Solomons to Kent Narrows and Elk Head MD

On my last post I had mentioned our friends Twyla and Mike from Joplin Mo, our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family back home and we wish them better days as they try to put their lives back together in Joplin.

We had pizza and beers with Twyla and Mike the night before we left the Solomons where were we going next?  The original plan was to go to Annapolis again as we had a wonderful time there on the way south.  But, it was not meant to be this time, as the Naval graduation was going to be taking place in a couple of days and they were pretty well filled up so...... next time.  We had made advanced reservation at Cape May NJ for the Memorial Day weekend so we decided we better step things up a bit to make it there as you never know how the Delaware Bay will be.  It would not be uncommon to get held up  for days because of bad weather on the Bay and there is really no stopping once you jump out there.  So we parted ways with Nauti Nell as they plan to spend much more time exploring the Chesapeake Bay.  I am sure we will catch up with them somewhere, maybe on the Hudson we will look forward to that for sure!  Have fun, can't wait to hear the stories.  Safe travels!

 On Tuesday we left the Solomons this is a lighthouse at Lookout Point just before the Solomons if heading south.

 It was a beautiful day to travel the waters were very calm but hot and humid.  We had planned to anchor out for the night but just as were heading towards our anchorage the USCG gave a weather warning for heavy winds and severe thunderstorms so we took a slip at the Kent Narrows.  No winds or thunderstorms came, it was calm seas.

 This is yet another lighthouse at the Kent Narrows MD

 Oh one more light.  This one is at Elks Head just at the entry to the C&D canal.

 Pretty as a picture.  When we were in this area last fall we thought the C&D canal Elk head area was pretty.  We still thught so, but taking a look at it a second time I think we liked it so much is that it reminded us of New England.

Well we don't have red cliffs like this in New England but I thought it was a nice pic.

Deltaville VA to Solomons Island MD

 This is the Smith Point light

 Not sure what this cargo ship is carrying but its big and was 2 miles away from us.

 This is the Lookout Point light at the entrance of the Potomac River it is ranked the 21st largest in the nation, the mouth of the river is nearly 10 miles across and a trip up it is 107 miles to Washington DC.  We hope to make this trip next time as you should allow at least a week or 2 to properly visit the area.

 This is the Drum Point light

 The cliffs that mark the entrance of the Patuxent River that leads you to the main harbor in the Solomons Island.  This where we take a port turn to our marina for a night or 2.

We were wondering about this ship off in the distance, come to find out it is used for training exercises for the military.  Which means they bomb it!


It was a beautiful day on the Chesapeake Bay our 60 mile trip from Deltaville to Solomon Harbor Marina was about as smooth as it gets on the Bay.  It was a bit cool in the morning starting out but we slowly started to shed clothes as the day went on, by the time we reached our destination it was shorts and sleeveless once again.  We chose this marina because our new looper friends Capt. Chappy and Twyla on Nauti Nell were here.  They were our week long dockmates at Norfolk and are from Joplin MO.  Once tied to the dock, boat washed it was time for cocktails, a dinghy ride in the harbor with Mike and Twyla and dinner at Boomerang's.  This marina is part of the Holiday Inn and they had an outdoor bar with entertainment that we could enjoy from our boat the woman singing was fantastic and the drinks aboard were cheap.

Twyla and Mike aka Capt. Chappy aboard Nauti Nell

All good things must come to an end...Rendezvous over goodbye Norfolk

Today we traveled about 50 miles to Deltaville  (Doziers Regatta Point) they have a great deal here 1.25/ft stay 2 nights the 3rd is free (for AGLCA).  Hmm wonder how long we will stay?  Doziers is a sponsor of the AGLCA, in fact Jack Dozier was in Norfolk for the Rendezvous.  Doziers is owner and publisher of the Waterway Guides and the Skipper Bob books. 

 On the porch at Dozier's Regatta Point

 Jim chatting with Steve from Suncat they were our dockmates in Norfolk we first met Gold Loopers Steve and Jean at River Dunes in Oriental NC they are from S.Portland Maine and have been cruising for more than 30 years, 5 of them on SunCat.

 Just ourside the Harbor in Deltaville.

Though the rendezvous is over, today about half of the boats that left Norfolk ended up at Regatta Point in Deltaville.  When we arrived we were invited to Happy Hours on the porch, it was a very nice gathering with wine and cheese provided by the marina.  And we thought the rendezvous was over!  It was a very pleasant gathering, thank you Jack it was indeed very generous of you to host all the loopers.  The facilities here are extremely nice with a pool, very nice bathrooms, showers and laundry room, a courtesy car actually 2 of them and they have a boaters lounge with a big screen TV comfy couches and a leave one take one library.  We stopped here in Oct. on our way down south and because of weather we were here for 6 days.
Tomorrow we will take the courtesy car to the grocery store and West Marine to stock up on item.  Jim may do an oil change and some other boat maintence and I have a pile of laundry.  And though the loopers consider it a badge of honor we need to remove the mustache from SweetPea.
*note to Denise.....no fly swatter needed this time!

Norfolk Va and the AGLCA rendevous

It has been a bit more than a week since my last post,  I have tried but the WiFi here at the Waterside Marina has not been great for loading pic.  So here goes, I will try to load in some pictures again later this evening.
So for the last week we have been at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk with more than 40 boats and 200 members that are here for the rendevous for the America's Great Loop Cruisers Association http://www.greatloop.org/
These rendevous are held twice a year and are extremely informative and a great social event for the members to share their stories and experiences of what its like to travel America's Great Loop.

 The Great Loop is the continuous waterway that encompasses the eastern portion of North America including the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland.


It is also known as the Great Circle Route and is considered one of the safest long distance cruising routes in the world. To travel all, a portion, or any of the magnificent side trips of the Great Loop is an adventure of a lifetime.

Docktails between sessions

Happy hour lives on

where did everyone go? must be time to get ready for dinner

meet Carol and her BIG boat dog......Monty isn't he beautiful

May 1 to May 8th our last week in NC

We spent 3 days in Morehead City just over the bridge from Beaufort NC.  When we were in Sneads Ferry we found they had a consignment store, while Jim was looking around he found a used davit system which was happened to be the same one were planning on purchasing for the dinghy.  Great find at a 1/3 the original price, so Jim installed it in Morehead City.

We then moved on to Oriental NC (River Dunes Plantation) WOW what a place.  Its another one of those planned communities,  the place is amazing, Pool with private cabanas 2 hot tubs, showers you have to experience to believe, the clubhouse is beautiful with a pub, theres a pool table and an incredible library.  Also an outdoor fireplace with a seating areas all around the porch, and a firepit away from the building with rocking chairs around it.  And a workout room, oh and we can't forget the courtesy car.  All this for $1.25/ft a must stop.

Next was Belhaven NC,  we stayed at Dowry Creek this time, we had heard so many good things about it being super cruiser friendly.  And it was, they have a chicken dinner they put on in the clubhouse not sure how often but we were lucky enough to hit it right.  They have a happy hour or 2 every night, BYOB and its nice if you bring an appetizer but not necessary .  Great time! They also have a pool, laundry, and courtesy car to get into town.

Then onto Alligator River Marina, good stop over,  not much happening here, there is a reaturant in the gas station along with a convience store with beer and wine.  the marina is small and very well taken care of but no car and not close to anything.  Theres a morning newpaper dropped off at your boat in the morning.

 Dowry Creek so pretty here.

 there clubhouse pool and bottle tree

 Dowry creek

 sunrise on Alligator River

secluded home on the Pungo River

All safe in Sneads Ferry NC

 The troops are in!  These boats can move, 40 kts and they only have a 9" draft

We had originally planned to anchor in the area of Camp Lejune but weather prevented it. 

 This weather is for the birds!

We have spent a couple days in Sneads Ferry waiting out the storms.  They came through today and luckily we found a safe spot south of Morehead/Beaufort NC.  There was rain, thunder, lightening and considerable wind.  No tornado's here they were just south west of us.  An unbelievable lightening show going on now.  Tomorrow we will head out to Morehead City for the weekend.

update... (4-29) We made it to Morehead City Yacht Basin, we got in about 1pm there are 5 looper boats here. We should begin to see more now as the mass exodus from Florida is well under way, and the AGLCA rendezvous is just 2 weeks away.

Southport to Wrightsville Beach NC

 St. James Plantation Marina just south of Southport NC very nice private gated community Tiki bar, restaurant, very well stocked store for the galley.  Very Friendly slip owners we had 2 people offer to take us into town for shopping.  One man gave us a 2 hour guided tour of the area he took us into Southport, Bald Hill Island and all around the Plantation.  A very nice day,  finished off with cocktail on the boat.

 Snows Cut.

 A nice day at the Beach.

 Wrightville Beach Marina,  Just a short bike ride to shopping and West Marine.  Nice restaurant's all around.  Lots of boat traffic but very little wakes.

We had to pass this dredging operation in transit to somewhere in the Beaufort NC area.  Nice to see the equipment being used in the area.  However they traveled many miles over areas that needed dredging.