May 21 - 24, 2015 ::: Ocean Marine, Portsmouth, Virginia, to Tides Inn, Irvington, Virginia -- Loop III Begins

WHERE ARE WE GOING:

We are departing from Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, and will proceed up the Chesapeake Bay to the C&D Canal into the Delaware Bay and out to Cape May.  From there we will continue North to New York City and up the Hudson including Lake Champlain to Sorel, Canada; then Southwest to Montreal with stops in Ottawa, Kingston, Trenton, up the Trent-Severn Waterway to Port Severn and into the Georgian Bay.  West through the northern waters, the North Channel and down to Mackinac Island, the East shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago, the Illinois River, to the Mississippi.  Down the Mississippi past St. Louis to the Ohio, up the Ohio to the Tennessee and thence up that river to Knoxville.  Make a "U" turn and come back down the river to the Tombigbee Waterway and down to Mobile.  Over to New Orleans, another "U" turn to the Florida panhandle to Apalachicola and a Gulf crossing to Clearwater.  Down the Florida West coast and out to Key West.  From Key West we will turn North again along the Intracoastal Waterway back to home port, Portsmouth, with stops along the way.

HOW WILL WE TRAVEL:  SONATA is our travel mode, and a fine vessel she is!

One of our favorite photos of SONATA, anchored in Collins Inlet, North Channel, Canada.

The forward portion of our salon showing the lower helm with sink, stove and refrigerator to the left; our ice-maker is on the right.

The aft portion of the salon,  our dining table ready for use and a great meal it will be.

The aft, our, berthing compartment with cabinets, a two door closet and a full bath with a shower.

The forward berth where guests will be staying, a "V" berth with a 1/2 bath adjoining the berth area.



We moved aboard SONATA on Wednesday, May 20th, in preparation for our departure.

0500 the engines were running and we shortly thereafter departed Ocean Marine in Portsmouth.
As we passed our condo at Admirals Landing and our friend Lawton Baker waved farewell to us from his balcony; he is there in the dark on the 6th floor.

Onancock Town Wharf on the Eastern Shore was to be our first stop.  Two vessels joined us in crossing the bay, SOUTHERN COMFORT (Mike and Cindy) and SLACKTIME II (Bill and Darlene).  We joined together as we proceeded out of Norfolk passing Tidewater Marina and Town Point, and observed the first LOOP III sunrise.

Once we were passed the Naval Station, passing the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH

and became exposed to the bay we, SOUTHERN COMFORT and SLACKTIME following SONATA,

found 3-5 foot swells out of the northeast and knew the trip across the bay to Onancock would be a rough one.  As we came by Thimble Shoals Light, we observed some real sailors entering the Port of Norfolk.

All three boats, nonetheless, proceeded to Onancock

and docked in a down-pour ... everyone was soaked.  Dinner, Mallards At the Wharf, was outstanding.  It is next to the marina and the wet sailors were made quite welcome. 

Friday, after a stop at the Onancock Bakery for sweet-rolls, all three of us departed for the Tides Inn across the bay in Irvington, Virginia.

SONATA took a spot on the Inn's pier, SOUTHERN COMFORT and SLACKTIME anchored in the cove behind the Inn.

Patti and Alan Sutton (FAIRWAYS) joined us and we all went to dinner at the Trick Dog Café in Irvington. Yum!



 

 

 

On Saturday Rhonda and Leslie came over and took  us out for some delicious hamburgers and homemade chips  in  Kilmarnock and to  wish us well on our journey, Loop III.