Almost forgot the most interesting sight as we approached this village...we smelled and saw the smoke way before we saw this BIG lovely bay view house a blaze...fire crew working hard in the heat to control and put it out...

Looked to us like they were using bay water to fight the fire....everyone in town was talking about it...seems it is the second house this home owner has lost to fire...makes me suspicious, how 'bout you???

Tomorrow tomorrow...o' dark thirty start...crossing the bay again...7 hour run into Solomon MD...hoping for a smoother crossing...planning to be in Baltimore for Memorial Day weekend...Orioles are in town...and riots have subsided so thinking we'll be good! and until this happens...I'm caught up with laundry and blogging!!! taking the rest of today OFF!!!!

Special breakfast and then off to tour the town before the heat cranks up...it was a delightful self guided tour...we at least got to walk the grounds and see the gardens and some exhibits....window shopped and Dakota enjoyed the grassy parts!!! Back to find the restaurant at the marina is open for lunch...so had a small rock fish sandwich...and then into a small laundry mode...oh, and blogging...always the blogging!!!

  

By 9 AM on Friday we were headed out, making our way to Deltaville...Doizer's Marina. Dakota is still working on his sea legs...or maybe he has found the perfect excuse to cuddle with mommy...whichever...it was just about 5 hours from undocking to docking.

 In the marina around the bend we finally meet with Bob and Martha on FIELD TRIP. We spent a delightful evening at Cocomo's restaurant...then hanging out on board TUMBLEWEED swapping tales of woe. Boat troubles seemed to be our common theme...they too are headed to Lake Michigan so we are sure to meet again...they are staying on until Monday for repairs...we plan to head out on Saturday. Deltaville was just a stop off for us.

Saturday...we arranged to use the marina courtesy car for a quick trip to West Marine (can't believe we don't already own one of everything they sell) and the local grocery store...by 11 we are lines up and headed across the bay to the thriving town of Onancock....a rough and bumpy 4 hour trip. Whew! Don't know who was more relieved to see land, Dakota or Mate...at check in, we discovered that timing is everything. Seems the town closes at 4 on Saturday and doesn't have much going on again until Tuesday.  So much for touring the Ker Mansion.

It was Prom night here...so lots of young ones on the docks posing for parents...beautiful dresses and handsome color coordinating tux-clad young men....sure felt under dressed in our boat attire. We did walk to Bizzotto's Restaurant for an elegant supper...with left overs for Sunday...cute town...we picked up the walking tour brochure...so we'll do that and a dinghy ride Sunday. Free laundry...but weather permiting we'll be leaving on Monday.

Later Thursday afternoon, Floyd talked about getting anchor straightened...AGAIN...one of the dock guys helped him try with no success. Then offered to get him same anchor for cheap...and have it here 8ish on Friday morning. Since the chances looked good that we'd have to anchor out in Onancock, we opted to do just that....easy peasy!!! and its so shiny and clean!!! Not to mention straight!!! It just sticks out there...no wonder we manage to clip it exiting the slips....

in the middle of all that anchor straightening, here came a tow to collect the empty barge across the canal. I'll bet it didn't take them 10 minutes to whip in there, get attached and head out. You could tell they had done that before....it was just a little closer than we'd viewed that action ever before. Whew!

Delightful dinghy ride up the creek to the river and around the downtown area....then back to the BARKING DOG for a burger, fries and beer! Everyone slept ggoooooddd!

Today's chores included removing the blue stripe around the fly bridge and replacing it with a black one. Now we are almost matchy-matchy...still have blue and gold in the signage on dinghy and transom...could be our next purchase...but probably not. Temps took a decided turn toward cool today...high is suppose to be only 68... We are hoping the wind dies down on the bay so we can scoot to Deltaville tomorrow ....that's the plan, Sam! Then we're ready to explore places of interest on the Chesapeake Bay. Let the real fun begin!

Tuesday...and we arrived late last night at Sunset Creek Boatyard....stayed on the fuel dock so we could get a pump out before moving into a slip. Nice quiet place in Hampton, VA....John and Diane arrived around two...we dropped the boys off at the museum and went in search of pedicures...and haircut for me. Success!! Diane even managed a Party City for some supplies she needed for later this week. Back to the Old Town area...we managed to help support three establishments...Marker 20 for appetizers and drinks, Conch and Shell for dinner, and then the ice cream shop next door. We may have found a new favorite...Hersey's Ice Cream may have replaced our favorite Kwartha ...but we'll have to return to Canada just to be sure!! The pressure!!

Tropical Storm Anna is blowing up the Chesapeake Bay...so we'll be here for a least another day...could be our chance to visit the local Barking Dog establishment at the end of the creek....burgers and beer!! Dakota and I are hoping for a dinghy ride this afternoon...but first Captain needs a nap....wouldn't want him to get cranky!!!!!