Arriving at Willoughby...

Sunday night and we were arriving in Norfolk with our new boat, it was dark, and we had never been into Willoughby before...

We found a red flashing nav aid we were looking for, but after that we were having a hard time picking up the day markers, seeing as it was now pitch black, n-all...

We started to rely on our eyes, and were lost, but still finding nav aids ahead to aim for. I saw some masts that must be our marina, so we puttered over to there, but it was not easy to get in, and not lit at all. After a couple of very slow approaches we nosed our way in, and found it was a marina - Whew, the relief was incredible!

So we found a spot on the outside of a finger pier and tied up for the night. Pleased to have made a safe passage.

We were awoken Monday morning on the boat to the sound of: "left, left, left, left-right-left", and marching chants "people always ask us, people always ask us, who we are, who we are...", etc. Ok, strange I thought, but this is Norfolk and we have not been to this marina before...

Then there was a trumpet piece to announce the sunrise, and when I was having a morning pee from the foredeck the national anthem started playing over a speaker system - the cars on land all pulled over and stopped - I was mid-pee and decided to continue... But realized things are not at all kosher... "Bridge - start the engine, we need to leave - PRONTO!!!"

Turns out we accidentally motored into the military base, and had tied up to one of the Marines docks!!! Needless to say, we left as quickly - and inconspicuously - as possible - hoping not to get chased down by a boat full of Marine trainees. We searched for & found the correct marina which was about a mile north!!! Phew, that was a close call.

With this, we decided we need a good GPS - STAT!!!