Off to the Great Loop Rendezvous

Our alarm was set for just after dawn. We awoke excited and were underway at 6:40 am to Norfolk. Heavy cloud cover provided for a dramatic sunrise as we exited the Rappahannock River and turned south down the Chesapeake Bay.

The predicted 15, gusting to 20, winds were closer to 20, gusting to 30, but it was behind us and we had a smooth seven-hour ride. The clouds soon burned off and we were treated to clear, blue skies and sunshine that kept us warm in the pilothouse. We crossed over the Hampton Roads Tunnel and turned passed the Naval base. This portion of water has always been one of my favorites and it is a privilege to observe our Naval fleet in such close proximity. 

We tied up at Waterside Marina and began the process of cleaning Crossroads of salt spray and pollen. It is Pollen Season in Virginia, and while everything has taken on a tint of yellow, the accumulation of pollen on our black canvas was particularly interesting. 

With the boat clean, we hit the showers in to get ready for my most anticipated part of the day. We have ultimately come to Norfolk to attend the Great Loop Spring Rendezvous. It is a gathering of folks in all stages of the Great Loop -- those who have completed the journey, those like us who are in progress, and those still in the planning phase.  Its a great opportunity to meet folks who we'll see along the way. 

A second, and even brighter highlight for me, was the opportunity to meet friends, and Norfolk residents, Linda and David. They picked us up for dinner at Surfrider, followed by a frozen treat at Dairy Queen. It was great to catch up and awful hard to say goodbye at the end of the evening. As we prepare to start the Great Loop, I know there will be plenty more difficult goodbyes to come. 

Crossing Finish Lines

In just under a week, I have crossed two monumental finish lines and can now turn my attention full-time to the ultimate start line.

On Saturday, April 14, I completed my eighth consecutive Monument Avenue 10k, our hometown race. With over 21,000 finishers, the atmosphere is amazing and its a must-do event for me. This year, however, was a bit different. I have been battling a knee injury for months and had done minimal training -- two 5ks, one 8k, and some occasional Saturday morning Training Team miles with dear friends Michelle and Debbie. With Michelle's amazing support and encouragement (Debbie was out of town), I overcame a ton of doubt to not only finish, but enjoy the beautiful day along the way. and have tons of fun. Nothing beats celebrating with friends after crossing a finish line. Finish line photos have always been my favorite.

Now, fast forward a few days. Today was my final day at Allegra. Its hard to believe that my time has come to an end after 27 years. It truly has flown by. I've had the opportunity to work with hundreds of amazing clients and create projects that we were all proud of. I will miss you guys. More so, I will miss my amazing co-workers, who became family to both me and Barry. The "old crew" has been together for more than a decade (and in one case, more than two). Saying goodbye is never easy for me and I will always remember our "finish line" lunch. I wish them -- and the members of the "new crew" -- all the best.

With those two finish lines crossed, I can now turn my attention full-time to our next start line and departure on our Great Loop adventure. The next month will fly by and be filled with anxious anticipation and preparation that is sure to continue right up until we bring our dock lines onboard. T minus one month, and counting ...

No Foolin'

The calendar has flipped to April and things are starting to get serious. April 20 will be my last day of work at Allegra. It is also the day Crossroads will be back in the water. We will then have one week to get her ready for our departure to Norfolk's Waterside and a week at the Great Loop Rendezvous.

Barry has been planning our Great Loop adventure for over 10 years and we're looking forward to seeing so much of the United States (plus Canada, The Bahamas, and maybe others) by water. After more than 27 years at the printing company, it is time. We're not getting any younger.

I'd love for you to learn more about our trip and what we will experience. The above map gives you an idea of possible routes, but further information can be found by Google-ing The Great Loop or just click here for a website that gives a pretty good overview.

Once we settle down, I will work hard on enhancing the appearance of this blog. I just haven't had time to learn more than the basic framework. It WILL get better.

Crossroads on the ICW in Great Bridge, VA