Day 358 - 360 June 13 - 15, 2023

 Day 358 Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Deltaville, Virginia to Solomons Island, Maryland

We left Deltaville Marina at 7:30am to take advantage of high tide.  The approach to the marina was shallow and windy, a bit anxious on the way in.  We were hoping for a less stressful departure.  A catamaran leaving at the same time actually slowed to follow us out -- scaredy cat!!

We passed Windmill Point Light and BIG fishing boats cruising ahead.  We steered around them to avoid any nets they may have dropped.  

 

We were at Smith Point Light MARYLAND at 11am.  It's hard to believe we are moving up the East Coast so quickly.  So far the weather on the Chesapeake Bay has been friendly to us.  I have been dreading travel on the Bay since it can be very unsettled.  

 

We saw a shark and manta rays and lots of military jets.  One even looked like Air Force One.  

We passed a US Navy aerial gunnery area -- with a big target....

There were some tense moments over the VHS radio as we listened to a boater call the Coast Guard; they had run into a buoy.  Buoys on the Chesapeake are not like the ones at home on Lake Champlain.  Marker 76 (location where they hit) is made of steel and at least 6 feet above the water and 4 feet below.  The Coast Guard called for any nearby boats to be on the lookout and aid if possible.  The motor boat, a new 37 foot Beneteau, named Nomad was taking on water.  We were too far away but soon a trawler, Cygna, and a NOAA Research Vessel, Potowagh were on site.  The two boaters were convinced they shouldn't stay on board by Potowagh and shortly after Nomad started sinking.  So sad.

We got a welcome message on Nebo from the Harborhost in Solomons Island inviting us to dock at Solomons Island Yacht Club.  The Club is private and offers slips to Loopers.  What a great deal -- $1.85/ft., $15 for 50amp electric, 2 free drinks at the Clubhouse and free laundry.  Our friends on Call Me Curly would be there too.  We had originally reserved at Spring Cove Marina but were able to change without a problem.

We arrived at Solomons Island at 3:15pm, got a pumpout (not available at the Yacht Club) and then were met by Dennis, a club member at the yacht club.   The club is all volunteer, very friendly and helpful.  Dennis was full of info about where to go in town. 

We went to the Yacht Club bar with Sharon and Grant to enjoy our free drink coupon.  What a deal - our 2nd drink was only $2!  While there we met some club members and the boaters from Cygna.  Cygna shared some pictures of the damaged boat Nomad.  We can only imagine how they managed to run into the marker.  The hole in the bow of the boat was huge, no wonder they took on water.  Cygna shared that the boat was new and this was the first time out.  

Yacht Club Bar. 

 

Italian Dinner at Island House -- just okay. 

Day 358 Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Solomons Island Maryland to St. Michaels, Maryland

Originally we were going to stay a couple days in Solomons Island but we decided to leave with Call Me Curly.  We waited for them to fuel up (at another marina) and left the Paxutank River at 9:30am.   Weather was threatening thunderstorms for later in the afternoon so we were wishing that we had left earlier.  We had waves mostly 1-2 foot but some 3's, giving us a nice push.  

Our subscription to the Navionics program that we use for navigation had expired.  Jerry tried but couldn't renew it before the expiration.  Jerry downloaded our route last night but we couldn't use it.  So, we navigated by the route he created on his phone and the Aqua Maps one I had on the tablet.  It's important to have some redundancy.

Along the way we passed several lighthouses including Cove Point Lighthouse with a keeper's cottage. 

 

"Gas" dock 

 Our route took us through a "short cut" filled with fishing markers and anxiety.  It probably saved 30 minutes and not worth it.  We actually may have hit something. 

We made it to Higgin's before the rain.  Higgin's is more a ship yard rather than marina for transients. They had plenty of room for us and are located right in town.  

We took a walk into town and discovered JoJo's Ice Cream, so good. "From moo to you in 2 days"!

 

Back at the marina we joined Sharon and Grant at the "Kawartha" chairs for a beverage.   We call them Adirondack chairs but Grant insists otherwise. 

Day 360 Thursday, June 15, 2023

Today we toured the Chesapeake Maritime Museum, enjoying the boat building, lighthouse and exhibits.  The museum was preparing for it's annual Father's Day events with venders and lots of visitors.  So much to see we walked back to the boat for lunch and then continued the rest of the museum.

  Hooper's Strait Lighthouse was moved to museum grounds.  It is a screwpile lighthouse where the support legs are screwed into bedrock.  This is important on Chesapeake Bay since they can be pushed by ice and destroyed.  Can you guess what the building hanging off the lighthouse porch is?  The outhouse!  Waste drops into the water; look out below!!

  

The crank is responsible for keeping the fog bell ringing.   The red class helped sailors know when they were headed off course.

 

Point Lookout Fog Bell was moved to the museum when no longer needed.

  

   Zoom in to see the cotton used to seal between the wood planks.

We walked more of the quaint town of St. Micheals then joined Grant, Sharon, M.E., and Tommy (from AnnaDee) for drinks at Foxy's Harbor Grille and dinner at Limoncello.  

 

 Albino mallard.

    Built in the 1800's it is being renovated.

The Italian was delicious. 

 

Tomorrow we travel to Annapolis Maryland.

355 - 357 June 10 - 12, 2023

 Day 353 Saturday, June 10, 2023

Portsmouth, Virginia MM Zero to Deltaville, Virginia

When we returned from Harborfest we had a neighbor in the slip next to us.  It wasn't until the morning that we realized it was "Remedy", who we met in Jacksonville, Florida.   Our departure was a bit delayed waiting for a tow boat picking up a disabled ferry at the marina docks.  When we could pull out we headed to the fuel dock.  We never got to see the folks on Remedy.

 

Cate (from the marina office) and a dock hand helped us off and then caught us at the fuel dock, (only $3.20/gallon).  Portsmouth Boating Center staff were the best!  When we called to reserve a slip and arrange for a battery Cate was awesome.  She assured us that she would make room for us and ordered the battery.  This morning he was laughing about having to work on Saturday.  She told her boss Mike that if she had to work so did he!  He was actually bringing a friend's boat that morning to the marina from Cape Charles.

All fueled we headed out towards Norfolk harbor.  Sunny and warm it looked like it would be a good day.  We were met by Mike on his friend's boat waving to us.  He yelled that the Chesapeake Bay was beautiful and that we were sure to have a great day.

We passed lots of warships at dock in the several shipyards lining the shore. We wondered if any of them were decommissioned.  We passed a cargo ship, Ever Fortune, and a Red Cross boat.  First ever, we were passed by a Sea Doo with a motor on back!

   

We left the fuel dock at 9am and reached Chesapeake Bay at 10:30.  It was good travel with calm, rolling seas.  Lots of cargo ships were anchored in the Bay. 

   Thimble Shoal Light 

Deltaville Marina is on Jackson Creek. The entrance was very shallow and winding, making Jerry a bit nervous with the current.  Of course the wind always picks up when it's time to dock.  The docks were a bit of surprise.  They were fixed docks but very short and triangular in shape.  We bowed in, otherwise we wouldn't be able to get off the boat!  With help from the dock hand, Colin, we got tied up -- no hopping off the boat to catch and tie a cleat!!  The marina has a restaurant, pool and lots of locals.  We also had a great view of some nesting osprey.

 

We took advantage of the courtesy car to go to the market and West Marine.  For such a small town the West Marine was huge.  Leftovers from Pizza and Pour for dinner.

Day 356 Sunday, June 11, 2023

After breakfast and a lazy morning we took the trail to Deltaville Museum and Holly Point Nature Park.  Joy at the reception desk was very friendly and welcoming.  The museum included exhibits of boat building and the history of crab and oyster fishing in the area.  

  The trail starts right at the marina and is a short walk to the museum.  The flag pole is gaff rigged with a yardarm.

 Replica of John Smith's shallop, The Explorer

 

We saw the FD Crockett, a refurbished log bottom buyboat.  In addition to fishing buyboats actually bought the days catch of other fishermen, saving them the time needed to bring their catch to port and then return to fish more.  Active boat building goes on at the museum.  Volunteers build a new boat each year which is sold to benefit the museum.

 

The museum sponsors a Family Boat Building Week each year.  Families and groups actually build a boat in a week with the help of volunteers and step by step instruction.  Materials and directions are provided, with each day a designated step in the process.

  Little crab on the dock along the living shoreline in the park.

Dinner was at the Deltaville Tap and Raw Bar, right at the marina.

Day 357 Monday June 12, 2023

We are at Deltaville an added day due to weather.  Thunderstorms, with increased winds and waves kept us snug in our slip.  I took advantage and defrosted the refrigerator.  It really seems to ice up quickly and then the contents aren't as cold.

Once the fridge was done we borrowed the courtesy car to check out Nauti Nell's .   Nell's is a consignment and gift shop filled with all things nautical.  It also consigns boat parts.  Who knows what treasures you might find.  We enjoyed the stop and then did a small tour of town.  The marina limits the distance and time (1 hour) that you can borrow the car.

Pork loin, corn on the cob and rice for dinner.  Tomorrow we move on to Solomons Island.