Sabastian's entry on exploring a seawall

This week I went exploring with Tyler and his dog Chief. We started our adventure at Tyler's boat, then we got in to his dingy, a small boat. We started by going under the marina, a ship market. Once we docked we got off and started to crawl under the beams  that supported the marina. Once we got out we found a new passage called the sea wall. When we started to go Chief raced ahead but waited at the next corner. We did not make it far though because Paisley could not get through so we went back to the dingy. Once we got past the part that Paisley could not get through Chief and I raced the boat, with Tyler and Paisley on board, to the end of the sea wall and I won. Then I climbed I big pole over the water. Once I came back we went home.

Sabastian's entry on 2011 Solomons Maritime Festival

This week Jay (Arianna and  Dylan's) uncle came over. When we woke up Jay was already in the marina so I got my clothes on and said hi to Jay. After every one had breakfast we talked and I made Jay a balloon hat. When we got hungry my dad, Paisley and Jay went to Taco Bell and got food. After  they got back we ate and my dad said that ther was a festival going on ,so we all rode bikes up to the festival. We built boats, sailed remote control sailboats, climbed a lighthouse, and went into a museum. After the festival we were all tired and it was getting dark out so we all said our good byes and Jay went home.

Andrew and Jay checking out the remote control sailboats!

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. This pup was demonstrating his excellent retrieving skills. 

Sabastian, Andrew and Paisley showing off their boats

The small kitchen in the lighthouse

The mechanical hammer that hits the bell outside

The bedroom

Spiral stairs heading up to the top of the lighthouse

Paisley having a turn motoring the sailboat

Elizabeth having a turn with the sailboats.

Maryland Terrapin Turtles

Paisley thought the turtle's legs were smooth

Portsmouth to Solomons Island

We left Ocean Marine Yacht Center Saturday morning. Our destination for the day and night was Parks Marina on Tangier Island. This has been a bucket list destination for me for many many years. I was  very excited and giddy to finally be on my way to my Nana's favorite stop on the Chesapeake Bay. I could not have ask for a better Mother's Day present. After our brief stay of 24 hours I realized why people visit and fall in love with Tangier Island. It is a quaint quiet spot with less than 5 vehicles on the Island. Everyone walks, uses scooters, golf carts, and of course boats for getting around. I have to say I would love to spend more time on the Island and enjoy their Island way of life. The only way to visit Tangier is by boat whether it is your own or by ferry boat leaving Reedville, VA.

On our way up the Chesapeake Bay Andrew and I spotted 2 tankers at anchor and decided to see what the distance was between the 2 tankers. We had time on our hands and it was a fun experiment. The anchors are 1 mile apart. For me it was an excellent way to learn how far a mile really is on the water.  As you can see the Chesapeake Bay is nice and flat. What a dream day to travel.

Tangier Island

Waterman's home away from home

Walkway to the beach

The boys are exploring the marsh area.

The Island is full of Cats.As I pulled out my camera 5 cats left the front gate. These are the ones who stuck around. Thankfully, Max could care less about cats and ignored them. 

 Family plots are in the front yards of some homes. This plot was next to the church. Some of the tombstones go back to the early 1800's, pretty cool and creepy at the same time.

The only pleasure boat marina on the Island

Sunrise Sunday Morning

Ferry boat bringing tourist to the island.

 On Sunday afternoon we left Tangier and headed to Solomons Island in Maryland. 

Chesapeake Bay south of Solomons Island. The clouds and sun made a spectacular scene. As you can see the water is calm for our second day of travel.

Sunset over the entrance to Solomons Island.

Jesse and the sleepover

The Hudson family arrived at at 1:00pm. Once we saw  Jesse we left our boat and met the rest of his family. When we met the Hudsons all of the kids went and played outside.  Until it started to rain, when it started to rain we went inside and played video games. When we got hungry we went to a Mexican restaurant and Zeke fell asleep at the table. When we ate our meal Jesse ended up eating Zeke's dinner. When Zeke woke up he was upset that he did not have diner so my dad gave him his chips and leftovers. The next day the Hudsons came on the boat we cast of of the dock of Portside Marina in Moorhead City. The Hudsons really enjoyed themselves. Zeke even drove the boat. We docked our boat in Oriental. We had a sleep over and had a lot of fun. Colin and I built a lego ship. The next morning the boys left. We all had a great time.

Sabastian's entry on Broadway at the Beach

 3 weeks ago we went to Broadway at the Beach and we met some other  American Great loopers. We all ate lunch together at Landry's Seafood and Steak House. It was a long wait until the waitress came with our food. After we all ate all of the grownups started chatting up a storm!!!!  When my sister and I  asked to use the restroom and came back we all went outside. The other loopers went home .We looked around and found a ropes course that was 3 levels 40feet high and had 33 different challenges another cool thing was that the obstacle course was over water. My dad and I payed for tickets so both of us could go up to the rope course we went on all of levels and all of the challenges.

Paisley's entry on leaving Charleston

When we left Charleston we anchored out in Jacob Creek. In the morning we went to Osprey Marina. On the following Friday we left. We anchored out in Mile Hammock Bay. We went to Portside Marina. In Portside there was a girl named Ashley Harris. We played every day we could. We had some friends, the Hudson family, came down for a visit. We moved a little bit. We traveled long the next day. After 3 long days of traveling we made it to Norfolk.

Paisley's entry on marshes

Paisley on the bow while cruising on the North Landing River

On our journey north we went through a lot of swamps and marsh areas. The funny thing is that they are all different. The marshes are in the Carolinas as well as Virginia. The some marshes have trees instead of reeds. We saw an alligator in the marsh swamps of South Carolina. The swamps and marshes are neat places. I had fun traveling through them. We did anchor in the marsh once.

Spotted in the four mile creek canal

The marshy areas on the four mile creek canal

Abandoned Rice Fields close to Georgetown, SC

Cypress swamp area close to Osprey Marina

Marsh area with The Cape Fear Lighthouse in the background

Marsh area near Pungo Ferry,VA

Paisley's entry on Alegria

The show began when some clowns came out. The clowns are funny. The clowns made fun of themselves. The clowns made their version of the act before them.

Paisley's entry on Splicing

My dad and I splice some rope. We first made a mark at the fid end. We measured an eye. We went 5 fid lengths down and made a knot. We pull out the core. We tape the core. We put the core into the cover and the cover into the core. After that we will milk the rope to finish off the splice.