Norfolk is a beautiful city-probably the nicest one we’ve ever been itching to leave! Although we know we can’t go until Matthew passes, we are anxious to get going. Tentatively planned is a Monday or Tuesday departure, whenever the winds die down and the lock we must go through is up and running. We plan on anchoring out the first couple nights after we leave and we want to be sure the really big winds are gone.

To distract ourselves from endlessly rehearsing alternative plans we took in the Chrysler Art Museum which also has an attached glass-blowing studio. We found ourselves absorbed and diverted by the displayed works, which included a Van Gogh (tiny) and several Monets. Tom’s favorites were the paintings from the era of the American Revolutionary War. Paula preferred the paintings that focused on the face and form of people and mythic figures, such as Orestes and The Furies.

The Museum staff was very interactive and pleasant. All young people in blue sweaters, they were clearly interested in art and in making sure you got the most out of the art museum experience.

We strolled back home. Warm, windy and cloudy seems the signature weather this week. At the boat, Tom dove into yet another round of diagnostics with the aft Purasan, which appears plagued by demons. Paula helped intermittently, in between tending more make-ahead meals in the oven and on the stove: shrimp stir fry with rice and chicken baked in cream of mushroom soup, each dish is two night’s worth of meals for a total of 4. What with the pork chops made yesterday, this will be five dinners (we ate one portion of the pork chops tonight). After dinner on the boat, we walked back into town and got ice-cream cones.

Tomorrow we have been invited to a hurricane party aboard The Osprey, the 46 foot Regal cabin cruiser next door that belongs to Maury and Carol. We offered to bring cheese and crackers and baked apple dessert.