After several more days of doing chores or changing something around again, we left Sailcraft for a big cruise of two miles to the Oriental Inn & Marina where we met Larry and Sue on SueSeaQ4. The temperatures were high 90s with heat index in the 100s so all four of us spent most of the time in the swimming pool cooling off.

Monday, June 9 we left Oriental for four months of cruising north. Our tentative itinerary, or as Jim says, "our plans are written in pencil in the sand near the shore's edge", included old and new territory. We planned to stay at places long enough to do some sightseeing. After cruising through the heavy smoke from the forest fires, we were happy to stop at Alligator River Marina. The four of us enjoyed dinner (softshell crabs) at the convenience store/restaurant/gas station/marina office. The next day we cruised to Coinjock where we stopped for the 32 oz. prime rib that provides at least two meals for two of us!

Thursday, June 12 we arrived at Waterside Marina in Norfolk. As they say, location, location, location. The city is at one's feet, Portsmouth across the river, and the almost constant passing of some type of vessel from commercial, military, recreational, and law enforcement. Jim dearly loves tugboats and was truly in awe of all the different types that went by.