Life in the Slow Lane (The Pearl): July 23

Day 127 - Portsmouth

Waterside Marina

This morning we took the water taxi across the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth. We took our bikes so we could ride around town and see the sites. We checked out the Lightship. Lightships were floating lighthouses. They were anchored at the entrances to ports, bays and outer limits to off-lying danger areas such as shoals and reefs. These vessels served as aids to navigation until the 1960s when they became too expensive to maintain and man. We walked through a small farmers market and rode through part of the historic district. It was just too hot to enjoy anything, so we only stayed for an hour or so, and then took the taxi back to the boat. We spent the afternoon at MacArthur Mall watching Captain America and staying cool. By evening the temperature had dropped and we had a thunderstorm when the cool front moved through. We should have more comfortable weather tomorrow when we move to Yorktown.

Water taxi that runs between Norfolk and Portsmouth. There has been ferry service across the river since 1636.