THE FINAL LEG

The last week of our journey—which took us from Slade Creek just north of Pamplico Sound, back to Solomon Island in the Chesapeake—was one of the most satisfying passages of the entire trip. We were going home! And everyday, just thinking of the friends and family we were soon to be with, brought smiles to our lips. Gone were the narrow, shallow confines of the “ditch”. Ahead we faced wide open stretches of water which could be confidently negotiated without constant “depth checks” on the GPS. This alone was cause for celebration. And although there would still be challenging waters ahead, we knew that if we chose our weather windows carefully before setting out, this last leg could be a “piece of cake”. And it was.

We pulled into the Alligator River Marina along with half a dozen other boats and waited two days for winds and waves to subside before attempting the Albemarle crossing. The day we left, a light drizzle fell over the Sound but the waters were merely ruffled and the passage comfortable. At Coinjock we made reservations at the “Marina Restaurant”—a right of passage in these parts—and enjoyed an incredible seafood and roast beef dinner. Back “in the day” those who were capable of polishing off the 32oz slab of beef on offer here, did not have to pay for their meal. But THAT particular “deal” has long since been discontinued as more and more patrons successfully rose to the challenge.

The following day we crossed Currituck Sound under sunny skies and anchored off Hospital Point in Norfolk along with Dave and Hallie, our friends aboard “Shamal.” A brief weather window with strong winds from the SW presented itself the next day and we had a great run up the Chesapeake Bay all the way to Reedsville on the Wicomico River before it slammed shut later that day. Here we waited patiently two more days for thunderstorms to pass and waves to die down before attempting the 40 plus miles that separated us from the Solomons and our journeys end—so close and yet so far away!

Anxious to move on, we were VERY tempted to head out across the unpredictable Potomac River, taking our chances with the weather. But thankfully common sense prevailed and we stayed put until we were very sure that the worst was over. The next day a large trawler which had braved the winds and waves limped into our anchorage—sans dinghy and davits! Its captain told of being slammed by 8’ seas which filled his dinghy with water, tearing it off the davits and away from the boat. His impetuous decision to “leave” in less than ideal conditions cost him $10.000. plus as he watched his dinghy with its outboard motor disappear under the punishing waters.

On Thursday, when we were finally able to set off for Spring Cove Marina in the Solomons, the surface of the Chesapeake was smooth as glass. Less than 5k of winds were blowing from the NW and the sun was shining once again in a cloudless sky. It was a perfect ending to a perfect trip! That evening we celebrated this “last day of the voyage” aboard the motor yacht “Grand Fromage” with a couple of cruising friends from California who had invited us over for dinner. It was a little sad to realize that THIS journey at least was over. But as we raised our glasses in a toast to good friends and new adventures, we were already looking forward to the next.

This is our last blog entry. We will spend the next week in our slip at Spring Cove sorting through gear, putting some items into storage, cleaning the boat and preparing for a haul-out Wed. June 4th. Ernie and Dorothy Weeks will be arriving here on the 3rd and will drive us back to Canada as soon as Fortnight is safely secured out “on the hard.” We should be back home the weekend of the 6th and look forward to spending time visiting with friends and family over the summer. But in September we’ll return once again to the Chesapeake and begin plotting our next adventure.