Saturday, May 25,
2013. It is sunny and cool this morning, but
the wind is down
significantly. Timing through the Dismal Swamp is critical, as the bridges and locks
open on a specific schedule - and only about 4 times a day. We plan to leave at 10:30am,
clear the bridge at Elizabeth City and then make the lock and bridge at South Mills at the
1:00pm opening. As we prepare to leave, we notice that there is a farmer's market going
on at the park next to the marina. Not large, but a very nice selection of veggies, plants,
breads, cookies, jellies, etc. Lisa bought a basil plant and we were given a jelly to use as
a marinade.
significantly. Timing through the Dismal Swamp is critical, as the bridges and locks
open on a specific schedule - and only about 4 times a day. We plan to leave at 10:30am,
clear the bridge at Elizabeth City and then make the lock and bridge at South Mills at the
1:00pm opening. As we prepare to leave, we notice that there is a farmer's market going
on at the park next to the marina. Not large, but a very nice selection of veggies, plants,
breads, cookies, jellies, etc. Lisa bought a basil plant and we were given a jelly to use as
a marinade.
We are away from the dock at 10:15am
and make an opening at the Elizabeth City Bridge at 10:30am. The wind is NW @ 10-15 and it is only
about 45 degrees. This area of the Pasquotank River above the bridge is a very
pretty area, not over-built like a lot of areas we have seen. The river gets
narrower and is very winding as we head north to the lock. As we approach the lock, we are overtaken by Eagles Wings, a
Morgan Out Island 40, with Dave and Joan aboard. We follow them from the lock
to the Dismal Swamp
Visitors Center, where we stop for the day. The last opening of the lock at Deep Creek is
at 3:30pm, and there is no way to make that opening. These two locks raise and lower the boat 8 feet. This is interesting, because there is only one lock on the Virginia Cut Route and it only raises the boat one foot.
Visitors Center, where we stop for the day. The last opening of the lock at Deep Creek is
at 3:30pm, and there is no way to make that opening. These two locks raise and lower the boat 8 feet. This is interesting, because there is only one lock on the Virginia Cut Route and it only raises the boat one foot.
The Dismal Swamp Visitor Center is
unique. There is free dockage for boats - and it is a
rest area for autos on US Route 17. There is a visitor center, museum, rental kayaks and
canoes, walking/nature trails, and exhibits. A nice stop. There are four boats here -
Rhiannon, Alexia (HR42, William and Francis from England), Eagles Wings (who we
are rafted to), and Utopia (Caliber 40, Frank and Diane Albani).
rest area for autos on US Route 17. There is a visitor center, museum, rental kayaks and
canoes, walking/nature trails, and exhibits. A nice stop. There are four boats here -
Rhiannon, Alexia (HR42, William and Francis from England), Eagles Wings (who we
are rafted to), and Utopia (Caliber 40, Frank and Diane Albani).
We have dinner on board and then
drinks aboard Alexia with the other three boats. Nice.
19.3NM 23SM today. 1 lock and two bridges. Mile Marker
28.
36°30.40'N 076°21.36°W
36°30.40'N 076°21.36°W
Sunday, May 26,
2013. We are up and away from the dock at
7:30am with Utopia. It is
chilly, but the wind is down to NW@5. This part of the Dismal Swamp is a very narrow
ditch - and only about 6 feet deep. Lots of flowers in bloom, Magnolias, Honeysuckle,
and others -like cruising through a florist shop - very fragrant. We arrive early from the
11am opening of the Deep Creek Bridge and Lock, and then have to wait almost an hour
until 11 :45am. We also arrive early for the Gilmerton Bridge opening and have to wait ½ hour for that opening as well.
chilly, but the wind is down to NW@5. This part of the Dismal Swamp is a very narrow
ditch - and only about 6 feet deep. Lots of flowers in bloom, Magnolias, Honeysuckle,
and others -like cruising through a florist shop - very fragrant. We arrive early from the
11am opening of the Deep Creek Bridge and Lock, and then have to wait almost an hour
until 11 :45am. We also arrive early for the Gilmerton Bridge opening and have to wait ½ hour for that opening as well.
This Memorial Day Week-end and there
are lots of people on the water- especially in
small motorboats.
small motorboats.
We arrive at Waterside Marina in
Norfolk at 3pm. This is right on the Norfolk waterfront
and is very nice. The area has all been redone and would remind you of South Street
Seaport in NYC, or Baltimore. Restaurants, shops, a mall, a park. This marina is right
across the river from the Tidewater Marine in Portsmouth, VA, which is where we waited
out Hurricane Sandy last October. As you might expect, Norfolk is a very busy port, especially with the Navy.
and is very nice. The area has all been redone and would remind you of South Street
Seaport in NYC, or Baltimore. Restaurants, shops, a mall, a park. This marina is right
across the river from the Tidewater Marine in Portsmouth, VA, which is where we waited
out Hurricane Sandy last October. As you might expect, Norfolk is a very busy port, especially with the Navy.
When we lived in Massachusetts, we
used to see the ship “Energy Enterprise” come into Salem Harbor to deliver coal
to the local power plant. We saw that
ship in Norfolk being loaded at a coal loading facility.
In addition to Utopia being here, Tinteán
- pronounced tent-on (I think) - (Island packet
40, Ken and Sarah Aiken), and Daisy May (Ranger Tug 29, Bob and Bonnie Martin-
their dog is also Daisy May) are here. We last saw both in Elizabeth City. Bob and
Bonnie are doing the great loop. They purchased the boat in Florida. We walked around
town with Bob and Bonnie and then they went to find ice cream and we had dinner at
Hell's Kitchen. Interesting decor. We had seafood nachos that were great.
40, Ken and Sarah Aiken), and Daisy May (Ranger Tug 29, Bob and Bonnie Martin-
their dog is also Daisy May) are here. We last saw both in Elizabeth City. Bob and
Bonnie are doing the great loop. They purchased the boat in Florida. We walked around
town with Bob and Bonnie and then they went to find ice cream and we had dinner at
Hell's Kitchen. Interesting decor. We had seafood nachos that were great.
21.4 NM 28SM today. Mile Marker 0. 36°50.65'N 076°17.58'W
Monday, May 27,
2013. Memorial Day. Our plan was to spend
the day in Norfolk, but
everyone is leaving headed north. We helped several boats off the dock and then helped
Tinteán on and off the dock to pump out. At 10am we, too, leave the dock headed north
and shortly catch up to Tinteán and travel with them the rest of the day north to Gwynn
Island (Deltaville, VA). As we left Norfolk, it is 70 degrees and sunny and no wind. At
2pm it has turned cloudy and the wind has gone South 10-15 and we have the genoa out.
At 6:30pm, we are actually rafted to Tinteán for the evening and Ken and Sarah came
over for dinner. Lisa made a lovely vegetarian lasagna for dinner.
everyone is leaving headed north. We helped several boats off the dock and then helped
Tinteán on and off the dock to pump out. At 10am we, too, leave the dock headed north
and shortly catch up to Tinteán and travel with them the rest of the day north to Gwynn
Island (Deltaville, VA). As we left Norfolk, it is 70 degrees and sunny and no wind. At
2pm it has turned cloudy and the wind has gone South 10-15 and we have the genoa out.
At 6:30pm, we are actually rafted to Tinteán for the evening and Ken and Sarah came
over for dinner. Lisa made a lovely vegetarian lasagna for dinner.
47.9 NM 56SM today. 37°30.7'N 076°18.35'W
At 2am, the wind shifts SW and gets a
little bumpy in the anchorage. There are now 4
other boats in here and Utopia and R&R are farther up the river. At 5:30am we are up
tending lines as the wind has now built up to 15+.
other boats in here and Utopia and R&R are farther up the river. At 5:30am we are up
tending lines as the wind has now built up to 15+.
Tuesday, May 28,
2013. At 7:15am, we drop the lines and head
north to Solomon's
Island (Patuxent River). It is cloudy and the wind is SW @ 15+. At 7:45am, we pass
Stingray Light and are making a steady 6-7 knots over the ground with only the headsail.
At 9:30am, we pass the mouth of the Potomac River and get attacked by small black
biting flies - hundreds of them! - and we are at least 3 miles off shore! The sport of the day is swatting flies and there are at least 100 of them dead in the cockpit and almost as many below. We have run into this once before on Cape Cod Bay and the explanation we got at that time from the locals was there was probably a dead carcass of something large in the water that we passed close to.
Island (Patuxent River). It is cloudy and the wind is SW @ 15+. At 7:45am, we pass
Stingray Light and are making a steady 6-7 knots over the ground with only the headsail.
At 9:30am, we pass the mouth of the Potomac River and get attacked by small black
biting flies - hundreds of them! - and we are at least 3 miles off shore! The sport of the day is swatting flies and there are at least 100 of them dead in the cockpit and almost as many below. We have run into this once before on Cape Cod Bay and the explanation we got at that time from the locals was there was probably a dead carcass of something large in the water that we passed close to.
At 2:30pm, the wind goes SE and the
flies disappear. At 4pm, we are tied up at Calvert's
Marina at Solomon’s Island. Utopia and Daisy Mae are here as well. Everyone who comes in today has piles of dead flies onboard. We have dinner on board and then a walk around the area. There is not much to see or do on this side of the harbor and it is a very long walk around to the other side.
Marina at Solomon’s Island. Utopia and Daisy Mae are here as well. Everyone who comes in today has piles of dead flies onboard. We have dinner on board and then a walk around the area. There is not much to see or do on this side of the harbor and it is a very long walk around to the other side.
At 9pm, there is lots of lightening
and thunder, but not too much rain. It looks like the
storms are passing to our north.
storms are passing to our north.
Tinteán is going overnight to
Annapolis. We talked to
them and they are still south of
Solomon's with the storms ahead of them.
Solomon's with the storms ahead of them.
59.9NM
72SM today. 38°19.93'N 076°27.42'W
Wednesday,
5/29/2013. We elect to
spend the day here. The weather is questionable
and the anchorage the previous night and yesterday's long day has left us not ready to
face another day of high winds on the Chesapeake. We spend the day cleaning the boat and getting stuff packed, as we have only one more sailing day before reaching our destination for this trip - Oxford, MD.
and the anchorage the previous night and yesterday's long day has left us not ready to
face another day of high winds on the Chesapeake. We spend the day cleaning the boat and getting stuff packed, as we have only one more sailing day before reaching our destination for this trip - Oxford, MD.
Calvert’s Marina has a courtesy car
and we use it to go to the hardware store for storage bins, then brunch at
Happy's Diner. This courtesy car is the oldest living Mercedes on the planet,
but it runs and the price is right.
The generator has been acting up
again, same symptoms as before - starts, runs, shuts
down. I replaced the fuel solenoid and tightened up the linkage and it now runs as it
should. The injectors will need to be changed over the summer too as we are getting black, icky smoke.
down. I replaced the fuel solenoid and tightened up the linkage and it now runs as it
should. The injectors will need to be changed over the summer too as we are getting black, icky smoke.
We had dinner at the Black Creek
Bistro at the marina. Food was good and a great view.
Thursday, May 30,
2013. We left the dock at Calvert's at
9:15am. It is sunny and 75
degrees. Wind SW @ 5. The weather folks are predicting small craft advisories for the
Chesapeake, but it is a beautiful day on the bay and the winds never do materialize.
degrees. Wind SW @ 5. The weather folks are predicting small craft advisories for the
Chesapeake, but it is a beautiful day on the bay and the winds never do materialize.
You see military aircraft close by all
the time here because of the air station at the mouth
of the Patuxent River. Today, however, we see at WWII B25 doing "touch and goes".
My Dad flew in one of those as a photographer - sitting where the bombardier would
normally sit in the nose.
of the Patuxent River. Today, however, we see at WWII B25 doing "touch and goes".
My Dad flew in one of those as a photographer - sitting where the bombardier would
normally sit in the nose.
At 11: 15am, the wind is SW @ 10 and
there is not a cloud in the sky. We arrive at Mears
Marina in Oxford to refuel at 3:00 pm. We want the tanks full when Rhiannon is stored for the summer. At 3:30pm we are tied up at Oxford Boat Yard, where Rhiannon will spend the summer having some maintenance done and just being stored until fall.
Marina in Oxford to refuel at 3:00 pm. We want the tanks full when Rhiannon is stored for the summer. At 3:30pm we are tied up at Oxford Boat Yard, where Rhiannon will spend the summer having some maintenance done and just being stored until fall.
We meet Mitch (owner), Graham
(manager) and Jason (service) and begin the discussion
of the work to be done.
of the work to be done.
Dinner is at the Tavern at the Robert
Morris Inn. Walking distance from the boat. Very nice and the food was
delicious. The Scottish Highlands Ice Cream Shop is right next to the marina
and they make their own home made ice cream.
I imagine we will be visiting it many times while we are here. We spend the night aboard.
33.5 NM 40SM today. 38°41.63'N
076°10.14'W
Friday, May 31, 2013. Our good friends Jerry and Pam Jana, who live nearby in
Easton,
MD, pick us up and give us a ride to Hertz. We are renting a car to drive home. We
spend the next 3 days meeting with folks at the marina and cleaning and packing up the
boat. We remove the headsail and will have it re-stitched again.
MD, pick us up and give us a ride to Hertz. We are renting a car to drive home. We
spend the next 3 days meeting with folks at the marina and cleaning and packing up the
boat. We remove the headsail and will have it re-stitched again.
Oxford is a very pretty town and is somewhat of
an artist colony. Local artists paint
sections of picket fences, then they publish a brochure with all the locations
of these. In the fall, they are
auctioned for charity. This week-end,
there is a huge quilt show and sale at several venues around town. There is also
a charity bike race going on.
We are staying with the Janas and Thursday night we clean out the
fridges on the boat and have a bar-b-que with steak,
chicken, potatoes, salad. Friday night they barbeque Ribs. Sunday night seafood
at The Docks. Monday we drive home to New Hampshire. Now the work and planning
begins for the next trip!
Trip Stats:
Shakedown Cruise, July 11 – 16, Georgian Bay,
Ontario
Depart Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada,
August 4, 2012
Arrive Oxford, MD (via Marathon), May 30,
2013
Leg 1 - Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada to
Buffalo, NY
Leg 2 – Buffalo, NY to Brewerton, NY
Leg 3 – Brewerton, NY to Catskill, NY
Leg 4 – Catskill, NY to Beaufort, NC
Leg 5 – Beaufort, NC to Vero Beach, FL
Leg 6 – Vero Beach, FL to Marathon to Myrtle
Beach, SC
Leg 7 – Myrtle Beach, FL to Oxford, MD
106 travel days
98 Ports-of-Call or anchorages
4426 Statute Miles
3728 Nautical Miles
