War Aboard
16 May 2012 | Regatta Point Marina, Deltaville
WAR ABOARD
May 16, 2012
We will stay in Deltaville for a few more days and that does not mean without some challenges. We are a bit disappointed in Scurv’s inability to do one of his duties. We have, it seems, become a bunkhouse for several flies that elude Scurv and hide from us. They seem to amass in some dark spot then blow a tiny bugle and attempt to fly up Scurv’s nose or ours. I managed to trap three of them in the forward head this morning. I was armed with a flyswatter and closed the door. It was me versus the three amigos. After fifteen minutes or so I gave up. They outwitted me and that tells me that cruising has taken a toll on my mental powers.
We must have missed the marina memo about today. Several “loopers” left the harbor all headed to Onancock on the Eastern shore. Sailboats now outnumber the motor vessels in this marina. It is always a bit of entertainment to watch boats leaving early or arrive in the early afternoon. Since leaving Norfolk, we have seen only one other vessel from Texas. It was actually marked with Virginia state permit numbers thus may not now be Texas based.
Scurv has been a hit in this port. There are several cruisers with Schnauzers most of whom are parked at home with loved ones. One boater has an elderly miniature version that she claims she hates. Says he is “bull headed”, hard to train, noisy when sleeping, and generally obnoxious. Humh, isn’t that part of most dogs?
This marina, Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina, is a nice stop. The juice, coffee and rolls in the Captain’s Lounge every morning is a nice touch. There is a gathering on the large porch almost every afternoon where cruisers do what cruisers do: mostly stretching facts into tales of sea monsters, very long bottom paint life, exaggerated fuel economy and of course storms where most boaters would die if they challenged Neptune. Said conversations are usually fueled by adult beverages and absolute enthusiasm about being underway. As mentioned before, there is a great difference when one does not have to be somewhere at some particular time. I have noticed that motor vessel crews can take off much faster that we. I am guessing that it is mostly due to storage lockers. They have places for stuff like fenders, deck chairs and dock lines that are purpose built for the duty. Most have dinghy davits that make for a proper stowage. I don’t think they eat breakfast before departing but rather wait until the quiche is ready sometime around mid morning. Lest we eat a sandwich underway, we prefer to have “something to eat” before getting underway. That is what we do as opposed to motor vessels that “take off”. They speak of interim stops some 40 miles away and we speak of that being the destination for the evening although we have a record for us of 87 miles one day. A time long ago.
Scurv reached a milestone of sorts today. He actually jumped ship and went ashore on his own. Little does he realize that he will now be teathered to the boat when alone topside. Can't have him taking shore liberty on his own.
The picture is of Cape Charles, VA approach