Northbound Spring 2022 – through Virginia and Maryland – May 17-30

May 17th – We were underway at 0645 from Coinjock to make all the bridges on time. Made our way through the North Landing River, the Virgina Cut and the Great Bridge locks.

1430 – Gilberton Bridge- We requested an opening from the highway bridge. The bridge tender responded, raising the bridge. About halfway up, the railroad bridge tender (different person) announced that the railroad bridge was closing, but did not respond to radio calls. We canceled our request for opening, waited an hour, and gathered a crowd of 11 boats around us.

1520 – After many radio and telephone calls, the railroad bridge announced that they were opening. The coal train had passed by 30 minutes ago and they were waiting for some maintenance car to return over the bridge.. The retrograde failed to show and they opened the bridge for marine traffic. The highway bridge opened and all the waiting boats scampered through. We were the last boat and passed through at 1528, just two minutes before a 2 hour scheduled closing due to rush hour.

1740 – While we were steaming down the Elizabeth River, a large containership, ‘Orca I”, was overtaking us. We moved to starboard, out of the channel, giving the containership plenty of room. As we approached the US Navy Base, a security boat approached us, warning us we were within a security zone. I yelled over to the secuirty boat that we were being overtaken by the containership (which should have been obvious to them) and would clear as soon as the containership passed. Navy Security was not happy, but they let us continue.

1730 “Orca I” passed us. We moved to port and into the channel, and outside the Navy Security Zone

1800 Anchored in Mill Creek, Hampton, Virginia, just off Old Point Comfort Marina and Fort Monroe

May 18 – 0900 – Moved from anchorage to dockside at Old Point Comfort Marina

May 18 – 0730 – Underway from Old Point Comfort Marina

1500 Moored Fishing Bay Marina, Deltaville, Virginia

May 19 – 27 Remained at Fishing Bay due to weather. Visited with Mary and Bill and their neighbors, Caroline and Bob.

May 28th – 0730 – Underway from Fishing Bay Marina

1630 – Anchored Mill Creek off of the Great Wicomico River near Reedville, VA’. Our normal anchorage is a bit more upriver, but former marina-mates of ours (Mike and Carolyn from SV Marie Louise) bought a house on Mill Creek and we were hoping to visit. Schedules and weariness precluded a visit, but we hope to see them later in the summer.

May 29 – 0730 Underway from Mill Creek anchorage

0830 Crossed the Virginia/Maryland border

1530 Moored to a mooring ball at Zainheiser’s Marina in Solomon’s Island,Maryland.

May 30th – 0800 – Underway fron Zainheiser’s Marina mooring field.

1530 – Arrived homport, Herrington Harbour North, Deale, Maryland, E dock, Slip E-4

2021-2022 Cruise Complete.

No significant casualties or incidents

Minor mainteance and repair issues:

Line in prop southbound in Georgia (fixed)

Engine started switch failed southbound in Georgia (fixed)

Generator low voltage in January (fixed)

Small electrical fire in March (fixed, rewired affected lights)

Clogged toilet in February and again in March (tore apart plumbing and fixed)

Potable water pump failure in March (fixed)

Shower sump pump failure in May (fixed)

Broken rub rail starboard side in Fernandina Beach

Radar stopped working in May