It’s Complicated…
I have been racking my brain about how to separate the next few posts. Virginia, the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland all coexist on the waterways. The first few miles of Virginia were still on the Dismal Swamp…
where the commander apparently lives. We did not make their acquaintance and I am thinking that is a good thing.
Our views change dramatically as we approach Norfolk Harbor…
and we dock the boat at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club while we travel to our ‘land’ home for a few weeks.
Taking advantage of the rental car on both ends of our flight, we explore and discover the cool eclectic area of Ghent. Nearby Virginia Beach provides better grocery store options and we stumble across Dockside Seafood and Fishing Center. Not only do we have views of the bridge tunnel across the Chesapeake Bay to the Eastern Shore, but we also find the perfect spot to chill under ‘Mr. Limpet’.
And here is where it gets confusing. We are sitting in Virginia Beach, VA where the Atlantic Ocean greets the Chesapeake Bay. Across that bridge, the southern 1/3 of the Eastern Shore is Virginia and top 2/3 is Maryland.
When we leave the Elizabeth River, we enter the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay and spend the next few days exploring its nooks and crannies.
Our first side trip is up the York River to Riverwalk Landing Piers right next to Yorktown beach. The perfect location for exploring this historical city with its Watermen’s Museum and American Revolution Museum.
After seeing the Victory Monument from the water…
the moon encouraged a sunset hike…
for an up close inspection of this memorial of the victory over the British on October 19, 1781. The same day we celebrate the Captains birth. Ha! Many years later of course, but now we know where we can go for a great birthday celebration.
Waiting out some weather allows us the time to examine the battlegrounds, take a dinghy ride across the river for lunch, and enjoy a night of live music in the park.
Comments from other boaters lure us to the Tides Inn in Irvington, VA located on the Rappahannock River. We are not disappointed and take advantage of the complimentary bicycles to cruise through the small town and climb a few hills to the last Sunday service of the season taking place at the historical Christ Church.
An unrushed dinner was followed by a fireside chat with two lovely ladies from Richmond who were enjoying a spa weekend away from their hubbies.
Re-entry into the Chesapeake is a bit rough and about the time we snap photos of the Smith Point Lighthouse…
the engine tells us it needs a break and we are able to snag a slip at nearby Smith Point marina in Reedville, VA.
Dan, the owner of the marina, sends the on site mechanic who loans the perfect tool for the Captain to make his repair. Meanwhile, I seize the opportunity to edit photos. My dead eucalyptus leaves rustle in the breeze blowing through open windows. Honking geese fly in and land nearby for a lap around the marina piers. There is a slight hint of butter yellow leaves showing signs of Autumn. An emergency stop is serene and a blessing.
By the way, Dan’s marina is for sale if you need a change of pace.
Once we leave Smith Point Marina and head north, we cross the Maryland state line on the Chesapeake Bay. However, the Potomac River separates the two states as well, so as we travel up the Potomac, the land on the port (south) side is Virginia and the waterway and land on the starboard (north) side is Maryland.
We anchor out on the Coan River, VA with a fabulous moon rising above a hominy packaging plant. We can’t make this stuff up!
This guy really wants to join our adventure and of course the Captain is quick to share all of his newly acquired knowledge of crabs from his current reading of Beautiful Swimmers.
Crossing the Potomac, we stop for fuel at Goose Bay Marina in Welcome, MD and are thoroughly entertained by a retired military man who wants to sell us some crabs. When we ask if he has picked the crab meat for us, he realises he will not make a sale. He does however share his experience as a drill team rifle catcher while in the military. Quite a treat!
As are our views of Mt. Vernon from the water. The seas are kind and we make good time boogying up to the National Harbor and entry into our nation’s capital. Planes buzz overhead as they land at nearby Reagan Airport and make the cruise even more exciting.
After docking at the Wharf, we set off on foot for a quick stroll amongst the memorials at sunset…
before discovering an excellent sushi restaurant…
overlooking the marina.
We weave our way through mobs of pumped up customers waiting in line to see Macklemore at the nearby theatre on our way back to Odysea II.
The cruise back down the Potomac provides peaceful passage by..
Ft. Washington, now a National Park…
and St. Clement’s Island State Park with its Blackistone Lighthouse and the memorial cross dedicated to the memory of the first Marylanders who sailed to the island in 1634 on the Ark and the Dove. We will see a replica of the Dove located at historical St. Mary’s City, MD…
from our anchorage on the banks of St. Mary’s College.
St. Mary’s College discovered slaves quarters while performing an archeological survey before a planned construction.
As a result, the Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland was built on site and is quite moving.
It is a quick run from St. Marys River, to the Potomac River which spills into the largest estuary in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay, where our adventures will continue through Maryland.
Thanks for following along.
~The Crew