Southern Chesapeake

Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the US, almost 200 miles from where we entered via the C&D Canal down to the Hampton Roads inlet near Norfolk VA. You could spend years cruising the waters of the Chesapeake and not have time to see it all. Sadly we don't have that much time and so we needed to push southwards rather quickly (for us) through the lower half of the Chesapeake.

It was this past Tuesday that wind conditions allowed us to leave St. Michaels MD and move down and across the bay to Solomons MD where we anchored off of Zahnisers boatyard.

We paid a few dollars to use their dinghy dock and showers and were able to buy a bag of good dog food (at least the dogs like it) at a nearby store.

On Wednesday we moved down the bay some more, crossing the wide mouth of the Potomac River and landing in beautiful Reedville VA, home of a menhaden fishing fleet and processing facility. Apparently there is or was money in menhaden, as evidenced by the spectacular old homes in Reedville.

We did get exposed to the smell of the processing plant. Didn't smell like money to me.

On Thursday we moved farther south to James Creek at Deltaville VA.

We anchored at Deltaville for 2 nights as there were strong NW winds, plus we had earned a break. The nearby 'State Dock' was a challenge to climb onto for us geezers but we made do. Then we needed to walk a ways to get to any stores, etc. but that's OK.

Finally on Saturday we made the run down to the Hampton Roads inlet and turned to starboard up the Hampton River, where we stopped at the Hampton VA Public Piers for a water fill up and holding tank pumpout (such things are VERY important), then moved upstream a bit more to drop the anchor. Again we stay 2 nights to give us time to explore this nice small city and buy groceries. Here's the view from our anchorage.

Tomorrow (Monday) should be a big day, as we will cross the Hampton Roads waterway, pass the worlds largest naval facility at Norfolk, enter the official ICW at mile 0, then turn into Deep Creek where a lock will raise Spray by 8 feet to enter the Dismal Swamp Canal. it should be a great adventure so please stay tuned to see how it plays out.

 

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