For many years the running joke between my friend Greg Rodgers and I is that I am the Lucky Duck and we refer to him, well we will let that go for now! None the less Magnolia got underway Tuesday morning from Portsmouth with intent of going south using the Dismal Swamp Canal rather than the Virginia Cut Canal.

Before getting to the Canals though we had a couple of “un-restricted” bridges to pass under and others we needed to wait for an opening at some prescribed time. The photo series is from one of the un-restricted bridges. Even though the unrestricted bridge is 65 feet and our mast is 58 feet it is still rather unnerving from Magnolia deck!

(Gilmerton Bridge in Chesapeake, VA)

(Magnolia courtesy of SV Kindred Spirit)

(Magnolia courtesy of SV Kindred Spirit)

(Magnolia courtesy of SV Kindred Spirit)

Just as we approached the “Y-In-The-Road” we heard radio traffic about Duck-Weed clogging boat engine water intakes causing over-heating conditions. After Kindred Spirits call to TowUS and Magnolia’s call to Dismal Swamp Lock it was decided we had better do a “U-ey” and head for the Virginia Cut. Our understanding has been the VA Cut is like the interstate and Dismal is like the country road so you can imagine our disappointment.

(Magnolia courtesy of SV Kindred Spirit)

Our herd of boats arrived Great Bridge Locks via the Virginia Cut shortly after noon. We were able to almost immediately enter the lock.

(Magnolia courtesy of SV Kindred Spirit)

(Magnolia courtesy of SV Kindred Spirit)

Kindred Spirit get their lines across to the side of the lock.

As the lock doors open Magnolia prepares to depart the lock. We tied to a public dock just outside the lock and spent a quiet evening relaxing with friends.

I throw myself at the hands of the blog and ask for forgiveness. We have simply been doing too much socializing to keep! As it happened the very day Kindred Spirit and San Cles got underway from Hampton our  friends Greg & Marie arrived “home.” (Their boat Second Sally is currently berthed here in Tidewater region.) We spent a fun evening in Hampton and then got underway on Saturday morning. The rest of the story is Greg and Marie are the couple who helped us initially bring Magnolia home from Florida to Virginia. This was the first time that they had been underway with us on Magnolia so it was fun to show that we had tried to remember a few of the things they taught us! We would not be doing this today if it were not for them.

(Annette can find Magnolia’s wherever we go!)

After getting over to Little Creek it was time for us and Marie to catch up on laundry and grocery store shopping. So off we went with dock carts trailing! ( I promise to get better at pictures!

Sunday then our friends from Pentagon Sailing Club, Mike and Tina came for a visit. We last saw them in Rockhall, MD over Labor Day so it was a fun evening of food drink and lots of laughter.

Magnolia and crew got underway from Little Creek in “bumpy” conditions on Monday morning in route back to Portsmouth. Once we turned the corner on the Elizabeth River things smoother considerable.

Kindred Spirit was anchored at Portsmouth so we made plans to see Capt Philips at the the Commodore Theatre. It is Art Deco style building that has dining and drinks right in the theatre. It is really cool! The movie was excellent as well!

We are finally getting out of Tidewater tomorrow and head for the Dismal Swamp. Looking forward to getting out of “towns” for a while!

Thankfully the above does not reflect on our life which is anything but a drag! We arrived the Portsmouth Naval Hospital anchorage on Friday afternoon. The last time I was in Portsmouth must have been at least 20 years ago. The town has come a long way developing (at least its downtown area) a real destination with a number of restaurants and shops. Very touristy!  We visited the farmers market, Mile Zero Marine Supply and maybe a pub or two! We did also visit the Portsmouth Navy Shipyard Museum and the Hog Island Fresnel lens from 1896!

Magnolia was also able to add another relative to her visitors log. My niece Lori is here in Portsmouth with her friend Adam. We were able to have them aboard for a lovely dinner on Sunday evening. 

Monday we awoke to some reasonable windy conditions but persisted in our efforts to complete the requirements for our Customs & Immigration Vessel Registration. We hopped into the dingy set off across the Elizabeth River for Norfolk docking at the Waterside Marina. (Note To Norfolk – “If you want boaters to frequent your city and spend their money, quite charging to dock a dinghy!”)   After finishing our business with one of the few government agencies still open we saw asked some people on the street about a good sandwich place. They said they just came from “Al’s Hotdog, it’s a local institution.” They had me at “institution!” I told Annette its time to get institutionalized. If you have the chance (yes Leclercq’s I am talking to you) stop by Famous Al’s for a pretty darn good dog!

After lunch we headed back across the river with the same “fun” wind blowing down the river. As we approached Magnolia it appeared we had drug our anchor a little. Nothing significant but noticeable. More significant was the boat 1/4 mile from us that looked dangerously close to a monster channel buoy. I dropped Annette on Magnolia and ran the dingy down to take a look and see if I could get a boat name off the stern. When I arrived I could see they were within a boat length and in addition noted a French flag (ie French vessel). Just as I arrived back on Magnolia they passed aboard their dinghy as we were repositioning Magnolia. Through broken English they asked if we had drug as well. I said “yup” and they were off to tend to their boat. They came back by after we were all repositioned. They had sailed from France via Barbados. Scary part, they learned to sail on the way here!

Well we are off to a few days at a marina in Hampton, VA tomorrow!

PS I will try and take more pictures!

.   

\\\ FamousAl’s near Waterside and the waterfront

Magnolia took a little break in Sara Creek off the York River, just across from Yorktown, VA. Magnolia has been on a tear down the bay taking advantage of good weather. After a 150 miles it was time to take a day and catch up. Truthfully other than a walk not a lot was done except for a little relaxation time. I guess we are entitled to a little down time now and then.

Let me acknowledge upfront that we are watching “Karen” which will come ashore in the Gulf of Mexico. We are safely at anchor and expect to stay here through Wednesday morning. We can always move to a nearby marina if predictions appear to decline.  Not to worry.

Meanwhile, we again had little or no wind today so rather than stop at Hampton we came the additional 11 miles to Portsmouth.

I am not sure it’s the official end of the Chesapeake Bay but passing Point Comfort and Fort Monroe was certainly a transition for us!

Point Comfort Lighthouse.

Aegis Cruisers.

Navy Hospital Ship Comfort – I think it you use to be in Baltimore so not sure if here for a visit or has been relocated here.

Typical barge traffic

This evening’s view of downtown Norfolk

This evening’s view of downtown Norfolk

This evening’s view of Portsmouth Naval Hospital

Todays Track

Before departing Solomon’s Magnolia stopped and took on Fuel, Water and Ice. The “Big 3” in our book. You are probably saying why is ice so important when you have a refrigerator? I don’t know about you but I am not going to deny the Admiral ice in her G&T! 

We passed this guy port-port with just over a half a mile. Fifteen minutes later I noted a weird wave in the water and took me a minute to digest what I was seeing. As the Admiral was resting her eyes, turned Magnolia to take the wave head on. After burying the bow twice the Admiral arrived on deck none to pleased..more so that her knap was disturbed.

Upon arriving Reedsville we made our way up nearby Mill Creek. It is a real zig-zag-zig entrance but once inside it was completely worth it. I noted a old barn as we entered and said to the Admiral lets anchor there!

The pictures really do tell the whole story..We departed this morning for Deltaville and thought I should post a picture of fish traps we have here in the bay. Not sure if they have them north but thought the “northerners” might appreciate the heads up. They are extra difficult to see when starting out with the glare.

We will take a slip in Deltaville and do some laundry and I think the Admiral would like to catch up on “The Good Wife” as well!

Below is our gang from the SSCA GAM I mentioned. (L->R) (A**2), Alan & Michelle from Connecticut. Their boat Kindred Spirit is a sister-ship to  Magnolia. I discovered Alan’s website years ago when I think we were still shopping for Magnolia. He is a fabulous craftsman and thinks of the best modifications to make these already good boats better. Dudley & Cheryl (Blind Date) have been dock mates of ours for the last couple of years. They are not heading south this year but soon we hope. Beyond dock mates they have been great friends and always been great sounding boards for all things sailing! Frank & MaryMarie are home based in New Jersey. We met them at last years GAM have enjoyed following there trip this summer to Maine. We look forward to see them as we travel down the coast. We all come from different backgrounds but we are all in the moment right now, what an adventure and group to share it with!!!

The closing dinner was on Saturday night and Annette & I excited to get moving we brought the anchor aboard just as the Geese were moving to feed.

Alan & Michelle snapped a picture of Magnolia as we were departing the anchorage.

Below is SV Kindred Spirit at anchor near us. She is a really nice boat!

Annette had a lovely sail down the Chesapeake Bay and anchored just off the Patuxent River in Solomon’s Island. As always the US Navy provided entertainment as aircraft came and went from the nearby Naval Air station. We were also lucky enough to meet us with Chris from SV Vacilando. We have been following Chris & Melody’s on Facebook for a long time and met them F-F this last July on our last visit to Solomon’s. Though Melody was visiting family they too will be heading south in the next few weeks. Are you seeing the trend here? We are off to Reedsville tomorrow.

Magnolia got underway Tuesday and made a short of hop over to the Rhode River and since then had a couple days of just relaxing. We made a point of getting over to Smithsonian Environmental Research Center to take advantage of their miles of trails. It is a very lovely place. We have been getting in at least a 3 mile walk everyday,

(As you can tell from the above, I am still a geek)

On the SERT property there are a couple different places of historic places which really appeals to me,

(That Admiral is always a patient model)

(The picture does not do the view justice! This is looking down on the Rhode River where 150 years ago ships arrives to take Tobacco back to England)

Though we tried to wake with a “Laissez-faire” attitude this day was going to be different from all the rest. Today was the day we finally left the dock and took the dock-lines with us, ie we are not coming back!

(The “Admiral” at the helm backs us out of our slip former slip while the “Deck-Ape” looks after things forward.)

(Our friends Nona and Charlie’s rocket-ship, also known as SV Frequent Flyer!)

We visited with a number of employees at Hartge Yacht Harbor who worked on and helped us prepare Magnolia. We filled the water tanks and we were off.

(Hartge Yacht Harbor – Galesville, MD)

(Even the barometer is pointing towards a sunny day as the Admiral takes us out)

Our first day passage was all of 5 miles over to the Rhode River where we will be participating in the Seven Sea’s Cruising Association Gam (gam (gǎm) n. : A social visit or friendly interchange, especially between sailors or seafarers.) 

(Magnolia at Anchor in the Rhode River with Camp Letts in the distance)

We dropped the “dink” in the water and motored to Smithsonian Environmental Research Center around the corner from where we are anchored here on the Rhode. It is a lovely place to get ashore and stretch your legs a little

We did a three (3) mile hike declared victory and are now in relax mode!

All in all a great way to start the adventure!

We had Magnolia “hauled” today to have the bottom cleaned and sacrificial zincs replaced.

Normally when we leave our homeport we leave our dock lines on the dock since we will be coming back to the same slip. Tomorrow if the day goes as planned we will take our lines with us. It is going to be a very big day!!!

I know, “there’s” always something exciting going on aboard Magnolia. This time we really mean it! By the close of Friday we will be completely moved aboard no longer making the trudge from house to boat and back! So happy about that!

One of our “Cats & Dogs” was to have the compass swung (calibrated)which was an interesting experience. The gentlemen who did the job brought this really cool device aboard which was built by his father when he started the business. It is basically an aircraft gyro with a 12volt to 400hz converter included. It really was a very cool device!

The process was simply to motor back and forth north and south and then east and west and adjust the compass on each pass. The entire process took about 2 hours but we will long benefit from the couple of hours of effort.

A better close up of the custom built gyro device.

The next job was cover and secure our extra fuel and water Jerry Cans. Annette undertook the sewing portion of the job onboard Magnolia. This was the first sewing job Annette she had done onboard. We were able to set the saloon up so she could work pretty efficiently.

Next it was my job to secure the cans safely on deck. First step was a nice piece of pressure treated lumber primed and painted with a “few” coats of HomeDepots best. Add a couple stainless ubolts from McMaster-Carr along with acorn nuts (keep things nice and smooth) and we have a pretty secure tie-down point.

Short haul for bottom clean and zinc replacement scheduled for Monday. Away from the dock on Tuesday? We will see!