Mike and Patty's Great Loop Adventure 2018-2019

Dozier's Regatta Point Yachting Center in Deltaville, VA to Spring Cove Marina on Solomon's Island, Maryland

We have been Looping for Eleven Months:

Miles Traveled (thru June 4, 2019) : 3,796.9 miles

Ports of Call: Harrisville, MI; Presque Isle, MI; Rogers City, MI; Mackinaw City, MI; Harbor Springs, MI; Leland, MI; Frankfort, MI; Ludington, MI; Manitowoc, WI; Sheboygan, WI; Port Washington, WI; Racine, WI; Chicago, IL; Joliet, IL; Ottawa, IL; Peoria Heights, IL; Havana, IL,; Florence, IL; Grafton ,IL; Alton, IL; Kimmswick, MO; Cape Girardeau, MO; Cairo, MO; Paducah, KY; Grand Rivers, KY; Buchanan, TN; Waverly, TN; Bath Springs, TN; Counce, TN; New Site, MS; Fulton, MS; Columbus, MS; Gainesville, AL; Demopolis, AL; Putnam, AL; Silas, AL; Mt. Vernon, AL; Mobile, AL; Gulf Shores, AL; Fort Walton Beach, FL; Panama City, FL; Carrabelle, FL, Clearwater, FL; Sarasota, FL; Cape Haze, FL; Fort Myers, FL; MooreHaven, FL; Stuart, FL; Fort Pierce, FL; Vero Beach, FL; Cocoa Village, FL; New Smyrna, FL, Marineland (St. Augustine), FL; St. Augustine, FL; Fernandina Beach, FL; Cumberland Island, GA; St. Simon's Island, GA; Midway, GA; Savannah, GA; Beaufort, SC; St. John's Island, SC; Charleston, SC; Georgetown, SC; Myrtle Beach, SC; Southport, NC; Surf City, NC; Beaufort, NC; Oriental , NC; Belhaven, NC; Columbia, NC; Elizabeth City, NC; South Mills, NC; Tidewater, VA; Deltaville, VA.

"Parrot Bay" has transited (13) States: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Location for the Nights: Marinas: 326, Anchorages: 7 Free Dock: 2

Miles Walked Total: 1,042.39

Games of Cribbage Total: 202: Mike wins: 98 (16 skunk) Patty: 104 (15 skunks)

Books Read: Mike: 31 Patty: 23

Day #336: From last evening Mike beat me at cribbage. The two of us were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit, lemon bread, cookies and local weather. Mike and I looked at all of the weather sites early today and the winds looked favorable the later in the afternoon and then the winds were to pick up with two days of very strong winds. The two of us decided at 7:20 A.M. that we were going to stay in Deltaville. At 8:00 A.M. Mike and I looked at each other deciding that we should leave so I called Spring Cove Marina in Solomon Maryland. The lady at the marina had already put through a reservation request for Friday so she talked to the dockmaster asking if they could accommodate the "Parrot Bay" this evening and possibly a few more days weather dependent. The dockmaster said that they were busy this weekend but for the next few days they could accommodate he took a bit more information and giving marina information for when we arrived. At 8:20 A.M. the engines were started. At 8:30 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was underway with assistance from the boaters behind the "Parrot Bay" who were happy that they were leaving as they wanted our slip so that they could pump out their black water tank. I prepared the boat for departure as we left the dock so quickly that a few jobs still needed to be taken care of for a smooth trip. At 9:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was at the Rappahannock spit with seas 2 feet or less and Windmill Point Light to starboard. At 10:00 A.M. the cargo/container ship "Atlantic Sea" was in the Chesapeake Bay. At 10:30 A.M. the tug/barge "Palm Coast" was in the Chesapeake Bay. At 10:40 A.M. the ferry "Chesapeake Breeze" passed the "Parrot Bay" at port stern. At 11:20 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was at Smith Point Light and the Potomac River. The Navy has a "target ship" grounded in this area for aerial target practice. At 11:30 A.M. the "Parrot Bay" crossed into Maryland. At 12:35 P.M. the freighter "Century Venus" was in the Chesapeake Bay. At 12:15 P.M. "Parrot Bay" passed Point "No Point Light". At 1:45 P.M. the freighter "Mykonos Bay" was in the Chesapeake Bay. At 2:00 P.M. "Parrot Bay" passed Hooper Island Light off to starboard. As Mike and Patty were traveling the Chesapeake today we saw numerous military helicopters as they got closer to Solomon's Island there were navy jets doing touch and goes at the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River. "Parrot Bay" was secure at the fuel dock at Spring Cove Marina at 3:50 P.M. where we took on 300 gallons of diesel fuel. Wiley and Katie, staff members at the marina were very friendly talking about the loop while fueling. The two then helped Mike and I dock the boat on a t-dock then giving us a tour of the facilities. "Parrot Bay" traveled 63.2 miles today (3,860.1 miles total for the trip). After making sure that the boat was secure Mike and I walked to Angler's Restaurant for dinner. I had rockfish and Mike had a Maryland Crab Cake. The two of us headed back to the boat for a few boat jobs followed by blogging and reading. We will be staying at Spring Cove Marina for two nights and watching the weather in the next few days deciding when to move to Annapolis.

Windmill Point Light

"Atlantic Sea"

"Palm Coast"

"Chesapeake Breeze" ferry from Reedville, VA running daily trips to Tangier Island.

Smith Point Light

This is a target ship in the Chesapeake Bay that the naval air bases used for a target. A World War II Liberty ship scuttled in 20' of water so it appears nearly normal in the water. Helicopters and jets use it for target practice.