Aircraft Carrier By Thimble Shoal Light

 

Hold On - What's the Rush!

We were going to leave for Portsmouth today but decided "What's The Rush", Let's Enjoy Hampton". So we went to "Big Walt's" for Jim's haircut. It was the shortest haircut that I have witnessed! We also went to the Air & Space Museum. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny & calm winds; so we will leave then. Hampton has been a lovely spot to renew and replenish food, water, etc.

The Hampton Public Piers

 

To Paraphrase Captain Ron......

We still have our trusty windex.....whoops it's gone! After spending a lovely day in Jackson Creek near Deltaville, VA (Jim even wore shorts!), we left at 0700 on Monday to head for Hampton, VA - the last stop on the Chesapeake before starting the ICW. The weather forecast seemed O.K. for the day, but the wind was supposed to crank up to 20 knots by afternoon, and then higher gusts by evening. By afternoon the wind was blowing mid-to-high 20s and the waves were about 4 feet. We were towing the dinghy - a mistake! A wave crashed in Porty! We hoped it wouldn't happen again; we were lucky. It was an exhilarating sail with a reefed main and staysail - wing on wing - surfing down waves at over 9 knots! We learned alot! To add to the excitement Navy aircraft carriers were in our path (or we were in theirs)! It was at this point that our windex blew off!!! We pulled into Mill Creek by Old Point Comfort to anchor for the night. By morning it was NOT Comfort Point. The wind shifted during the night and we bounced around most of the night. By 0900, we were out of there to find a spot on the Hampton River where we would be protected from the West wind that was going to blow for the next two days. We were able to get a slip at The Hampton Public Piers - a wonderful spot; very protected! Getting chores done - laundry, shopping, fixing stuff, and replacing the Windex!

Menhaden Rule

It is good to be heading south again! After leaving DC, we spent a quiet night in Mattawoman Creek; actually only part of a night! We left the anchorage at 0440, making our way down the Potomac with UNLIT buoys! We were very happy when sunrise came. Our chartplotter and radar came in very handy. By 1700 we were safely anchored in Jutland Creek very close (7 miles) to the mouth of the Potomac. Yesterday we headed out at 1000, and had the best day of sailing yet. We sailed into The Great Wicomico River,into Cockrell Creek, and dropped the hook by Reedville, VA. This is the capital of Menhaden fish processing; an industry that made millionaires! Actually, at one point Reedville had the highest per capita income in the world! There are lovely Victorian homes here and a very interesting Fishermen's Museum. We spent a couple of hours there and enjoyed the visit. The museum is run entirely by volunteers, that are very dedicated and enthusiastic about their project. We are staying here until Sunday, until the wind and rain from the low pressure system passes. When we arrived, a couple from Toronto with a Niagara 35 pulled up in their dinghy and invited us to join them for dinner at The Crazy Crab Restaurant - how could we resist! Fabulous crabcakes! (again)!

Porty Leaves DC

After three fun days in DC, we are heading down the Potomac River towards the Chesapeake Bay again. Tonight we are anchored in Mattawoman Creek, a very peaceful spot. It has been quite chilly the past few days, looking forward to getting to some warmer weather. Jim successfully completed the installation of the SSB radio in DC thanks to the help of Bill Trayfors. We visited the Holocaust Museum, did some provisioning, and visited cousin Larry again. The Capital Yacht Club is a wonderful place - very friendly & accommodating!

Now That's Alot of Crabs

 

Laurie At The Roosevelt Memorial

 

Jim At The World War II Memorial

 

The Anchorage At The National Channel

 

Jim's Anchor Pulling Outfit

 

Porty Goes To Washington DC

For those of you who don't know, Porty is the name of our dinghy! We had a great trip the final 20 something miles up the Potomac. The current was favorable even though the wind direction was not. We are anchored in the Washington Channel; a stone's throw away from all the monuments, museums, etc. The sky became cloudless when we arrived. We are able to use the dinghy dock, showers, laundry, and computer at The Capital Yacht Club for $15.00 a day; not too bad for lodging in DC! After getting settled we set off to see the sights - The World War II, The Lincoln, The Jefferson, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and The Roosevelt Memorials. I was too tired to cook so we went out to dinner at Jenny's a Asian Fusion Restaurant above The Yacht Club - delicious dumplings, pad thai, and General chicken. How amazing to be in DC!

Anchored in Mattawoman Creek

We only traveled 30 miles today, and decided to anchor in Mattawoman Creek about 20 miles from DC. This is the last deep water anchorage before Washington. The wind was right on our nose & the water was very rough. We spent the afternoon doing boat projects. Our plan is to leave at 0700 tomorrow.

Up the Potomac

The trip up the Potomac River is 107 statute miles. We decided to do it in two days. A 50 mile day is an all day affair on "Kismet". The main purpose for this trip is to get help with the SSB radio installation. Our first night was spent anchored in Smith Creek about 7 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake. Today we sailed and motored until THE NAVY directed us clear the channel because they were conducting LIVE FIRE exercises. We were grateful for the warning, and promptly heeded the instructions and motored towards our anchoring destination of Port Tobacco River, MD. A beautiful spot - off Chapel Point (complete with church bells)! Tomorrow we hope to be in D.C!

One More View

 

Water, Water, Everywhere

 

A View of Tangier

 

Tangier History

 

The Last Cow Left Tangier in a Boat - From a Newspaper Clipping

 

Adventures in the Honga River & Tangier VA

We sailed south on the Chesapeake with "Charmed" towards the Honga River, about 45 miles. Upon rounding the marker at the entrance to the river, we went aground in 4'6" of water. After about 1/2 hour of attempts to get off, we called Boat US for a tow. Jim had set an anchor and put up the sails - about 5 minutes after placing the call, we were unstuck and moving in deep water again! Just after sunset we had our anchor set and we were ready for dinner with Craig & Debbie. At 0730 on 10/15/08, we headed down the Tangier Sound for Tangier VA about 30 miles south. What an absolutely incredible place. An Island with no cars, about 700 residents, a town totally dependent on crabbing and oystering. We pulled into a slip at Parks Marina. There is no anchoring in Tangier. We had hoped to eat dinner at Hilda Crocketts Chesapeake House, but she was closed. After dealing with our disappointment, we ate crabcakes at Lorraine's Restaurant, took a long walk, a dinghy ride, and ended the evening with 3 episodes of Gilligan's Island on "Charmed". Today we left Tangier at 0930; fueled up and headed towards the Potomac River for a trip to Washington DC.

Laurie Hooked A Big One

 

Following "Charmed"

 

Thomas Point Light

 

Craig & Debbie At Boat Show

 

Smoking Cigars with Cousin Larry

 

On The Road Again

To All of Our Loyal Followers - Sorry that it has been so long since our last update! We stayed in Annapolis for 12 days - a week on the mooring ball on Spa Creek; then at a slip in Shearwater Marina; a lovely spot that new friends graciously invited us to. There were too many fun times to describe in great detail; especially in retrospect! But I will mention the highlights! Visits from relatives; cousin Larry from D.C., Uncle Sumner & Aunt Judy from Silver Springs, MD,and friends Roy & Yasmin and Bob & Brenda from Katlynn Marina in Sodus Point NY. The Boat Show activities were so much fun. We were invited to a pre-show get together hosted by Ed and Robin from Gratitude Yachting in Rock Hall, MD. It was great to meet The Johnson Family, the founders and designers of Island Packets. We got alot of exercise - we walked 7 miles two days in a row to have some rigging done. Plus many miles for grocery shopping, laundry, and of course Rum! The weather has been better than wonderful. We have been so lucky.
We left Annapolis on October 13th at 0700 with our friends Debbie & Craig - "Charmed" for a three day cruising trip heading south. The first stop was St. Michaels, MD on the eastern shore - anchored in an incredible spot after a perfect sail. Walked into town, window shopped, had ice cream, and then had a fabulous dinner on "Charmed". After an episode of Gilligan's Island (really!), we called it a night and went to bed, so that we could get an early start for the Honga River.

Nice Backyard!

 

"Charmed" - Sailing Upwind

 

"Arabella" - You Know You are in Annapolis

 

On a Mooring Ball in Spa Creek

Yesterday after a brisk sail on the bay outside of Annapolis, we picked up a mooring ball for at least a week. We are just past the bridge on Spa Creek - very accessible to everything. Today is a beautiful sunny day about 70 degrees.

Anchored in Annapolis

After Jim helped the folks free a line that had wrapped around their prop (from the dragging event), we motored out of Whitehall Bay to Annapolis. We dropped the hook in front of the Naval Academy near "Charmed", then spent the afternoon beginning to explore Annapolis. Took the free shuttle to the grocery store to replenish supplies. As usual we bought more than expected, so we had a heavy load to dinghy back to "Kismet". Craig & Debbie invited us to dinner - another wonderful evening on "Charmed".

An Exciting Night

We arrived in Mill Creek early afternoon and anchored for the night. We were somewhat concerned when four boats came into the anchorage and rafted up together; upcreek from us, with a forecast of potentially severe thunderstorms. We went to dinner at "Cantlers" for more crabcakes (they were delicious)! And thought we would get to bed early. Checked the radar and it was clear that a thunderstorm was on its way. The wind & rain arrived - our manson supreme anchor held tight. However, the four boats were now moving past us at a high rate of speed towards the shore - thankfully missing us on their way. For the next two hours it was a circus watching them unravel themselves from each other. In the future - we will move "Kismet" out of harms way when there is a stormy forecast to avoid potential disaster!