Thursday 28 Jun

44 nm today, most of it motoring against 1 kt of current. The last hour a nice, unforecasted 12 knots came out of thr south. Up the drifter,  off the engine, and I sailed at 5 kts all the way to The Great Wicomico River. I know why there is such a big deal about saying "The Great". There are two other Wicomico Rivers. The Little Wicomico is about 5 miles north, and the Wicomico, just plain Wicomico, is 45 miles northeast. It caused confusion because Will asked me to check out a geological feature on the Wicomico for him. Sorry Will, wrong Wicomico. It is a nice anchorage, and I have 20 kts forecasted for tonight. This is a good place for it.
  40 nm tomorrow to Solomons Island.
  Time for a highly anticipated swim. And then I have some reading to do. What and Where (on a highway map) is Solomons Island? It is one of those names I know but don't know why.

Wednesday 27 June

This morning started clear, crisp and cool, about 60 degrees, with a gentle breeze from the north. I can deal with a gentle breeze. I made a good departure, and went directly across the river to the Norfolk side and took a picture of the tall ship "Virginia". The next time I get internet I will look it up so I will know what I saw, and send you the picture. Then up past all the navy ships and out into Hampton Roads. The wind was a little stronger than gentle so I decided to see what the bay was like to see if I could proceed. When I got out to Thimble Shoals the wind was from the north making whitecaps. I referred to the Waterway Guide I bought just before I left (and glad I did) and found that I could anchor in Hampton. I motored into the narrow Hampton River, (didn't know that there was a Hampton River,) past Hampton University (didn't know there was a Hampton University) (Hampton Sidney ?)and lots of upscale docks and restaurants, to a small anchorage. It would be fine if I wanted to "town" (I just invented a verb), but all I wanted to do was anchor. The Waterway Guide also said that there was an anchorage out where the tunnel comes in from Norfolk. That was perfect. It is large, open, sheltered from west and north wind (forecasted for tonight), and easy to get out of. I still plan to go to Reedville tomorrow. It will be about 50 miles, and the winds are supposed to be light from the west, so it should be no problem. So now I am happily doing boat chores. Do a few a day and the boat looks better and better.
  Lone, Bill
Maybe I should make that
  Love, Bill

Hospital anchorage Norfolk

Don't-look-at-me

June 25 email

I am anchored at Hospital Point, in Hampton, across the river from Norfolk. I used to think that “Hospital Point” was a nic-name, but that is the official name, and true to its name, there is a huge hospital complex looming beside the 100 year old original. The trip up had a little of everything (except cold). There was beautiful sailing down the Pamlico and up the Pungo. Then a blazing hot 20 mile trip through the canal to a beautiful anchorage with three other boats in the narrows of the Alligator River, with strong and gusty wind, that kept me in the cockpit for the evening. I was at anchor, but I was not far from the Alligator River Marina, one of my favorites. I stopped there with Barbara and Bailey when they were bringing their brand new boat down from Deltaville. It is a typical eastern North Carolina place with a convenience store, small restaurant, and everything needed at a marina. And it is well protected from bad weather. Just ask Normandie when she, Marion, Marjorie and Anne came down from Virginia.  All the other boats were hunkered down , but the intrepid ladies weathered the storm and were the first ones through the bridge. I love the place, and always stop when driving to the Outer Banks.

            The next day was motoring through the crab pots up the Alligator River and across the Albermarle Sound. It wasn’t as hot, but was dead calm, and I had to drive the whole way dodging the pot floats. There are no anchorages at convenient distances from Norfolk, so I stopped early just north of the Albermarle. At sea I can spend a lot of the time letting the boat drive herself while I read or do chores. On the ICW I have to stay in the cockpit all the time; just dash below occasionally to do something quickly before the boat gets into trouble. It is really quite tiring. I was really ready for a swim that evening.

            Then the last long day was motoring across the Currituck Sound, stopped for fuel at Coinjock, then through the Chesapeake Canal with nine drawbridges and a lock. The bad thing about it was that some of the bridges only opened on the hour, which can really mess up a schedule. You hurry, hurry, hurry to make the opening, miss it, and have to wait an hour. The most interesting that day was going up the Elizabeth River where they do all the heavy ship repairs. Really interesting commercial, shipping, and Navy craft of all sorts. There was what looks like a new aircraft carrier (Warship 75 – anybody know what it is?) There was also a Navy ship that was completely shrouded except for the bridge. When Advent II said “Hello” the warship said “Don’t look at me.” I got to Hospital Point about 19:30, with about an hour remaining of daylight. These long days make for long traveling days.

            Today, Monday, I just tried to sort out the boat some, and it has taken all day. This is a general plan:

Tuesday: 35 nm to Seaford Va., where we were living when Grayson was born. Normandie and I have anchored there before, within sight of the house.

Wednesday: 30 nm to Reedville, at The Great Wicomico River. (I love the name.) The last time I was there I anchored near the last menhaden factory left on the east coast. About 10 years ago the last one in North Carolina, in Beaufort, closed.

Thursday: 40 nm to Solomons Island, in the Patuxent River. I am looking forward to visiting there for the first time.

Friday: 40 nm to Annapolis. I don’t have any idea what to do there. I’ll build the dinghy and go ashore to see what happens.

            Normandie spent three afternoons last week windsurfing and kiteboarding, while I was sweltering in an open cockpit. I was having August weather, she while she was having April weather. Ride one for me, Normandie.

            Now I will hook on to a wifi and send this. Cheers!

A little later- I have just experienced what was probably the worst storm ever. I guess at 60 kt wind for 30 minutes, hail, etc. The boat about 100 feet behind me took a direct lightning hit. I have never seen a boat bounce and veer so much. It would veer to one side, then the wind would lay it over dramatically. Very spectacular. I was very happy at how well Advent II did. I was comfortable the whole time. The good thing was that it happened during daylight.

Bill  

June 23 email

Yesterday evening we had strong gusty wind. Choppy and veering even in the narrows at the south end of Alligator River. No sitting on deck, almost uncomfortable in the cockpit with the wind blasting first one way then the other. Today the Alligator River is calm, slick, and hot.

June 22 email

The forecast was for 15-20. It is blowing that now, here. But even with the wind it is really hot. I am sitting here trying to not touch anything. As soon as I send this I am going to jump in the water.
  Tomorrow I will cross the Albermarle and Currituck, then stop short of Coinjock. Then Sunday try to make it to Hospital Point anchorage.
  Sent with hot sweaty love,
Bill