Chesapeake Bay to Potomoc River
Wednesday June 29th to July 8th, 2011
It was overcast and humid when we awoke in Sarah Creek on the York River on Wednesday June 29th. A sizable marina on one side, and lovely homes on the other. Charlie put a phone call in to the dockmaster at the Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, to check that there was room for us. Dockmaster Mike advised us to wait until after 1100 to dock, so we arrived and docked on the inside of a T-head, behind schooner Serenity.
Serenity was a pirate ship taking passengers out for a couple of hours. Her two crew had quite a job getting her off the dock in the strong flowing current.
The Coastguard cadets also use Riverwalk Landing for a lunch stop when they were out training. Dockmaster Mike is a retired Coastguard officer, and was pleased that they use the marina. Apart from the two schooners, after the Coastguard left, there was only one other vessel besides Lady.
Mike gave us a great introduction to the town, and soon we were on our way to lunch. and after that, caught the FREE trolley that takes visitors around the village.
We went around twice, stopping at the entrance to Main Street, where we walked down the street admiring the historic homes and 
gardens.
After a shortcut through a historic track, we checked out the 
Yorktown pub, and decided to return there for a delicious dinner.
Thursday, we took the free trolley first to the National Park's Yorktown Battlefield. After wandering around the Visitors Center, and learning how English Lord Cornwallis was defeated by American George Washington
and French Lafayette in the last battle for American Independence, Charlie was recruited to be the officer in charge of firing a gun. His fellow gun crew included women and children, and the park ranger rehearsed them in 
how a gun was fired. We looked at more guns, and learned more about the defeat of the English.
After lunch, we visited the Waterman's Museum, and learned more about the history of the area.
We departed Riverwalk Landing at about 1400, went downstream with the current to the bay, turned north and had a leisurely sail that afternoon, dropping anchor at 2000 in Fishing Bay, off Deltaville.
When we sailed to the Caribbean in 2009 with the Caribbean 1500 Rally, one of the boats we made friends with was Destiny. Whitey and Nancy Liscombe, Destiny's owners, live in Deltavill, and had invited us to let them know if we got to the area. We did so, and arranged for Whitey to pick us up for drinks at their house on Stove Point. During the day, we filled Lady's fuel tanks at the Fishing Bay Harbor Marina, and found that we could get a day-pass to the marina, which we did. 
I did laundry, Charlie borrowed a bicycle and rode in to the town for some lunch for us and we enjoyed the pool, making friends with other boat owners.
It was great to see Whitey and Nancy again, and also their daughten, Kristen, who had crewed for them on the 1500. Kristen's 
friend Make was also there. We had an enjoyable time sipping drinks and watching a marvellous sunset.
Saturday July 2nd, we borrowed Nancy's car and were able to do some grocery shopping 
in Deltaville. They invited us over to their house for dinner...another great sunset with lovely friends.
Sunday was another great day in Fishing Bay, and Whitey and Nancy invited us to join them at a neighborhood holiday cocktail party. We met some interesting folks, including one lady who is headed to the Isle of Wight next week! After that party the Liscombs all joined us aboard Lady for dinner and we watched fireworks that we going off around the bay. Their neighbor two door down had a pretty spectacular display going on.
We had bid goodbye to Whitey and Nancy after dinner, and on Monday July 4th, we pulled anchor at 
0900, departed Fishing Bay and sailed around the corner and up the Rappahannock River to Irvington, where we anchored in Carter Creek at 1245. It is interesting to be back in osprey country. Almost every channel marker has a nest with one or two 
chicks in it. We took the dinghy to go exploring the back creeks, and were amazed to see Flash, a catamaran we had seen on the way to Barbuda in early 2010, and then re-met earlier this year in St. Lucia.
Our friends Lynn and Bill Phelps, on Catalina 470 Outpost live in the area, and they invited us for dinner aboard Outpost, and to watch the fireworks. Dinner was delicious, but the fireworks were rained out. A terrific thunderstorm and lots of rain.
After we returned ot Lady, at 2240 I awoke to loud bangs. The lightning had stopped, and the rain just a drizzle, so the fireworks were on for the last hour of the day!
On Tuesday Lynn was kind to lend us her car, and we went in to Irvington to shop for provisions. We 
had also stopped in to visit our former Tulsa friends Kimberly and Scott Vail, who invited us to use the Rappahannock River Yacht Club facility as their guest. Their grand-daughter Chloe was this sweet girl and the club's pool.
That night we went to Lynn and Bill's house in Weems, "Herhouse", where I was able to do laundry and Lynn made another delicious dinner.
Wednesday Scott let us borrow his vehicle for shopping and errands, and the rainy weather prevented pool use, but we were able to use the RRYC's grill to fix Kimberly and Scott a meal. Saltwhistle (Jared and Sabina, last seen in Beaufort, NC) came and anchored near us, so we invited tham to join us.
After a delightful walk ashore on Thursday, we departed Irvington as the RRYC's sailing camp was getting going.
Painting was in progress on the Rappahannock River Bridge.
As we entered the Great Wicomico River, there was lots of evidence as to the importance of fishing here. Lots of large fishing boats, and processing plants.
We dropped anchor at 1534 at Cockerell Creek, Reedville.
A dinghy tour around the creeks provided us with sights of more fishing history.
Friday morning we walked around Reedville, visiting the Reedville Fisherman's Museum, where we learned a lot about the Menhaden fishing industry. They look for the schools of fish using planes!
One of the negative things about an area so rich in fish processing is the odor. The wind was in the wrong direction, and we tired of the smell, so after lunch at the Cockerell Creek Seafood Deli, we pulled anchor and departed. There was a great wind from the south, and we were able to cross the Potomac River, and leave Virginia despite the rain.
