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.

"Century Venus" 

Military helicopter flying over the "Parrot Bay".

"Point No Point Light" 

"Mykonos Bay" 

"Hooper Island Light" 

NOAA boat out working near the Naval Air Base. 

Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Navy Jet out of the Pax River Station.

USN F-18 Hornet

NEBO Deltaville, VA to Solomon's Island, Maryland 

"Parrot Bay" heading to Spring Cove Marina.

Family of ducks at the head of "Parrot Bay's" dock.

They are so cute when they are this tiny!!!

Spring Cove Marina is beautiful.

The office and gift shop at Spring Cove Marina. 

Sign at the road.

Mike and I had a long day on the water so it was time to head to dinner.

My rockport fish dinner. 

Mike's crab cake dinner.

Dozier's  Regatta Point Yachting Center in Deltaville, VA

Day #335: From last night I beat Mike in cribbage. At midnight a thunderstorm went to the north of the marina but the winds picked up so Mike and I got up to evaluate the lines and take down one of the side curtains. The two of us were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit, cookies and the local weather. The two of us looked at weather websites for the Chesapeake Bay trying to decide when we would be moving to our next port. The two of us worked on a few boat jobs. After the boat jobs we used one of the two courtesy cars from the marina to go to the Merry Vale Produce stand that had fresh fruits and vegetables and fresh fish. Mike and I then headed to the Deltaville Market, Post Office and Tru-Value Hardware Store. The town was far enough away that walking wouldn't have been an option but it is in the country which made for a nice drive. After putting away all of the groceries Mike worked on a few more boat jobs while I made lunch. The two of us decided to head to the pool area to read as the boat was rocking from the winds.  We frolicked in the pool and read books. At 3:30 P.M. the two of us headed back to the boat to have happy hour up on the flying bridge.  The wind picked up which made it very comfortable sunny and 77 degrees. After happy hour it was time for dinner onboard the boat. Again Mike and I looked at the weather apps to decide if we should move on Tuesday and at this time it marginal.  Wednesday and Thursday are definitely not traveling days as the winds are going to pick up ending up on Thursday gusting in the 40's. Mike was able to work on some condo association business and talk to Amanda. I worked on the blog.

"Parrot Bay" on the face dock at Dozier's.

One of the two courtesy cars at Dozier's.

Merry Vale Market had fresh fruit, vegetables and fresh fish. 

The Deltaville Market is a Great Valu grocery store and it was just what Mike and I were looking for to get some groceries.

Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth, Virginia to Dozier's  Regatta Point Yachting Center in Deltaville, VA

Day #334: From last night Mike beat me at cribbage. The two of us were up at 4:45 A.M. to prepare for departure. The temperature was 64 degrees, a few clouds with little to no wind. The engines were started at 5:25 A.M. and "Parrot Bay" was underway at 5:30 A.M. At 5:40 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was at red #36 which is Mile Marker "0" which means that officially there is no longer an intercoastal waterway. "Parrot Bay" passed the Virginia Port Authority, the Norfolk International Terminals and Norfolk Naval Station. There were three aircraft carriers at the Naval Base Norfolk CVN-74 "USS John C. Stennis", CVN-75 "USS Harry S. Truman" and CVN-69 "USS Dwight D. Eisenhower". At 7:10 A.M. "Parrot Bay" passed Fort Wool to starboard, Fort Monroe to port and Old Comfort Point Light which placed us officially in the Chesapeake Bay. At 7:30 A.M. also outbound was the tug/barge "Ross Sea" and container ship "Cap Andreas". At 8:50 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was off the mouth of the York River with 2 foot seas.  Cargo ships "Don Carlos" and "Virgo Colossus" passed to the east of us. At 11:45 A.M. "Parrot Bay"  in the Rappahannock River. At 12:29 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was secure at Dozier's Regatta Point Yachting Center after traveling 58.4 miles today (3,797 miles total for the trip). At 1:30 P.M. I worked on laundry while the two of us swam in the marina pool all by ourselves. At 4:30 P.M. the two of us were back to the boat for happy hour on the flying bridge. After happy hour it was time for Mike and Patty to facetime Mom and Dad Burdo. Mike and I had dinner onboard the boat. It was time for blogging and Sunday night phone calls. 

This is in the mooring field near the Tidewater Yacht Marina.  Just the flying bridge showing from a sunken boat.

Red buoy #36 is Mile Marker 0, we're no longer the intercoastal waterway.

Please enjoy the pictures from our trip down the Elizabeth River through Norfolk.

Lambert's Point Dock Inc. 

All three aircraft carriers together.

"USS Dwight D. Eisenhower"

 "USS Harry S. Truman"

"USS John C. Stennis" 

Fort Wool

Fort Monroe

Old Point Comfort Lighthouse

Tug/Barge "Ross Sea"

Container ship "Cap Andreas"

Thimble Shoal Light

Wolf Trap Lighthouse

"Parrot Bay" heading into Dozier's Regatta Point Yachting Center.

Dozier's Regatta Point Yachting Center is an ACLA sponsor and great place to stay on the Chesapeake.

NEBO Portsmouth, VA to Deltaville, VA

Beautiful buildings here at Dozier's Regatta Pointe Yachting Center.

Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth, Virginia

Day #333: From last evening Mike and I received lots of rain but no severe weather. The two of us were up at 6:15 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit, cookies, lemon poppy seed muffins and the local weather. The forecast is for more rain today so Mike and I decided to work on paperwork until the rain is done. Today is FREE Museum day in Portsmouth so the two of us are hoping to get out and enjoy museums in the area. Mike has plans for our travel now until Cape May, New Jersey. The rain finally stopped so Mike and I went shopping in the Tidewater Yacht Marina store buying a few items. The two of us then had lunch onboard the boat. The sun came out so Mike and I walked to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum where we enjoyed free museum day. We then walked to the Portsmouth Lightship Museum enjoying walking through the lightship. The two of us walked through the Olde Towne Historic District getting to see some of the old homes. The two of us then headed back to the boat.  The sun was out with temperatures of 81 degrees so we headed up to the flying bridge for happy hour in the afternoon breeze. At 4:30 P.M. the two of us decided have dinner at the Fish & Slips Marina Raw Bar and Grille. Mike was feeling like flounder . After dinner the two of us headed back to the marina to get ready for departure in morning heading to Deltaville, VA located in the Chesapeake Bay. It was then time for blogging and reading.

Mike and I toured the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum for FREE!!!

Mike and I headed to the Portsmouth Lightship to tour this museum as well. 

Casswell-McCrae House (1829)

The red brick sidewalks in the historic district are beautiful.

"The Pass House" (1841) was used by the Union forces during the Civil War as the Federal Adjutant General's Office. It received its name because passes, which were required to leave Portsmouth, were issued here. 

"Benthall-Brooks Row Houses" these English basement homes date back to the 1840's. All three brick houses were built by a sea captain named Brooks. He built only one floor a year to allow for adequate settling. Books lived at 421. 419 his the only house that still has the servant's quarters in the back of the house. 

An 1851 map denoting the original Olde Towne Squares was used to place granite markers throughout the historic district. They provide a glimpse of what the city looked like when it was founded in 1752.

 

"The Red Lion Tavern" was originally a tavern for British soldiers and local sailors before the American Revolution.  It was built in the 1700's. During the building's renovation, old menus and a pit for cockfighting were discovered in the cellar. 

"The Ball House" built in 1784 by John Nivison at the corner of Crawford and Glascow streets and moved to this site in 1869. It served as a barracks in the war of 1812. Lafayette was entertained here in 1824 and President Andrew Jackson in 1888. The Ball Family acquired the property in 1870.

The Macon House (1830).

"The Washington-Reed House" this home was originally a two-and-a-half story, six room house built by Captain John Thompson. After the Civil War, Washington Reed purchased the home and added six additional rooms. It is an excellent example of late-Georgian architecture.

 

"The Patriot Inn" was built in 1784 and the oldest portion of the house sits on the fountain of a home built in 1772. Due to its location near the old ferry landing, it served as a boardinghouse for ferry workers for many years. 

Always exciting to see the USCG helicopter.