Mike
06/09/2010, Deep Creek, VA to Mobjack Bay

June 2nd, 2010 Deep Creek, to East River, Mobjack Bay

We had coffee with Robert at 8 a.m. with thank-yous and good-byes. Then it was back to cast off lines. By 8:30 the south bound traffic was locked through and Robert drove down to the Bridge a block away to open it for northbound boats. There was one. We followed it into the lock and shortly after 9 we were on our way to Norfolk.

At 9:45 we reached the Gilmerton Bridge and got to wait first for two trains, and then for a bridge inspection. We were there for an hour. By 1p.m. we finally cleared the tunnel at the mouth of Hampton Roads and were in the Bay again.

We headed north not really knowing where we were going. It was calm most of the time, but by 4 there was enough wind to raise a sail and lower the rpms. We ended up in the East River off Mobjack Bay and anchored a couple of miles upstream.

It seemed like a long day but we only went about 4 miles from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. so it's not surprising.

I grilled a pork loin for dinner, which we had with a good helping of broccoli and then did some computer work.

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06/09/2010, Deep Creek, VA

June 1st, 2010 Deep Creek, VA

We were planning on leaving today but after coffee with Robert at the lock decided to stay another day. Two of the three boats here took off this morning so after making a run to town with Robert, we moved Sapphire to the end of the dock where departure will be easier.

I made some phone calls and in no time is was about noon. We walked to a nearby Rite Aid for some purchases and then stopped at the Mexican Restaurant for some lunch. From there we hit the grocery store and then hunted for a mail box to post some letters.

By the time we returned, the afternoon was half gone. I had purchased a new book and got busy reading it. It was over 90 again today, but there is enough of a breeze to make it quite comfortable in the shade.

Kathy has been working at entering recipes that we've collected along the way into here computer and found one that was a chicken / spinach stir-fry that looked good so I whipped it up for supper. Kathy was entertained at the time by some locals fishing off the dock just behind our boat.

We had a nice meal, read until dark and then watched some reruns on t.v. for a while before bed.

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06/09/2010, Deep Creek, VA

May 31st, 2010 Deep Creek, VA

Robert convinced us that there would be too much boat traffic around Norfolk on Memorial Day so we stayed another day here at Deep Creek. I dug out a tarp from beneath our berth and spread it out on one of the wide docks that run from where we are moored to shore. Then we removed our dodger and bimini for a thorough scrubbing. I mixed up some cleaner and a little bleach in a bucket and ran the hose over.

There is mildew on the bottom side that stains and the only way we've been able to get rid of it is scrubbing with a brush. After about 30 minutes on each section I rinse and set them out to dry.

By noon they were back on the boat drying. After about three hours we retreated all the fabric with 303 to make them water repellent again. It was an all day job... but since it was over 90 degrees, playing in the hose was nice.

Kathy attempted to sew on a patch but the sewing machine wouldn't cooperate. In the evening I looked at it and for some reason we have two different sizes of needles. The one we had in was just a little shorter and wouldn't reach the bobbin correctly. Although we didn't test it, we believe that it's going to work the next time.

We had brats for dinner and spent the evening in cockpit reading.

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