Happy Halloween!

 

We'll motor from Pungo River (northwest section) south to Dowry Creek Marina for a couple windy days. Claire is looking forward to another marina stay do do some exploring (even in the rain) and get a chance to chat with other boaters.

Thunder is looking for another chance to jump to the dock, to give these sailors the scariest Halloween ever...

Post Halloween update: Thunder came through. On Nov 1, we were talking with the sailors in the slip next door and Thunder was within our sight so we thought we could stop any jumping. For the first time, he jumped not from the gate area but from the stern to the dock, then immediately on the the next door sailboat and into the cabin!  We apologized and they said we could go in and get him. Dave scurried after and caught him after he jumped to a table, and 2 other areas.

Wow! That was brave and seemingly all thought out.

We had dinner at The Salty Crab restaurant and bar next to the marina. Very pleasant service and nice meal choices with a view of the skeletons on their pirate ship.

Back at the slip, we watched the Young Frankenstein movie! One of our favorites. It was one of the reasons Claire wanted to play the violin, to play the Transylvanian Lullaby by John Morris.

It was nice to talk with the owner of Dowry Creek Marina and hear some of the story of how his family bought the marina. We appreciate their personal touch and knowledgable staff. They wear many hats, all pitching in to do what needs to get done. It's a small marina, so managable by a family. They had free laundry, comfy clubhouse with books, games, instruments and exchange library. They kindly sign out a car for slipholders to borrow for 90 minute sessions. We were able to explore Belhaven shops and get some groceries.

A question from Thunder:

Where is this "Mice Tea" everyone talks about making? I NEVER get any!

Coinjock, NC

Coinjock, NC marina dock above. Mile Marker 50

Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth VA to Coinjock, NC. Oct 28

Left Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth, at 6 am in dark, with industry lighting everything up. 

Sunrise 7:30 am so started to get light gradually. We would never plan to leave in the dark at any other part of the ICW again, as even in an industrial area, we wouldn’t be as familiar. (never say never? – but doing the ICW at night is not recommended and we don’t plan to do it). In Portsmouth, the Elizabeth River has a lot of turns. As the sun came up, we were protected from shadows until we had to head straight into the sun, which made it hard to see some buoys, even with sunglasses and hats, we had to block the sun with our hands.

There were fisherpeople everywhere on the river.  Some in small boats, really small, kayaks, kayak catamarans, some with really good setups holding all their stuff, back supports. A nice way to spend the morning.

We came to the first bridge (Gilmerton Bridge) we need to ask to open. Even though the clearance was way above our mast height of 52 ft, it looked like we weren’t going to fit. Even though I knew this is a common feeling, I just hated it. ( there was no stopping )

A diff bridge here (same feeling)  : )

Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake was our first lock ever!
https://www.waterwayguide.com/lock/4-3/great-bridge-lock

It only opens on the hour, so we were glad to not need to wait too long. We didn't get a camera out till later, as we were a busy trying to stay stationary while waiting in line for the opening and cue to enter, getting lines and poss fenders ready. Many powerboats have "stationary anchor" setting to help them stay stationary, but we had to go backwards and forwards, with a little side breeze to stay in line and not block the other side for the boats going north.

Once in place at the dock, a pleasant dockmaster hand took our 2 docklines with a boat hook to hook it around the ballard. He kept us spaced safely apart, but fitting us all in.

Below, photo of our being released.

The Great Bridge Lock is only a 2 foot drop, so quick and easy.

Boaters leave a sticker on the fenders to show they were there. We might leave one on the way back.

At high sun and approaching 80 degrees, we put up the sunsheet. When we the channel narrowed and powerboats wanted to pass us, we took down the sheet for better visibility, but that let sun on the cockpit navigation iPad (which mirrors the Garmin screen down below). It warned us when it got too hot and shut down, so we cooled it down below and used our back-up Aquamap on a different iPad and kept it out of the sun. We could always look at the Garmin screen down below for comparison. Different navigation softwares do not always agree.

We caught up to a barge (vessel Highland Lookout) going 3.5 knots in a narrow channel. Some powerboats passed him. We tried when we thought we had an opportunity (after asking permission of course), trying to stay a safe distance away, but almost ran aground. So we slowed down to stay behind. Soon after the experienced barge captain advised no one to pass on this stretch as it’s truly shallow beside the channel. There became a long line of following boats a couple of miles before Coinjock, with most of us likely docking there. We warned Coinjock marina they will get a bunch of us at once to assist to dock, which they appreciated. We all arrived around 3 pm. 88 degrees. The dockhands were super helpful, of course knew how best to tie us up with their cleats on pilings (non-floating docks). They squeezed us in on the south very-end of their dock.

Thunder eyed the dock and we knew we couldn’t trust him. It’s such a pain to put in the hatchboards and have to remove one each time we go in and out, just to keep him in the boat, but that’s what we had to do. Even so, he jumped on the dock 3 times, each time getting a few feet farther. He always stops and stiffs around on the dock (like that was his only goal), so we were able to scoop him up. Each scoop felt like winning the lottery, as it could have been the last time we saw him.

We were pleased to hear there was another 44 foot sailboat coming in late at 7 pm that needed to tie up with us. The marina staff asked us if it was ok first and of course it was. Was great to chat with the sailors and help them. Dave answered their questions about Justice in detail. Originally we thought we might need to tie up to another boat, when we called to make the reservation that morning, since the marina asked if we minded tying to another boat if nec. I assume they ask everyone that, just in case.

Sunday Oct 29 Coinjock to Alligator River

Our tie-up boat departed at 7 am. We departed Coinjock around 8:45 am with goal to go to Little Alligator Creek today, just 30 miles away.-  Now we are in the open Albemarle Sound I’ve heard so much about. It’s BIIIIIG! Like a big lake, but very shallow mostly 10 feet deep, we stay in the channel that cuts across the sound.

The Alligator River-Pungo Canal ( https://www.waterwayguide.com/waterway/65/alligator-river-pungo-river-canal-nc )was narrow, but the Army Corps of Engineers sonar images have great detail so see where the shoaling occurred.

Future plans after Oct 29

Monday to northern Pungo River to anchor.

Tuesday (Halloween!)  and Wed are supposed to be quite windy, with poss gusts to 30 and rain, so we will take a slip at Dowry Creek Marina, already reserved. This will be good time to:

1.     do “big stuff” laundry

2.     sew covers for the 2 blue potoble water cans on the deck. We think we already have some and couldn’t find them at home or the boat, so make more we shall do.

3.     Upload more photos to the blog

4.     Get head pumped out

5.     Put more grommets in the dinghy cover.

Portsmouth stay one day: ICW Mile Zero

 

We moved to the anchorage at Tidewater Marina, so this was our view or Elizabeth River. A new cruise ship arrived. We had our pick of spots at 11am ( the deadline to be out of our slip)

Portsmouth is ICW "Mile Zero" starting the count down to Key West, but it's really our 200th mile to get to this point from Delaware City.

We watched American Magic turn around using it's bow and stern thrusters at the junction of Lower Reach and Town Point Reach continuations. So BIIIIIG!

Even a cruise ship could not miss this little gal, right?

We stayed at Portsmouth a day because 1) we didn't make our reservation for Coinjock marina yet, and would like to do more research about our first day options, should they not have room for us. 2) But mostly, we wanted to find more extra fuel filters since we used two up early unexpectedly. Our fuel was clean and clear but the pressure was building pointing to clogging by something. The vents seem clear and the pressure is still a mystery, but we seem to be able to flush the filters for future use if nec. Only West Marine special order seems to have the kind we have. If we order them, we'd need to have them sent to a West Marine along the way to pick up, preferably be fore we visit friends in FL.

For Oct 28: Plans to head to Coinjock Marina (MM50), a full day motor from Portsmouth: There are two marinas at Coinjock. There is not a real option for anchoring till after Coinjock, so a reservation is suggested rather than risking motoring past dark to a suitable anchorage. So seems to me, that the slip capacity of Coinjock is the "regulation point" of the amt of traffic that goes down the ICW each day. Maybe they serve just the right amt of boats now, going north and south to keep the ICW safe and not backing up too much behind bridges and the lock.

If necessary, Coinjock will "double-park" boats on boats willing to take a boat on their side. Sounds like a great way to make friends!

Reedville, VA to Deltaville, VA, then Portsmouth, VA

 Arriving in the Piankatank River, Godfrey Bay/Hills Bay near Deltaville. View from the top of the Mizzen Mast.

We hoisted a video camera up there to take stills and video!

Deltaville, VA is off the Piankatank River.

Departing Deltaville entrance Oct 26 am. It's about 50 miles to Portsmouth.

Thunder before coffee

Must be Norfolk Navy Base...

Norfolk Navy ships galore

Portsmouth is on the east side. Norfolk on the west

120 passenger American Rover Sailing Cruises  https://www.americanrover.com/

135' Topsail Schooner. Departs from Waterside Marina

Victory Rover, of course

Update Thurs 10/26: We arrived at Portsmouth Tidewater Marina around 4:15. We chose a marina partly because we had a boat part shipped to a friend there that could deliver it. We didn't want to risk arriving too late to safely find a dock to meet at if we anchored. So the "luxury" choice it was, though not very expensive at all. We were met by two dockhands and we fit in the slip F-10 well with a side pier to tie to. 

View from our slip

 We had a bite and sip at "Fish and Slips" bar and restaurant,

 view from the bar

 then did some ICW research using the marina's wi-fi. The marina is very neat and I like that they have tidy garbage and recycling cans in several docks. Our part was delivered cheerfully and we were truly happy.

Choptank to Solomons, MD, then Reedville, VA

 

photo as we leave the protected upper Choptank

Oct 23. This afternoon, the winds on the bay seem good to motorsail to the Solomons, MD, to arrive at or just before sunset at 6:15 today.  Went down to 15 from 20 knots of wind.  Justice loves 15 knots. It later wound down to 5 so we motorsailed most of the way.

What I call the "3 M" tugs at Solomons up Mill Creek. First boats on the right.

Pleasant anchorage, "no" wind all night. Woke up to frost on the hatch and fog till the sun burned it off in the morning.

                                                  The Pride of Baltimore II, heading north

                                                https://pride2.org/

Arrived Reedville VA around 4:15 pm Tues. Oct 24.

Reedville is a boatbuilding and fishing town. We didn't go ashore, but you should!

There is a menhaden processing plan, Omega Protein here. Big fishing boats with their "satellite net boats" on the stern come and go. It's all lit up at night like a city. We anchored on a tiny cove big enough for one boat off Cockrell Creek. First right up the creek. The shallow areas are marked by sticks and a pile of rocks.

There is a Reedville Fisherman's Museum! https://rfmuseum.org/  Has several ships on display including the John Smith's Barge "Spirit of 1608"

The Omega Protein plant and ships. View from Fleeton Bay

We anchored in the TINY Fleeton Bay, first bay on the right up Cockrell Crk from Ingram Bay/Great Wicomico River. Room for one boat since much of it is shallow, marked by sticks. Perfect place for us this time.

Then... in the darkness of night....the day ended in murder, again. 

(We are watching the Hulu series by Steve Martin and Martin Short called "Only Murders In The Building")  

Waiting out some blustery weather in the Upper Choptank

 

(this is not the choppy weather, but we knew it was coming)

We were given a nice boat ride to anchor for lunch by our friends.

Then we sailed and they motored to Dunn Cove (north Choptank) for dinner and the night.

After apple pancakes the next morning (with a little irish cream in my coffee) we knew the winds were going to pipe up to 25-30 which is quite a bit to try to sail to the Solomons, so we motored back to their cove for the night were we could sleep well back on the mooring ball.  It was quite a ride. We had many turns to get back so we didn't bother putting up the staysail, but we had to steer by hand and not much was caught offguard to get broken down below. : )

It was nice because it let us all hang out again for dinner and the evening by the fire.