We have successfully completed our second say of sailing down the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis, MD. Sailing today was brisk to say the least. Most of the day, we had winds from 16-20kts with quartering seas. We sailed mostly between 6.5 and 7.5kts until about 2pm, when the winds became fickle and died down. We saw 7.8kts at one point. We had to motor the last few hours into the Rappahannock River and Walden's Marina. The weather forecast portends more of the same and worse yet. For the rest of the week, the weather gods have blessed us with more small craft advisories, 20+kts winds, gusts over 25kts, cold temperatures, and rain. We're still trying to figure out what we've done to deserve it all. The best we can figure is that it must be our penance for being so blessed as to be able to make the trip. However, we are not dissuaded in the least. If anything, we are no less than "good to go". The weather is providing plenty of exercise in rough weather sailing, reefing sail, and dressing for the occasion. We have much blustery, cold, and wet sailing ahead of us.

It would appear that while we were at the boat show, Martians must have invaded and replaced the places we stopped on the way up with cold and barren wastelands, devoid of all people and activity. Both Solomon's Island and Deltaville were ghost towns. When we arrived at Deltaville this evening, neither Walden's Marina or Cocomo's Restaurant was open. Walden's had left a hand written sign on the door saying that they'd reopen tomorrow morning. Being the industrious sailors that we are, we tied up to the fuel dock and will find some way to pay them for it later.

After landing, I proceeded to the nearby docks to photograph an old boat which I believe Dave Simeon's to be interested in. That is the chief reason why we stayed at this location again on the way home. The boats in this marina are all old. Walking through the covered boat house is like going back 25 years. We swear that we saw the original SS Minnow in there.

After that, it was time to get down to some serious eating & drinking. For dinner, Dave & I had homemade chips & salsa, Jambalaya with fresh shrimp, salad, and a dessert of apple coffee cake adorned with fresh blueberries and Smuckers Blackberry syrup. Needless to say, it was good eatin. In the process of preparing this culinary masterpiece, we also polished off the remaining Patron and a bottle of fine Spanish Tempranillo wine - penance, schmenance.

We will set sail again tomorrow amidst the worst of the forecast days. Tomorrow brings another Small Craft Advisory with 20+kt winds and possible gusts to 28kts. All we can say is, "see you in Portsmouth!".

Cap'n Monty
s/v Song of the South, moored at Walden's Marina in Deltaville, VA