Day 4   Sunday, April 23, 2017 -  21.6 miles, 3.0 hours travel  ... Deep Creek Basin, Millville, VA to Sunset Boating Center, Hampton, VA

Daily life on board a boat involves an entirely new set of decisions ... like where to go today and where will we spend the night. Lots of rain is heading to the east coast for a couple of days. All our boating friends are talking about where they are holing up until it passes. When everyone talks about holing up some place and no one is planning on moving anywhere ... you know there is a good storm coming. This morning, we were in a safe, protected anchorage but getting the dog to shore in heavy rains in the dinghy wouldn't be fun. We wanted to get to Hampton, VA to a marina friends have raved about. However, the winds might make it an uncomfortable ride. So, decision time? Do we stay and be miserable for 2 days or head out and see how the wind and waves treat us; knowing we could retreat and go to Norfolk if it is bad? Staying in Norfolk would be a lot more expensive. The Captain decided to go. And a good decision it was for us all. The wind wasn't bad, the ride wasn't clam, but easy enough.  We crossed the river further west, toward Hampton Flats (north side of Hampton Bar ) and through the 10' easterly channel to Hampton River.  We did this to stay in the lee of the Hampton side rather than going near Hampton Roads Inlet to use the main entrance channel to the Hampton River.

Travel today took us through several rail road bridges. Usually they are up and out of our way, unless a train is actually passing through. There are A LOT of trains in Norfolk. We had to wait for an opening at one of them. 

Open railroad bridge, we can pass right thru
The middle section lowers for a train to pass

The Elizabeth River through Norfolk is very industrial. You pass many container ships off loading, but also many U.S. Navy ships. Some appear to be under construction, some I guess are in for extensive repairs and others are docked and staffed. One "Warship" left their slip as we approached. They announced on VHF their intentions and "TO STAY CLEAR OF MY VESSEL". We did. No pictures thru this area, pretty much frowned upon to take pics of the navy ships. Each area of ships was patrolled by a boat with guns, though some have floating barricades. We didn't want to be stopped, so no pics.

Only a short 3 hour run today to a quiet marina, Sunset Boating Center, where Cally can use her ramp to get on and off the boat with a pretty neighborhood to walk. There is only one small patch of grass within the marina. Older Victorian homes and sidewalks line the streets making for a nice walk. All in all quite a cute neighborhood around the marina. we are in a protected cove with friendly staff, too.

Sunset Boating Center

Docks at Sunset Boating Center, Hampton VA
Lab Partners is hidden by 4 other boats

Old Victorian homes line the streets from the docks

Cally, the tourist

Then, there is cooking on a boat ... which includes game time. I play "where is it" quite often. Where is the "almond flour or the Gazebo Dressing? You get the idea. This boat has a lot of storage space. But, remembering where it all is, well that is taking some time. So far, I have found most everything, it just takes longer on a boat than opening the pantry door at home. Most of the food storage is under the salon settee. Accessing the storage is from above, under the cushion via our added hatch, or from the sliding doors at the front of the settee. Things are mostly organized in baskets by food group or type: baking, can goods, etc.

Food storage access from the front of the settee (couch)

Food too far back for my arms to reach
is accessed from the top side, under the cushion

Cooking itself is space challenged, but working well. Especially for the first days aboard full time, we planned meals with little hassle to prep and cook. I will get bolder as the days click off.

The basic Galley (kitchen) space I use; not like at home. Morning bacon & eggs!!
The dark vertical board is a bamboo cutting board Rip made for me. I comes down over the two burner cook-top
to give me a full depth flat surface to work when not cooking.

Day 5   Monday, April 24, 2017 - 0 miles travel ... Sunset Boating Center, Hampton, VA

Supposed to rain all day today and tomorrow; so staying put today & tomorrow. One of our favorite updates/upgrades/improvements Rip made for the boat, is a sun shade awing for each side of the boat. With fore thought and planning, Rip also designed the awning to work a cover from the rain. Especially useful today; provides a space for Cally to go to and get dried off before entering the boat. Wet dog on a boat is not ideal. 

Cally coming into the "tented" area from a walk to get dried off
Here. she was shaking off some wetness, so fuzzy Cally

Day 6   Tuesday, April 25, 2017 - 0 miles travel ... Sunset Boating Center, Hampton, VA

Rain, fog & clouds cleared around 10:30 am. Hope to get on the move north tomorrow.

Day 7      Wednesday, April 26, 2017 - 46.5 miles travel ... Dozziers Regatta Point Marina, Deltaville, VA

Very cloudy, even cold today. Easy cruise out Hampton River into The Chesapeake Bay. Skys were to clear around 1pm. 

Overcast and chilly across the entrance to Mobjack Bay

Skys brighten for a bit as we approach the entrance to the Rappahannock River

We saw sunshine for a bit, then clouds rolled right back over us. We stopped for the day at a favorite spot of a lot of cruisers, Dozziers Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville. VA. We have been here twice before; once by boat and once by car when attending a Monk Owners Association rendezvous. Really nice facility plus the nicest, happiest people work here. 

Dozziers Regatta Point Marina, Deltaville, VA

It has been one week living on the boat full time. We are starting to get a groove on how things work, what needs to be done, etc.  It also means time for laundry. Yep, things like laundry still need to be done. We really don't need to do laundry, yet; but the facilities are nice and it makes the chore easier. The laundry is right by the pool. I will wait until tomorrow to do laundry ... maybe hang by the pool until it is all done? Sound like a plan?

Day 8     Thursday, April 27, 2017 - 0 miles traveled ... Dozziers Regatta Point Marina

Beautiful day today! Bright sunny sky's and a wonderful breeze. Laundry was done early this morning. Only one load, yay. 

Bath House and Laundry ... right by the pool
too cool today to jump in.

Clean laundry facilities ... not my mess on the counter top, either

I prepped breakfast for tomorrow cooking bacon in advance and making hard boiled (steamed?) eggs in my Instant Pot. LOVE the Instant Pot (IP). Wow, eggs come out perfect every time and so easy to peel. Anyway, with breakfast done, leaving in the am is quicker with less hassle.

IP at work in the galley

Rip is busy plotting our route to the next stop, Calvert Marina in Solomons, MD. We know where we are going, but with way points plotted out we can keep up with our ETA at the marina. For Cally's sake, we don't' like to cruise too long on any given day. Currently she is not boat trained, but maybe  some day in the future. 

Cally on patrol

Cally is busy ... being a busy-body. She is SO nosy.

Lab Partners