the Kent Narrows MD

 Oh one more light.  This one is at Elks Head just at the entry to the C&D canal.

 Pretty as a picture.  When we were in this area last fall we thought the C&D canal Elk head area was pretty.  We still thught so, but taking a look at it a second time I think we liked it so much is that it reminded us of New England.

Well we don't have red cliffs like this in New England but I thought it was a nice pic.

Deltaville VA to Solomons Island MD

 This is the Smith Point light

 Not sure what this cargo ship is carrying but its big and was 2 miles away from us.

 This is the Lookout Point light at the entrance of the Potomac River it is ranked the 21st largest in the nation, the mouth of the river is nearly 10 miles across and a trip up it is 107 miles to Washington DC.  We hope to make this trip next time as you should allow at least a week or 2 to properly visit the area.

 This is the Drum Point light

 The cliffs that mark the entrance of the Patuxent River that leads you to the main harbor in the Solomons Island.  This where we take a port turn to our marina for a night or 2.

We were wondering about this ship off in the distance, come to find out it is used for training exercises for the military.  Which means they bomb it!


It was a beautiful day on the Chesapeake Bay our 60 mile trip from Deltaville to Solomon Harbor Marina was about as smooth as it gets on the Bay.  It was a bit cool in the morning starting out but we slowly started to shed clothes as the day went on, by the time we reached our destination it was shorts and sleeveless once again.  We chose this marina because our new looper friends Capt. Chappy and Twyla on Nauti Nell were here.  They were our week long dockmates at Norfolk and are from Joplin MO.  Once tied to the dock, boat washed it was time for cocktails, a dinghy ride in the harbor with Mike and Twyla and dinner at Boomerang's.  This marina is part of the Holiday Inn and they had an outdoor bar with entertainment that we could enjoy from our boat the woman singing was fantastic and the drinks aboard were cheap.

Twyla and Mike aka Capt. Chappy aboard Nauti Nell

All good things must come to an end...Rendezvous over goodbye Norfolk

Today we traveled about 50 miles to Deltaville  (Doziers Regatta Point) they have a great deal here 1.25/ft stay 2 nights the 3rd is free (for AGLCA).  Hmm wonder how long we will stay?  Doziers is a sponsor of the AGLCA, in fact Jack Dozier was in Norfolk for the Rendezvous.  Doziers is owner and publisher of the Waterway Guides and the Skipper Bob books. 

 On the porch at Dozier's Regatta Point

 Jim chatting with Steve from Suncat they were our dockmates in Norfolk we first met Gold Loopers Steve and Jean at River Dunes in Oriental NC they are from S.Portland Maine and have been cruising for more than 30 years, 5 of them on SunCat.

 Just ourside the Harbor in Deltaville.

Though the rendezvous is over, today about half of the boats that left Norfolk ended up at Regatta Point in Deltaville.  When we arrived we were invited to Happy Hours on the porch, it was a very nice gathering with wine and cheese provided by the marina.  And we thought the rendezvous was over!  It was a very pleasant gathering, thank you Jack it was indeed very generous of you to host all the loopers.  The facilities here are extremely nice with a pool, very nice bathrooms, showers and laundry room, a courtesy car actually 2 of them and they have a boaters lounge with a big screen TV comfy couches and a leave one take one library.  We stopped here in Oct. on our way down south and because of weather we were here for 6 days.
Tomorrow we will take the courtesy car to the grocery store and West Marine to stock up on item.  Jim may do an oil change and some other boat maintence and I have a pile of laundry.  And though the loopers consider it a badge of honor we need to remove the mustache from SweetPea.
*note to Denise.....no fly swatter needed this time!

Norfolk Va and the AGLCA rendevous

It has been a bit more than a week since my last post,  I have tried but the WiFi here at the Waterside Marina has not been great for loading pic.  So here goes, I will try to load in some pictures again later this evening.
So for the last week we have been at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk with more than 40 boats and 200 members that are here for the rendevous for the America's Great Loop Cruisers Association http://www.greatloop.org/
These rendevous are held twice a year and are extremely informative and a great social event for the members to share their stories and experiences of what its like to travel America's Great Loop.

 The Great Loop is the continuous waterway that encompasses the eastern portion of North America including the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland.


It is also known as the Great Circle Route and is considered one of the safest long distance cruising routes in the world. To travel all, a portion, or any of the magnificent side trips of the Great Loop is an adventure of a lifetime.

Docktails between sessions

Happy hour lives on

where did everyone go? must be time to get ready for dinner

meet Carol and her BIG boat dog......Monty isn't he beautiful

May 1 to May 8th our last week in NC

We spent 3 days in Morehead City just over the bridge from Beaufort NC.  When we were in Sneads Ferry we found they had a consignment store, while Jim was looking around he found a used davit system which was happened to be the same one were planning on purchasing for the dinghy.  Great find at a 1/3 the original price, so Jim installed it in Morehead City.

We then moved on to Oriental NC (River Dunes Plantation) WOW what a place.  Its another one of those planned communities,  the place is amazing, Pool with private cabanas 2 hot tubs, showers you have to experience to believe, the clubhouse is beautiful with a pub, theres a pool table and an incredible library.  Also an outdoor fireplace with a seating areas all around the porch, and a firepit away from the building with rocking chairs around it.  And a workout room, oh and we can't forget the courtesy car.  All this for $1.25/ft a must stop.

Next was Belhaven NC,  we stayed at Dowry Creek this time, we had heard so many good things about it being super cruiser friendly.  And it was, they have a chicken dinner they put on in the clubhouse not sure how often but we were lucky enough to hit it right.  They have a happy hour or 2 every night, BYOB and its nice if you bring an appetizer but not necessary .  Great time! They also have a pool, laundry, and courtesy car to get into town.

Then onto Alligator River Marina, good stop over,  not much happening here, there is a reaturant in the gas station along with a convience store with beer and wine.  the marina is small and very well taken care of but no car and not close to anything.  Theres a morning newpaper dropped off at your boat in the morning.

 Dowry Creek so pretty here.

 there clubhouse pool and bottle tree

 Dowry creek

 sunrise on Alligator River

secluded home on the Pungo River