Virginia

Travelling up the ICW with David and Georgie (and Moggie, of course!) on “Emma Nuestra”

Broken down motor boat being towed and a massive phosphate barge being pushed up the ICW

    Will she fit under the bridge?………. Yes she will! Photos courtesy of “Emma”

David warned us about the police who, apparently, can board at random – put dye down the loo and check that your holding tank is always in action. We’ve christened them the “poolice”! Also the Coast Guard can fine you for not having life preservers in your dinghy as well as the flashlight!

 We left really early as the anchorage was absolutely alive with non-biting little flies who sound like something out of a horror movie, have attached themselves to the plotter – attracted by the light and pooed green everywhere! We nearly ran aground twice in this last section of the ICW and, unfortunate for “Emma” who went aground behind us. Luckily they have “RAC” cover so saved themselves $750 to get refloated. So glad it wasn’t us, as we don’t have any cover! Sorry, guys!

Each marker seemed to have an eagle’s nest on it with chicks inside and we were treated to Air Force jet flyover that seemed to be never-ending.

We went through the only lock with a massive rusty tow barge and then just made the opening of  the bridge which was lucky as they don’t open it in rush hour so “Emma” had to wait till 6pm to come through

Wake from the barge disrupted our depth sounder – it appeared we had no water under the keel! How did we ever fit in the lock with that blooming big thing?!

   

The poo-lice with mounted machine gun and warship

We had an interesting start to the day as Mike changed the filters and oil and was having a “bad-tool day”! Batteries for head torch flat, filters impossible to get off etc. I kept out of the way till summoned in order not to add to the apparent frustrations of his morning.

We went ashore after lunch to “do” Norfolk but there’s not much to “do” – not many shops open, restaurants indifferent, Visitors Centre is shut on a Saturday! The Freemason historic District was pretty but deserted!

How does she (Georgie) do that? I would defo have fallen in by now! Portsmouth – Pretty, but closed

Motored up the Elizabeth River to Hampton which is meant to be really pretty but there’s not enough water to get anywhere near it so we park round the corner beside a very noisy road – too far to dinghy to Hampton! Destined to see places from afar!

  Yet more ospreys and warships and a prettier boat

Again, a bit of sailing (around Cape Henry!) but mostly motoring 25 odd miles to Yorktown. The hottest day ever – again! Nearing 100F apparently.

Went ashore and walked up to Yorktown Victory Centre where a very effusive lady (she landed up kissing me!) got car hire people to come and pick us up, take us to Newport News and collect a car for 3 days.           

Mike discussing Independence clauses with Washington and De Grasse before we go shagging! – Can’t wait

Toured the Virginia Air & Space Museum where Mike successfully crashed a DC9 (Simulated, obviously) and I passed all the multiple choice tests to become a pilot!

Allowed a little lie-in and then ashore via natty All-American shop for RT's USA cushion featuring the Stars and Stripes flag but with only 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies to rebel from British rule of which Virginia was one. Colonial Williamsburg, where the original capital of Virginia (capital now is Richmond) has been preserved circa 1776. Lots of re-enactments and history with staff in colonial costume. Great day out being tourists! Classic Mr Grumpy comment today when I said I was excited about going to Washington for 4^th July – “I don’t really get excited about anything!”

 Gunsmith, printers, bank of day lilies and wig-maker – amongst others.

The British are coming!

My personal favourite- true British soldier!

Went ashore in the afternoon to check out the tall square-rigger that hat come into dock. It’s the state ship of Delaware “Kalmar Nyckel” a reproduction of a Swedish boat of the first settlers here in 1638. I guess someone knows what all those bits of string do!

Photo proving they sometimes do sail these boats! – Sails just being unfurled.

Completely forgot to go ashore for the tall ship deck tour – to which Mr G said “doesn’t much matter, you could see most of the deck from the shore”! Which doesn’t even halfway compare to yesterdays grump – when asked if he’d like to go for a $60 2.5 hour sail on it – “don’t suppose they’ll put the sails up, they’ll motor all the way, you wont be allowed to do anything and it will be full of fat Americans!” – That’s a No then, is it? Must not get so lethargic we forget to go shagging tonight!

Middle-America shags sitting down – not even on a rug on the grass!

I, actually, did get a few videos showing shagging on the boardwalk. UK translation – jive on the pavement!

Mostly motored to Deltaville. Interesting tricky slalom bit coming into the creek between ospreys nesting on the markers. Hot, hot, hot. Note to self – read new camera’s instructions - Some gremlin set it to “panoramic”  - I didn’t know it could do that – wow! Result 2 joined up photos of ospreys nesting on marker 1.

I’ve re-done the lashing that keeps our lamp from swinging around over the saloon table.

One of these days it tipped down so we huddled inside with cocoa!

Found the “panoramic” feature on my camera again – but not very good at it yet! Seem to have 2 boatsheds and the water’s not level!

Went to the Farmers Market across the field in Deltaville and met an English lady, Diana, from Deal! She has kindly invited us for supper tomorrow night and is despatching her partner, Brian to come and collect us. They sailed here and liked it so much they sold the boat and bought a piece of land and Brian built the house.

Its lovely and with a very pretty abundant garden. Had a lovely evening with them

Damage to a church in Deltaville by a tornado that hit a couple of weeks before we arrived. The Masonic church on the left survived untouched.

In the evening Dave, Jenny and their son, Justin (from Australia) came over for sundowners. They are setting off for the Med via Azores and Portugal so we’ve been swapping info! They live up the river from Sydney where we sailed for a day with Jude and Garry. Small world.

 Brian and Diana came over for drinks in the evening but left fairly early to avoid the massive thunderstorm that lasted into the night.

Frank and Tini from Wildcat came over in the evening for drinks, shortly followed by Captain Bill Crump in his little motorboat “Dance” to invite us for drinks in his “party” house tomorrow evening. We had just been invited on board Windjammer III tomorrow so had to decline his offer. So he stayed to drink the Martini he had brought with him and we demolished the last of our beers and are now down to 2 bottles of wine. Have been trying to run down the food stocks so we don’t waste much so our evening meals have become a bit “fridge” dinners!

Galley cleaning for a few hours and packing this morning while Mike strips the mainsail. We took it ashore in the dinghy to fold it – no mean feat getting it on and off the dinghy without dropping it in the water, especially in this heat.

Pizza and drinks on Windjammer III in the evening completes the month.