VIRGINIA - CHESAPEAKE BAY

Time to celebrate 🎉, we have entered the Chesapeake Bay! (It's one of the milestones on our Great American Loop Adventure 😊).

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary in the states of Virginia and Maryland. More than 150 major rivers and streams flow into the Bay's 64,300 square mile drainage basin. The Bay is approximately 200 miles long from its Northern headwaters in the Susquehanna River to its outlet in the Atlantic Ocean. The Bay is 2.8 miles wide at its narrowest and 30 miles at its widest. To circumnavigate the entire Chesapeake Bay is an astonishing 4,479 miles. The Bay is known for both its beauty and bounty. The fish, crab and oysters are very fresh. We have been warned numerous times that boating conditions change quickly and frequently on the Bay.

After completing the Dismal Swamp Canal, our first stop was the Waterside Marina in Norfolk. We spent June 21st and 22nd at the Marina. Norfolk is a large natural harbor at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The City has a long history as a strategic Military point. The largest Military base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk is located here. In recent years, Norfolk city leaders began a long push to revive its urban core. The leaders focused on the waterfront and developed The Waterside. The area has a festive atmosphere and attracts visitors and residents to the waterfront. Norfolk's effort to revitalize its downtown has been a success. They have won numerous accolades for their efforts. After being in small towns for the past couple of weeks, we enjoyed the big city lights and action! Before purchasing Thistle, five years ago we attended our first AGLCA Looper rendezvous here...Happy memories 😊.

Our friend Karen flew into Norfolk airport and is spending the next week with us aboard Thistle♥️.

Saturday morning we pushed off the dock early and started our journey across the Bay, heading towards Cape Charles. We passed some huge Navy vessels exiting Norfolk Harbor. It was a perfect weather day for our first day on the Bay - no wind or waves, warm temperatures and clear skies. The crossing took about 6 hours and we docked at The Oyster Farm Marina at Kings Creek. Cape Charles is a charming small bayside town located on the beautiful eastern shore of Virginia. The town was formed in 1884. The town has a nice museum with a historic dedication to their railroad and ferry era. Today there are shops and restaurants along the downtown's Main Street. The three of us enjoyed a bike ride around the town, and delicious soft shell 🦀 crab sandwiches at The Shanty. After lunch we noticed an approaching thunderstorm, so.....on our bikes riding as fast as possible back to Thistle for cover! We watched the thunderstorm ⛈ aboard Thistle (great entertainment). Every Saturday evening the Marina has live music and seafood right on the dock...very fun👍. 

Looper Tip: We highly recommend docking at The Oyster Farm Marina on Friday or Saturday night.

Sunday morning we crossed The Bay to Irvington. It was another beautiful day on The Bay 😊. The trip took about 7 hours and we docked at The Tides Inn and Marina. WOW, what a nice surprise! The Inn is a five star resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Thank you Captain Greg).  The town of Irvington has the population of about 600. It is located on a peninsula of land known as Northern Neck. Steamboats used to stop in Irvington, when traveling on the Chesapeake Bay. Since the 1970's wine making has become a growing vocation in the region. We docked at the Marina for two wonderful nights and visited the small town and local winery 🍷By bike 🚴.  It would be easy to stay at The Tides Inn and Marina another night, but the weather forecast suggest we depart in the morning.

LooperTip: If you dock at The Tides Inn and Marina for two nights the third night is FREE 💰.

Maryland here we come.....Our plan is to be @ The Annapolis City Dock for the 4th of July 🇺🇸!

"Virginia is for Lovers" ♥️

And we loved Virginia.....

Entering the Norfolk Harbor.

Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge (7 foot clearance) was stuck in the down position all day, after being hit by lightning the evening before! Yes, that was the same scary (Elizabeth City) storm we were in yesterday? We got lucky 🍀 (after a 2 hour delay), the Bridge finally opened about 5 pm 

(We met another boater that had been waiting since 9 am 😳For an opening ). 

Thistle docked at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk.

Welcome😊

The iconic Mermaids of Norfolk. 

Mermaids are the signature symbol of Norfolk, they can be found throughout the city.

We rode the City sponsored bikes around Norfolk, 

admiring the colorful art everywhere  🎨. 

There was a Cajun music and food festival at the Waterside Park. 

Departing Norfolk Harbor and entering The Chesapeake Bay!

We passed the famous "Red 36".

It is Mile Marker Zero (MM "0.0").

The beginning of the Intracoastal Waterway (end for us).   

The yellow line represents our three port stops on the Chesapeake Bay, 

 in the State of Virginia.

Norfolk 

Cape Charles

Irvington 

Thistle docked at the Oyster Farm Marina in Cape Charles. 

Famous for their sea glass, sunsets and seafood buckets. 

We enjoyed all with our friend Karen, visiting from California for the week 👍. 

Charming Cape Charles. 

The storm brewing over a Cape Charles Oyster Bed. 

(Photo credit Karen) 

⚓️♥️😊🇺🇸 

Beautiful homes of Cape Charles. 

The Tides Inn and Marina. 

The Inn has beautifully manicured grounds, a swimming pool and complementary S'Mores.  

Playing Chess on the Chesapeake Bay👑.

We rode bikes to the Dog and Oyster Winery,

and enjoyed soft shell 🦀 crabs and 🍷in the vineyard. 

Sunday Bike Ride ☀️.

We watched a heavy rain downpour from Thistle's stern.

Then rode bikes back to the tiny town of Irvington to soak-up more of the local character

 (and there was plenty of it  😜). 

Virginia, Thank You for the "Lovely"  visit  💗.