Its Already Snowing, So We Must Get Going

Deltaville to Norfolk  |  7.5 Hours  |  51 Miles 

Granted, it was only a dusting of snow that fell on Richmond two days ago, but it was enough to reinforce the need to head south. There are only a few things in life that I despise, and being cold is at the top of the list. Crossroads was loaded with our clothes and provisions, ready to go. Barry and I had watched the weather all week and decided that today offered us the best weather window to travel down the Chesapeake Bay. With that, we departed this morning with a forecast of sunny skies, no wind, no waves ... but a chilly 24 degrees to start the day. Dawn broke serenely over Stingray Point Marina as we set out to do our final chores. Both vehicles needed to be moved to the storage lot, but first the windshields had to be scraped of ice. Bundled up in layers (I had on five, top and bottom), we walked back to Crossroads and prepared for our planned 7:00 departure.

The stillness of the water perfectly reflected the peaceful morning. The full moon was still shining brightly. With no wind, exiting the slip was drama-free. We were fortunate that there was no frost on the deck, but there was a bit on Fiberglass Beach. By the time we reached the end of the Rappahannock River and entered the Chesapeake Bay, I had all of the dock lines tied up. I reentered the pilot house and was welcomed by the warmth of the heater, laughing that it said, "Hi." We settled in and gave our new Gold Looper burgee its first good run. Over the years, we have taken this route to Norfolk many times, but I still enjoy the scenery. Passing the Wolf Trap Light meant we were halfway to the Hampton Roads Bridge and Tunnel (HRBT).

We were surprised by the number of dolphin that we saw today. Several small pods greeted us as we approached the HRBT. A group of three played in our bow wave for a good 15 minutes. Watching them dodge and dive was worth a few minutes in the cold. The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse at Fort Monroe is one of my favorites. The teal, red, and white color scheme looks good, even against the overcast sky.

The cruise up the Elizabeth River remains one of the most scenic stretches we've seen. Turning close alongside the US Navy base, good looks are available of many classes of Naval vessels. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was seen at dock. The US Army Corps of Engineers was out cleaning up debris. Tugs zipped up and down to assist in maneuvering large ships. This tug was passing in front of Nauticus and the USS Wisconsin.

The bulk carrier Aviator made us feel rather small. We dropped anchor at Hospital Point. There were only two other boats here, but there were many crab pots which made finding a good spot a little more challenging that anticipated. As darkness fell, the view from the pilothouse was spectacular. No matter what time of year we visit this spot, the scenery does not disappoint.

Tomorrow will be a short day to Great Bridge and a stop at Atlantic Yacht Basin. We'll take on fuel and water, empty the holding tank, pick up an Amazon package (I forgot to bring my Fit Bit charger. Prime to the rescue.), and wait out a big blow associated with a passing front. For now, we're happy to have gotten these 51 miles behind us. Fifty one miles closer to a warmer winter.