I ran down to Portsmouth on Friday and discovered a great town where I had a nice dinner before heading back out to anchor at Mile Zero off Hospital Point. It was a nice afternoon and evening to be at anchor to sit in the cockpit, watch the river traffic and the lights of Norfolk come on. I could just see the pilothouse of one of my research vessels at the NOAA dock across the river.
I visited the very friendly Mile Zero Marine Supply which has recently moved a few blocks up High Street to number 609, still an easy walk. They are planning on putting in an outdoor patio where visiting cruisers can get together and socialize after business hours. If you can’t find what you need there or in town, they will also drive you just about anywhere within reason to get it. Great folks.
They confirmed what has been widely reported on Internet cruising sites, the no overnight docking signs at the two mooring basins are not being enforced and cruisers are welcome to stay for reasonable periods. There are a lot of empty storefronts and the town needs the business. The signs are evidently required by state law due to lack of electrical power and water but the local police do not consider it their business.
This is the residence of my nearest neighbor:
The police cars leaving the station drive right by the dock and this low income housing project so the tolerance level is evidently pretty high.
Despite the above, this is a reasonably upscale place. There are frequent ferries across the river from Norfolk and this is evidently the place to come to eat and drink. There are a lot of restaurants so competition keeps the quality up. I haven’t found a bad one yet and, believe me, I am looking. I’m probably going to spend as much here as if I stayed in a marina but I’m getting a lot more for the money.
I came back into the High Street Basin yesterday and spent the night because of forecast thunderstorms. Nothing like being tucked in between high buildings when lightning threatens. The storms turned out to be just rain but it was a pleasant night, no commotion on shore even on a Saturday night. It was nice to be able to walk up for a nice brunch this morning.
The weather turned raw and damp with a northeast wind so I've decided to just stay put until it clears.
The Pride of Baltimore II is up on the hard in the shipyard within easy walk so I hope to catch up with Captain Jan Miles while I’m here.
I visited the very friendly Mile Zero Marine Supply which has recently moved a few blocks up High Street to number 609, still an easy walk. They are planning on putting in an outdoor patio where visiting cruisers can get together and socialize after business hours. If you can’t find what you need there or in town, they will also drive you just about anywhere within reason to get it. Great folks.
They confirmed what has been widely reported on Internet cruising sites, the no overnight docking signs at the two mooring basins are not being enforced and cruisers are welcome to stay for reasonable periods. There are a lot of empty storefronts and the town needs the business. The signs are evidently required by state law due to lack of electrical power and water but the local police do not consider it their business.
This is the residence of my nearest neighbor:
The police cars leaving the station drive right by the dock and this low income housing project so the tolerance level is evidently pretty high.
Despite the above, this is a reasonably upscale place. There are frequent ferries across the river from Norfolk and this is evidently the place to come to eat and drink. There are a lot of restaurants so competition keeps the quality up. I haven’t found a bad one yet and, believe me, I am looking. I’m probably going to spend as much here as if I stayed in a marina but I’m getting a lot more for the money.
I came back into the High Street Basin yesterday and spent the night because of forecast thunderstorms. Nothing like being tucked in between high buildings when lightning threatens. The storms turned out to be just rain but it was a pleasant night, no commotion on shore even on a Saturday night. It was nice to be able to walk up for a nice brunch this morning.
The weather turned raw and damp with a northeast wind so I've decided to just stay put until it clears.
The Pride of Baltimore II is up on the hard in the shipyard within easy walk so I hope to catch up with Captain Jan Miles while I’m here.
