31st October and 1st November 2016. Norfolk, Virginia and our Visit to Williamsburg.

We had enjoyed 2?wonderful days in New York and sailed out of that city as a thunderstorm and very heavy rainfall arrived.  It had been a terrific 2 days.  We dined enjoyed the piano virtuoso in the lounge and slept well very much anticipating our visit to NewbNorfolf and travelling to Williamsburg to visit and stay overnight with Bill and Jean. 

we departed the ship shortly after it arrived in in Norfolk having traversed the 90 minute sail from the ocean through an extensive part of the US fleet, which is based here.  We were advised that the portion of the US Navy fleet based here is larger in size and people than 95% of the navy in the world.  Certainly impressive in the number and variety of ship including aircraft carriers (3) , cruisers and destroyers as well as frigates etc. 

We docked very bear the centre of town ,but there were no cabs available do we departed at about 12.45pm and walked to the nearby Marriott Hotel, when there were cabs and then travelled to the Norfolk International Airport and picked up a rental and drove to Williamsburg about 75 minutes from Norfolk in a very pretty environment, where the deciduous trees are beginning to rapidly change colours.

We stopped on the way n a Village to visit a supermarket and pick up some wine and flowers  .  Jean and Bill live in a beautiful gated community with Ford Colony and are in a quiet court.  We had previously stayed in the Marriott Ford Colony Timeshare when we visited 2 years ago. They have a large very comfortable home where we enjoyed our 2 days very much.

Jeanette and Jean just got together again after the welcome and continued talking as they had on the Oceania Nautical last year.  Bill and Ken were also engaged with deep conversation and discussions as to golf and our travels. 

Bill grilled on the BBQ and Jean prepared a beautiful meal.  We talked likemagpies and they had several weeks earlier had our mutual friends Rosey and Jim McLeod from Edinburgh, Scotland. Unfortunately , Jim has a leg issue but apart from that we're in good spirits and as always excellent company.

It was Halloween, but they celebrate a little differently and the young children had called to a centre area earlier on.  We talked of our fond memories of last year with Steve and Ruth Ellen in St.Louis. 

We retired st about 11.00pm and have arranged to visit the Colonial areas of Williamsburg tomorrow morning and we will depart early afternoon to return to Norfolk for our ship's early departure at 4.30pm.

We awoke to a cool and overcast but dry morning and we had an enjoyable breakfast from the kitchen  dining area of their home overlooking one of the 3 courses on the estate.  We then visited several areas and stores in Williamsburg for about 2-3 hours.  Very enjoyable and quite civilised, then off to lunch in the restaurant at the golf club.  We had a great lunch with much laughter and joy. 

The Ford Colony golf courses and Club is now owned/ managed by the Club Group which manages over 200 courses nationally.  Bill said we should join them on a lovely course using our timeshare and also benefiting from their Club Group memberships.  We also discussed traveling together in the future.  We would be delighted to spend more time with them.  Good friends and excellent company with many similar views toys across a range of subjects and issues. 

departure came quickly following lunch, we said our goodbyes and then Jeanette drove back to the Norfolk airport.  We then dropped off the rental vehicle and caught a cab back to the Port arriving at 3.15pm.  We then had a drink , changed and went yo happy hour.  Friends asked yo go to high tea at 4.00pm, we thanked them but declined.  Dinner tonight in Grand Dining Room, where we were joined by a friendly older couple, but it proved a difficult evening as did duffers quite severe short term memory loss and he was somwhat rude to our wait staff.  We did survive, attended the show and also reflected on our two says in beautiful Norfolk,Virginia.

Tomorrow is a sea day as we travel south toward Charleston, South Carolina.