MISS ELLEN ADVENTURE: September 2011

We are in Tilghman MD. Say more about that later.

I finally figured out how to move pictures taken by Cona with her I-Phone to the computer. Following are a few pictures we missed posting. This is the Boddie (pronounced body) light house on the Outer Banks of NC.

Picture looking over the bow of Miss Ellen in the Urbanna harbor.

Rudy sitting at the bar in the restaurant where we were when the earth quake occured.

Where Cona put Rudy while she shoped in Williamsburg.

Rudy discussing politics with Thomas Jefferson. Rudy disagreed with Tom on several subjects.

While docked in Yorktown one of the ball fenders came loose. When we returned to the boat we saw the fender floating down the river. No problem, get in the dinghy and go get it. Right. Well, Rudy had locked the dinghy and the lock had rusted shut. Next try to cut the cable. Right. Well, the cable was hardend steel, and the cable cutter would not cut it into. Mean while the fender is floating farther down the river. Never fear we will get the cable cut or else. Try the hack saw. After cutting each stran of the cable one at a time, success, the cable was cut. Now, get in the dinghy and start the motor and go get the fender. Right. The motor started then quit. Would not start again. No problem, get out the oars. Half way to the fender a friendly boater offer help. Got the fender and pulled Rudy back to the dock. Saved one fender.

The mooring bay at Annapolis.

While in Annapolis Cona's good friends Carolyn, and Jeannie joined us for the weekend. We had a great time with them and wished they could have spent more time with us.

We were docked at the city dock which was a first come first serve dock. This was a prime spot and we did not want to loose our slip. At the same time, we wanted to tour the bay at Annapolis, so we cranked up the dinghy and took off. However, Rudy would not listen to Cona who felt Rudy should fill the motor with gas. Rudy, knowing the nissian motor didn't use much gas and the tank was half full ignored Cona.

Half way up the Spa Creek we ran out of gas.

Jeannie was good sport, got out the paddles and began paddling.

Luck with us a friendly boater came to the rescue and gave us some gas.

We were docked across from the popular dock bar, Pussers. The dock is packed ever night and there was music that we could enjoy from the bow of Miss Ellen. We didn't want to loose our dock slip. If we had pulled out anyone could take it even if you had already paid for it. That's the government run dock for you.

Left Annapolis Friday September 9 and headed to St Michales. This is a major light house we rounded as we left the bay and headed up the Miles River.

St. Michaels is a beautiful town with many shop and old homes. It is know for fooling the British who were coming up the bay bombarding each town. The town went to higher ground and hung lanterns from trees. Then, the town tuned out all light in the town. The British fired on the town aiming higher than the town aiming for the lights. All they hit were trees except one cannon ball entered the roof of a house. The ball went through the roof and rolled down the stairs and out the front door. The house survived and is currently lived in.

We were docked at a fixed dock and the distance from the dock to the boat was high so we had to use a ladder to get on and off.

While here they had a sail boat regetta. This was one of the committee boats. A lot of fun.

This is a picture of one of the sail boats used in the race. They are log boats that in the 1500 were used for harvesting oysters, clams and for fishing. The orginally were made of logs shaped to form the hull. They have no keel and use dager boards on each side to stablize the boat.

Replica of Cpt. John Smiths' sailboat he used to navigate Cheseapeake Bay.

St. Michaels has a great Waterman's museum. Rudy at one of the displays.

There is a boat building shop and volenteers may come and help build boats. This is a picture of one they are working on.

A historic lights house that was moved to the museum inorder to save it. There used to be over 100 of these on the Bay. Theres only 3 left.

Part of the museum.

Looking over the St. Michaels' harbor from the light house.

Picture of a push boat that is pulled behind the sailing boat that is used for oystering when the winds are down. The law changed requiring those harvesting oysters to not do so while using motors, they had to use sails. The watermen began using push boats to positon the sailboat over the beds they wished to harvest. The push boat was was pulled out of the water when gathering the oysters.

The log boats had large crews. To keep the boat from healing over they positioned crew on the planks.

Cona in her new bathing suit.

Rudy with the clubs commadores.

Rudy with working watermen.

That's a gun on the bow of this boat. The gun would kill 10 to 15 ducks at once. The gun was later outlawed.

Cona trying her hand at oystering with a rake.

Christ Church, St. Michael's Parish in St. Michaels. We attended service.

You can see the date this church was founded. 1672.

Pictures of some of the historic homes in St. Michaels.

Can you belive the size of this home? People live here.

Dick Channey's fishing boat.

The locals said he frequents the island to go fishing.

The sailing race of the log boats.

Cona finishes another puzzle.

We left St. Michaels and headed for Tilghman island. This is the town. This is a true waterman town. All they do here is fish and gather shell fish.

This is the marina where we stayed on the island. Our first night here we had sustanined winds of 12 MPH gusting to 30 MPH. Pretty rocky night.

The marina choir out side our boat.

We may be off the bay at some of the off bay towns for a while because the bay is full of debri as a result to tropical storm Lee. The rivers and flooded the bay and the bay is so full of trash that we are afraid to try to cross in fear of damaging Miss Ellen. This flood has caused many concerns for the oyster and clam beds as well as it will possibly distroy the crab population. This is really sad. The bay has turned from clear water to muddy water. Full of logs, refridgers, tires, everything you can think of.

August 10, leaving Manteo

Arriving at Coinjock North Carolina. Nothing here but the dock and restaurant. They had a band we enjoyed. Sat outside, ate and listened before going back to the boat.

Nest stop was at the Atlantic yacht basin just before arriving in Norfork. As there was a bridge and lock to pass through we decided to stop here for the night rather than get to Norfork late in the evening.

This is Cona finishing another puzzle while at the yacht basin.

We arrived in Norfork on Saturday August 13th. The trip up the river was fascinating. Norfork is the largest Naval ship yard in the US (I was told) and we passed more warships than I could count. This was the first time I had a VHF radio call to a military war ship. I came on a warship coming off anchor and had no idea where I should go. Stop, back up, turn, pass bow or stern, so I called for instructions. No problem, the ship radio operator responded with information and I passed without getting shot.

We docked at the Norfork Yacht Club courtsey of two friends of Steve, Cona's brother. Jack and Kirk Clarkson were great host and tour guides. They had us over to their home for a wonderful dinner and visit. The next day we visited the Mariners Museum. This is a fabulous museum made even more meaningful with Kirk and Jack as our guides.

This is a picture in front of the museum with Cona, Jack and Kirk.

Kirk has a world of history in her family. This is Kirk pictured in the Museum where a picture of her relative who fired the first shot from Charleston toward Fort Sumter. The picture of the relative is in the lower left corner. Needless to say we had a visit with Jack and Kirk we won't forget and we thank them for being so gracious.

We left Norfok Monday August 15th and headed for the historic area of James Town, Yorktown and Williamsburg Va.

We docked in Yorktown and traveled by bus to Williamsburg and James Town. The Federal Parks have buses that run every 20 minutes between all three historic sites. We spent five days here and took our time enjoying each of the areas.

We first visited the park in York Town. This was a reenactment park depicting how settlers lived. Yorktown is also the site of a major battle of the revolution. This was the spot where Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington, bringing an end to the last major battle of the American Revolutionary war.

This is a demonstration of how a canon was loaded and fired.

Cona listening to an explanation of the instruments used by the field surgeon during the Revolution War. This is a retired physician who volunteers his time to tell visitors about how the wounded where treated. Most of the instruments are the same design used today.

Cona checking out the pot used for washing clothes. In the back ground you can see the garden, showing vegetables as grown in the 16th century.

This is Miss Ellen's great, great, great grandmother.

A replica of one of the ships used to transport the first English settles to America

Picture of the Yorktown bridge. The only one of its kind. You can see the double opening where the center of the bridge swings. Huge war ship pass through to a major ammunition depot. We were docked at the foot of the bridge.

York Town victory monument. The first monument authorized by the congress after the revolution. It took 100 years before it was constructed. Washington never got to see it completed.

If you look closely you will see the date November 30th. My birthday. That's the day the Articles of Peace were concluded.

That's Miss Ellen at the York Town docks. She's to the right.

Rudy standing next to his hero's.

The interstate runs through York Town. You can see the signs showing the routes to Williamsburg and James Town.

This was the York Town trolley bus that took you around York Town, (free).

More replicas of the ships that the first settles came over from England in.

Where George Wythe, one of the signers of the Declaration of Interdependence lived.

One of the first Churches built in York Town, and is still in use.

Some of the original structures of the homes and buildings built by the English settlers in James Town.

Garden in Williamsburg.

Jefferson went to William & Mary College.

Rudy having a chat with Thomas Jefferson.

This is an archaeological dig taking place in James Town. They are still finding artifacts.

James Town is where Captain John Smith resided and explored the canals and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay.

Cona getting ready to get on one of the buses we rode around the historical triangle.

We stayed an extra day in York Town so we could attend the weekly farmers market. We got great butter beans, tomatoes, etc as well as a grass fed steak that was almost as good as Teco's.

Cona picking out vegetables. at the market.

Dockage in York Town.

This picture is out of order, but. This was in Urbana Virginia. The city marina provide free bicycles. We used once. We found it was easier to walk.

We were here when the earth quake occurred. We where eating in a restaurant when the ceiling and supports columns and floor where all moving in different directions.

One of the original 1700 building located in the town of Urbanna.

Inside the store pictured above.

We were eating in this resturant when the earth quake hit.

Still in Urbanna. Picture of a sail boat off our beam in the harbor where we were docked.

We left Urbanna and because of the threat of hurricane Irene we put the peddle to the medal and high tailed it to Annapolis Md. We docked at the city marina on Thursday and were told we had to leave on Friday because of potential flooding. We went up the Spa Creek, a river just out side of Annapolis, and anchored.

This is Miss Ellen on two hooks and being left to weather the storm alone. We didn't know if she would be there when we returned. Not a good feeling.

Picture of other boats anchored for the storm where we anchored and where we left our dingy.

Upon returning on Sunday night this is what the dingy looked like. Full of water and leaves but in tack.

Sunday night when we checked to see if we still had a boat we found Miss Ellen still there and in one piece.

After cleaning up the dingy and Miss Ellen, returning all the things we removed from her we settled down and returned to the city docks.

We toured the United States Naval Academy. This is Cona walking down the Commanders housing row. Thehomes were built in the 18 and 19 Century with minimum square footage of 4000. All up dated of course.