9 May 14

All the other loopers (the trawlers) were up at the crack of dawn and warming up engines, so we got up, too. The marina was cleaned out by 09:30. We said goodbye to our marina neighbors and new friends, Barbara and Craig, on “Alacrity”, then went grocery shopping at Harris Teeter. As soon as we got back to the boat, Terri started stowing and I started getting ready to go; we left the dock just after 12:00 and headed north on the Elizabeth R., forecast winds were W 5 - 10, which would make a good broad reach nearly all the way to the planned anchorage at Chisman Creek. All was well until we reached Hampton Roads, when the wind went round to NNE 18 (i.e., right on the nose) and we steamed into a light fog (visibility < 1 N-m). As we headed NE into the shipping channel, the US Navy Aircraft Carrier no. 71 loomed out of the fog, in-bound for Norfolk. The Coast Guard swept over on their fast RIB and warned us to stay 500 yards away, or else. After the aircraft carrier got past and we crossed the HRBT, we turned north along the coast and bashed our way against tide and wind for the next 10 miles. As we turned into the York River, the wind freed up enough that we were able to sail for about 15 minutes until the wind died. We motored way up Chisman Creek, past Smith’s Marine Railway, the oldest marine railway in continuous operation on the east coast and anchored in 10 ft of water. 37 deg 10.996’ N, 076 deg 25.446’W. It is lovely and quiet and very sheltered in here. Fired up the BBQ for the first time in weeks.