TerBarb – Part 12

Tuesday, April 29^th Today is breezy but sunny and warm (80 degrees). We found a food store in downtown Norfolk which was a pleasant surprise. We spent most of the day just walking around town and exploring. Bob did change the fuel filters in the afternoon. We had debated whether to leave today or stay. Every other time we did this section of the Bay (Deltaville to Norfolk) it has been extremely calm. The Bay has been more like a lake – flat and smooth. We clear the dock at 8:30 am and NOAA is saying winds are out of the North at 10-15 with 2-3 footers on the Bay with winds changing to out of the East at 5-10 and 1-2 footer in the afternoon. This didn’t happen. I guess if you added the numbers together you would get a more accurate forecast. We had 5-6 footers on the nose and winds were out of the North but at 25 mph. This was perhaps the worst ride we have ever experienced. We would reach the crest of the wave and the water would drop out from under us and we would fall into the belly of the wave for the next 5 hours. Just south of the Rappahannock River it calms down slightly—meaning 15 mph winds and 2 footers. We turn up the Rappahannock River to get to Dozier Marina. Extremely rough ride, but we were not the only nuts out in the Bay. Several boats had turned back or ducked into Mobjack or the York River. There was no way that I wanted to take the waves on the side (broadside to the waves) to turn into the York, we would have turned over. Everything in the cabin was rearranged. Closet door came open and everything was on the floor, especially in the front cabin. Poor Tiger!! He wanted off the bridge, so we let him go below. He still was not happy as things were rolling around on the floor (can goods, lamps, books) and the furniture (sofa and chair) was sliding from one side to the other side. Poor Tiger, he didn’t know where to go to hide. He was really upset, however like the trooper he is, he did not get sick!! Another couple we met, who were out there with us, said one of their two cats got sick in the cabin. This is the type of ride we usually have crossing the Potomac River. Needless to say, we are both exhausted from the ride and not really hunger for dinner. The cabin needs to be put back in order as you can’t move around without stepping on something and we are covered with salt. So while I rearrange the inside, Bob begins washing off the salt. The top of the bimini is covered with salt.

Thursday, May 1 we need a day to recuperate. It is again windy but temperatures are in the 80 degree range. Small craft warnings are being issued for today for this section of the Bay (Windmill Point to Drum Point). We borrow the courtesy car and go to West Marina. We need flax packing for the shaft as it is leaking. We also find a food store and get some fresh fruit and vegetables.

Friday, May 2 It is again sunny and warm, but the winds are still howling out of the South at 20 mph, gusting to 35 mph. So to put it mildly – I ain’t leaving!! There is no discussion on this point. I think I forgot to mention that on our lovely trip to Deltaville the battery and battery box for the dingy lift decided to go for a swim. The battery box was last seen floating off the York River; however when the battery fell of the hard top it landed on the swim platform and somehow managed to stay there for the rest of the ride to Deltaville. Of course, it had to be replaced as one of the cells was cracked and the acid really cleaned the brown residue off the platform. So it was off to NAPA Auto for a new battery and battery box. Bob did not want to travel without being able to put the dingy up or down from the hard top. We are really getting upset with NOAA. We can see them being slightly off, but this far off is ridicules. I think a better indicator is the tree tops. If they are moving, we are staying put.

Saturday, May 3. We had talked about leaving today. But after checking the tree tops and NOAA we decided against it. Small craft warnings are being posted again today with strong southerly winds. Tomorrow doesn’t look much better – rain showers and thunderstorms. The Bay is not the place to be in thunderstorms, especially at the south end of the Bay. We borrow the bicycles that the marina lends out to travelers and peddle over to the beaches which are located right on the Bay. There are 3-4 footers on the Bay and 20-25 mph winds out of the South, so we would have a following sea for most of the ride (6 ½ hours). We then peddle over to the beaches on the Rappahannock River, and these beaches are calmer as the trees are blocking the wind. Next we headed for a couple of marinas just to walk around and admire the boats. Hope that the winds die down soon as we would like to get to the next stop – Solomon’s, MD.

Well, today is Sunday and we are still in Deltaville, VA. Again we have small craft warnings around the Potomac River which we need to cross. It rained last night and winds are out of the NNW at 10-15 mph according to NOAA. Therefore, we suspect that it is more like 20-25 mph and more importantly you do not want to have NW or SE winds crossing the Potomac River and the fetch is long. Dozier Marina is really nice and the people are terrific, they have a courtesy car and bikes, however, there is no cable TV on the docks and our TV get 3 stations with a lot of snow. They do have dish TV in the boaters lounge, but they frown on wearing your pj’s in the lounge. Tomorrow looks a little better for traveling. We will see!!

Well that’s all for now. Depending on weather we may be home by the beginning of next week.