It’s Wednesday afternoon and we are motoring along on our way toward Norfolk, our destination for the day.  Last night we were in a little harbor/cove, our first in VA on this trip. 

The harbor was barely big enough for us and the two catamarans that were anchored with us.  Both were larger than Pandora, one 44’ and the other 47’ and I was happy to have passed each of them as I sailed down the bay.

Our spot for the night, Ashley’s Cove,  was very well protected with a really tight entrance.  There was barely enough water for us to make it in but then it opened up into a nice little peaceful spot.  Holding was good in soft mud.  Ashley’s is off of Fleet Bay just north of the Rappahannock River in VA.   Try saying Rappahannock three times fast.  Rapp….

This is a shot of the area surrounding Ashley’s Cove.  The number of small harbors available in the Chesapeake is quite amazing.  No wonder that waterfront property is less expensive than in the NE.  This is a closeup of the cove.  You can see how small it is.  To look at it on the chart did make me wonder if I would be able to make it in.  However, the guide book said.   “Go for it Bob!  You can do it.”   So I did it.The cove was surrounded by some very pretty homes, each more impressive than the last.   I particularly liked this one with a steel  roof on the barn. This one had an interesting structure on the cabana.  I am not sure if it was a wind generator or a kinetic sculpture.  I have seen generators that look like this.  And, what an amazing use of windows.  I’ll bet the local window store was thrilled to get this order. How about this palatial spot?  Pretty amazing.  And, I’ll bet that this is only used on weekends.   I mentioned in yesterday’s post that we saw our first pelicans of the trip.  This photo was taken way off so it’s not to crisp.  However, behold, a (fuzzy) pelican. So, as we continue along under power, we are making nearly 8kts with the tide.  That’s good.  We should be at anchor in time for cocktails.  That’s double good.

Our plan will be to stay in the Hampton/Norfolk area through the weekend and then begin to make our way down the ICW, Dismal Swamp Canal and on to Beaufort NC.  That part of the “ditch” was our favorite and we are looking forward to doing it again.

It’s Tuesday late morning and we are sailing south toward Deltaville.  I say Deltaville as I am not exactly sure where we will stop for sure but our plans are to continue moving with the idea of being in port before dark.  At this time we are making good time, around 5.5 to 6.5kts.  That’s good.

I guess SPOT will know where we are at the end of the day.  For now, the sailing is terrific.  A bit ago we passed a catamaran.  I just love passing other boats and will never loose the thrill of seeing a boat from the stern and then the bow as I go past. Although, in the interest of full disclosure, to call Pandora “fast” is a relative term.  It’s sort of like saying “my grass grows faster than your grass.   So there!!!”.

I mention this as I spoke to them on the radio to say that I had taken some pictures of their boat as we passed.  They took photos of Pandora so hopefully, we will be able to exchange them at some point soon.   It seems that we are both headed to the same places.  He did make a specific point that he wants to be somewhere where he doesn’t see his breath in the cabin when he wakes up in the morning.   Good plan.   It’s chance encounters like these that makes cruising so interesting.

Yesterday I took some photos of a boat we passed that had a neat hard dodger.  This isn’t common and I thought that the design made the boat look more substantial. Speaking of substantial, how about this group of tugs.  Pretty impressive group.  When it comes to “form follows function”, tugs can’t be topped.Last evening a couple from a catamaran nearby in the anchorage stopped by to say that they had seen us in the Exumas last winter.  We exchanged cards and I expect that we will run into them again.  It is a very small world.

Anyway, we are really moving along nicely and it’s good to be sailing as motoring isn’t that great and the fuel costs more than sailing.  I won’t talk about how much sails cost.  Sailing is good, the breeze just freshened and we are now going over 7kts.  I’ll take it.

Near Solomon’s Island there is a significant Navy presence, with jets taking off and landing all the time.  This is a photo of the base and hangers as we headed out today. It seems that when they went to the antenna/satellite dish store someone said, “I’ll take one of everything.   No, make that three or everything.  On second thought, how many do you think we can fit on 100 acres?”  Your tax dollars at work.“Oh yeah, how about a few patrol boats?  And, make them look really old and throw in a bit of a “bannana republic” look while you are at it.  I already spent my money on antennas with the last guy.”   One of them came by us as we were sailing along.There’s something in the cruising guide about a bombing range we should avoid.  Good advice.   The Navy has been hailing boats all morning telling them to stay clear of the range as they are going to be doing practice runs later today.

Speaking of bombs, we are bombing along on a broad reach at over 7kts.  So, exactly where is that range?  I don’t want to be a target and Pandora isn’t nearly fast enough to outrun a jet.

It’s Monday morning and Pandora is making her way down the Chesapeake Bay on our way to Solomon’s Island, our probable stop for today.   Hampton is about 120 miles from Annapolis and we don’t have to be there till later this week so it’s not necessairy for us to cover a ton of ground each day.  Having said that, we may run into some headwinds later in the week so making time while the wind is favorable is a good idea.  As I write this we are under sail running wing and wing and making nearly 7kts through the water.  That’s good.

We returned to Annapolis and Pandora after spending the weekend with our son Rob and his girlfriend Kandice, at their home in Baltimore.  I was pretty glad to be off of Pandora for a few days given the fact that it had rained pretty much every day since my arrival the weekend before.  No, not exactly all of the time, but enough to make it feel like rain, rain and more rain.  Brenda joined me in Baltimore and we had a terrific time.  We had such a great time that we couldn’t even manage to leave with everything we arrived with.  How about leaving foul weather gear and a pair of Brenda’s sandals?   The gear will surely come in handy soon, if the last week’s weather is any indication?  And the sandals?  Well that’s a crisis as we are headed south and guess what the fashion of the day is there?  You guessed it.   What’s a girl to do?   Crisis averted, Rob is going to mail them to us in Hampton VA where we will be spending the coming weekend.

Prior to meeting Brenda at Rob and Kandice’s I had guests aboard from CT from Wednesday through Friday for the boat show.  It was fun having like minded folks on board to tour the show and they also kept me well fed and lubricated.  Actually, the lubrication was somewhat excessive but I have only myself to blame.  Having said that, I can’t say that they set a particularly good example.  It was fun, that’s for sure.

While Brenda hasn’t been in Annapolis since last Fall when we passed through here on our way to FL, we decided to head out today instead of touring the city to take advantage of favorable winds that are forecast for the next few days to make distance toward Hampton.

Last night was the first night that I really felt that we were back in “cruiser’s mode” as Brenda was aboard and we spent the evening with our good friends Bill and Maureen of Kalunamoo and their friends from NY.   We sailed with Kalunamoo off and on last fall and winter and really enjoyed their company.  Maureen, perhaps more than anyone, tries to keep me in line so I don’t push Brenda too much.  When I talked about taking Pandora to Turkey, her response was “down Bob, down Bob, one step at a time”.    OK, OK, point taken but I still want to go.

However, they are not without guilt as they did ask us if we’d like to do the Salty Dawg rally with them this fall.  In the interest of full disclosure, it was Maureen that first said, “we are going to the Caribbean, want to come too?” when they visited us in Essex a few months ago.  That run will take them from Hampton VA to Tortola in the BVI,  a trip that I’d love to take.   So there, it’s not just me Maureeen!!!

For now I am happy to have Brenda aboard, being underway and headed south.  Yahoo!!!

No post is complete without at least one photo and since there haven’t been any sunsets worth showing of late (recall day after day of rain?) I’ll put in a shot of the boat show as we passed out of the harbor. Oh yeah, and how about a shot of the Thomas Point light?  This is a “screw pile” lighthouse and certainly a form that speaks the loudest that you are indeed in the Chesapeake and headed south.  Indeed!!!

It seems that most everyone, teams, cities and countries have mascots.  Some become controversial in our ever so PC society such as the current debate about renaming the Cleveland Indians.   Welcome to America, where you can’t offend anyone.

Even Annapolis, it seems, has it’s share of debate about such things.  As I was walking around town the other day, I ran into a monstrous chicken, another and yet another.

Someone decided to set up an art project modeled on the same type such as the “cows on parade” in Chicago a number of years.  Legend has it that the city passed an ordnance making it legal to raise chickens within the city limits.  I am guessing that this didn’t include roosters.  Hens only.

It seems that this “chicken ordnance” spilled over to the art world and some local artists decided that they too wanted to be part of the debate.  The deal is that local businesses make a donation to create a “chicken blank” which is given to a local artist or school class, which is then “finished” according to the desire of the artist/class.   The finished piece is installed somewhere in downtown Annapolis.  I wonder if there is an arbitrator of “chick taste” to determine if the finished piece is an “approprichick” design for the community?  I guess you will need to be the judge.

Anyway, so much for background, here are some of my favorites.  This one had lots of little guys crawling up his back.How about a fleur de lis inspired chick?If chickens were smart, and I am told that they aren’t, this one would be at the head of the class.
Civic, or “civchick” pride was very much in evidence.  Go firefighters!!!
I’m thinking school class.  The work of many, small, hands.
This one seemed to be looking into the conference room window of a downtown hotel.  The folks around the table looked like they were in pain.   As awkward as it was, I leaned up against the window and snapped this candid of one of the folks in the meeting, watching a Presentation, no doubt.   Not a good day at the office.   Me, I prefer a visit to the boat show. Yes, definitely better.  “Not so PC Bob.  Down Bob, down Bob.  Not PC at all.”|  Ok, I am told that some folks love meetings, really.   Could that be true?

The boat show?  Fun, even in the rain.  Not much to report there.  My boat improvement budget is blown, definitely blown for the season.  Time to go sailing. This weekend Brenda and I are visiting our son Rob and his girlfriend Kandice for a few days.  Let’s hope for fair winds early in the week for our run down to Hampton VA.

To visit Annapolis by boat is one of my favorite things.  The maritime heritage of the US is deep and Annapolis, arguably, is the deepest.  This trip for me marks the third or fourth time that I have been here by water and I have to say that it’s just great.  To view the city from the water and see the glow of lights on the capitol dome, Academy chapel and in the windows of private homes in the evening is magical.

As the front came through yesterday afternoon, with it’s gusty wind and torrents of rain I was struck, again, by how quickly things can change on the water.  One moment it was calm and warm and the next Pandora was being blown over one way and the next.  I had been out getting some fuel for my dink and saw blue sky off to the southeast and dark lumpy clouds off to the northwest.  Within literally minutes the calm was shattered as the front was upon us.

Later that evening, at sunset, I was treated to a magnificent and colorful sunset. Sorry, no picture this time.

It’s just so great to be here, tucked away in such a secluded spot, right in the middle of a city.  It’s hard to believe that I was able to just drop my anchor here and settle in for a week.  In so many harbors there isn’t any room for anchoring as it’s totally filled with “private, keep off” moorings, that are mostly vacant, leaving no room for folks to visit.  And, it’s clear that the city has made a point of making the water accessible to transients.  Interestingly, there doesn’t seem to be a problem with derelict boats camped out full time.  Perhaps that’s because the harbor master comes by to register anyone who plans to anchor for more than three days.  I had to give him a lot more information to anchor than I did to pay for a mooring.

Whatever the reason, it’s a city that still respects their maritime roots and history unlike so many of the communities that we have visited over the years where you have to pay a fee to be there, on a regulated mooring with no place to anchor.  On top of that, every street that dead ends at the harbor has a small dock for dinks.  So, how great is that?

Anyway, enough from my soap box for now.  As I sit here on Pandora I am also treated to all the comings and goings on the water.  Everything from the drama of the harbor police moving wayward powerboats (see last post) to really interesting boats that come by all day.

I was particularly struck by this rowboat that passed me yesterday.   They were being shadowed by another boat complete with an enthusiastic photographer documenting her every stroke.  I wonder where she plans to head.  I expect that her voyage will likely take her to another continent.  Europe?  Japan?  For now I expect that her destination is the Sailboat Show in a a few days.  I’ll find out more about here plans there.   I wonder where you go to buy such a craft.  Probably “home made”.  If so, I’d love to meet the folks that live in that home or the women rowing.  Clearly, she’s not a “girly girl” and probably not the type that spends the typical 8.5 hours per day watching TV.  Just a thought, if a bit random one at that.If I were going to row across an ocean, and I wouldn’t, I’d feel pretty comfortable (a relative term) in this boat.  It looks new to me.  No voyages yet. 

However, what’s with the guy in the stern who probably didn’t think I could see him.  Perhaps if I scrunch down real low, know one will see me.  I wonder if she even knew he was there.  OMG, a stowaway!!! So, that’s where all of my sea biscuits have gone.  GIVE THEM BACK!!!Not all transport in Annapolis is waterborne, at least not all of the time.  I loved this one.   Yellow is such a great color for a plane.  I wan’t to go for a ride!!!  I wonder if my life insurance would allow this?  No wait, I am too old for life insurance now that I am getting AARP mailings what seems like every other day. Count me in, I am going.  As soon as he lifted off he powered overhead.  What fun.  You too can get a ride and sign up at their site.  They take a lot of private yacht photos and you can go to their site and purchase a print.  It seems to be a franchise operation.  Perhaps now would be a good time for you to chuck it all and purchase a little yellow plane for yourself.  Perhaps not.

Enough dreaming.  Time go get the lead out.  Today is sunny and cool.  No excuse to sit around.