I spent a pleasant day in the Piankatank River anchored in a slight cove about three miles up from Fishing Bay . It was well sheltered from the strong southerly wind that beat me up so badly getting there. I took the boat into the Fishing Bay Marina for fuel and ice and returned to find that the weather the next day would be just slightly better, lighter in the afternoon, and then turn worse for the following days . All three of us anchored there decided to move on at dawn.
The day started a repeat of the leg from Reedville but I knew the winds were easing instead of strengthening so I didn’t push so hard. No body slams or submarine simulations. It was actually pleasant by the time Hampton Roads came into sight. I had gotten advice about dealing with the heavy traffic in the area but it was like a scene from that cable show “After People”. I saw just one sailboat off in the distance and one small powerboat .
It decided on the way down to bypass Point Comfort where the other two boats were headed because I was going to get together with forumite Buck in Hampton the next day. He advised that it would be more comfortable. I took a tour in and out for future reference but was glad I was going on. Good thing I took his advice because, with my usual luck, I got the last anchoring spot in Hampton. Buck took me to lunch at the yacht club and we plan to meet again further down the ditch as he is leaving after me but planning to move faster.
Hampton is one of the most boater friendly waterfronts I have encountered. The only drawback is that there are only 3 - 4 anchor spots but there are plenty of public dock slips. Unlike many places I’ve been and heard about, people who anchor are not second class citizens. The dockmaster treats you exactly the same, you can use the laundry, showers, and other facilities. I took my waste oil in and he said, “Just set it right there.” I asked how much and he said they don’t charge. Unheard of. This is a city that is doing it right.
I’ve met a couple from New York who have just taken up the cruising life and we have really hit it off. We towed my dinghy with their outboard inflatable down to where we could walk to the food store and returned loaded with supplies. I then cooked them my famous chicken pasta dish. While I was waiting for them to arrive I sat comfortably in the cockpit in a tee shirt watching the sun go down. It was 68 degrees in the cabin with the heater turned off while we ate.
The rude but not unexpected awakening was at midnight when I was rousted from bed by strong winds and heavy rain. My friends started to drag down on me and had to re-anchor and I was up for quite a while watching mine. It could have been worse. Lines of thunderstorms could just be seen and heard to the north.
We woke in the morning to cold rain and wind. To be ready to leave this morning, we did the tug and barge thing again with five jerry cans in pretty miserable conditions. They returned again last evening for a reconstituted and modified version of the leftovers.
They are also first timers on the ICW but there are two of them so one can steer and the other read the guidebooks. We’re going to travel in company for awhile and they will handle the bridge radio traffic which will make my life easier. If we’re not too cold when we get to Hospital Point, we plan to go on and tie up at the first lock in the Dismal Swamp so as to make the first locking and get to the visitors center. It is closed Sunday and Monday this time of year and we both want to see it.
The day started a repeat of the leg from Reedville but I knew the winds were easing instead of strengthening so I didn’t push so hard. No body slams or submarine simulations. It was actually pleasant by the time Hampton Roads came into sight. I had gotten advice about dealing with the heavy traffic in the area but it was like a scene from that cable show “After People”. I saw just one sailboat off in the distance and one small powerboat .
It decided on the way down to bypass Point Comfort where the other two boats were headed because I was going to get together with forumite Buck in Hampton the next day. He advised that it would be more comfortable. I took a tour in and out for future reference but was glad I was going on. Good thing I took his advice because, with my usual luck, I got the last anchoring spot in Hampton. Buck took me to lunch at the yacht club and we plan to meet again further down the ditch as he is leaving after me but planning to move faster.
Hampton is one of the most boater friendly waterfronts I have encountered. The only drawback is that there are only 3 - 4 anchor spots but there are plenty of public dock slips. Unlike many places I’ve been and heard about, people who anchor are not second class citizens. The dockmaster treats you exactly the same, you can use the laundry, showers, and other facilities. I took my waste oil in and he said, “Just set it right there.” I asked how much and he said they don’t charge. Unheard of. This is a city that is doing it right.
I’ve met a couple from New York who have just taken up the cruising life and we have really hit it off. We towed my dinghy with their outboard inflatable down to where we could walk to the food store and returned loaded with supplies. I then cooked them my famous chicken pasta dish. While I was waiting for them to arrive I sat comfortably in the cockpit in a tee shirt watching the sun go down. It was 68 degrees in the cabin with the heater turned off while we ate.
The rude but not unexpected awakening was at midnight when I was rousted from bed by strong winds and heavy rain. My friends started to drag down on me and had to re-anchor and I was up for quite a while watching mine. It could have been worse. Lines of thunderstorms could just be seen and heard to the north.
We woke in the morning to cold rain and wind. To be ready to leave this morning, we did the tug and barge thing again with five jerry cans in pretty miserable conditions. They returned again last evening for a reconstituted and modified version of the leftovers.
They are also first timers on the ICW but there are two of them so one can steer and the other read the guidebooks. We’re going to travel in company for awhile and they will handle the bridge radio traffic which will make my life easier. If we’re not too cold when we get to Hospital Point, we plan to go on and tie up at the first lock in the Dismal Swamp so as to make the first locking and get to the visitors center. It is closed Sunday and Monday this time of year and we both want to see it.
