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| This one's for you Dave... What a Ride!!! |
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| Life Boats on Commercial Freighters |
Dosier Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville, VA was a small secluded marina. The marina office building had a great big porch with comfy rocking chairs overlooking the water and all the boats. We used the marina classic loaner car to run for provisions: no AC, passenger window would not roll down, torn leather seats but free. Thank God for blessings!
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| Marina Loaner Car - 1980 Buick Roadmaster |
Later that day we ran into two other boats that are on "The Loop" that we previously met at Portsmouth, VA. We shared stories of our lives and future plans over "docktails". The next morning they were heading way up the Potomac River to DC for a few weeks. We decided to hold off on Alexandria & DC for an RV trip and not do that by boat. We would like to spend a lot of time at the DC area museums and felt it would be better to do that on land rather than by boat.
That morning we started out at 6:30 am towards Reedville, VA, an old quaint fishing town. We docked at the Reedville Marina & Crazy Crab Restaurant. Unfortunately the owner as well as staff of the marina do not arrive until 4pm so you're on your own as far as docking & line handling. The wind was pushing us away from the dock making it difficult to set the lines. Luckily there was group of young sea scouts dressed as pirates who were getting ready to take their sail boats out. They came over and offered to help us with the lines. They were quite intrigued by the fact that we had traveled all the way from Pensacola FL by boat. After chatting a while we watched them training in docking procedures and steering their sailboats, before they headed out to learn anchoring and other boat & sea skills. It was great to see young teenagers with such a passion for boating.
Reedville was built upon the menhaden fishing industry in 1874 by Elijah Reed. At that time there were many menhaden factories. Today only one still is operational. The main street in Reedville is lined with many Victorian style homes of which some have been converted to B&B's. We also enjoyed the interesting Reedville Fishing Museum. The Atlantic menhaden are one of the most abundant finfish in the Chesapeake area and are
not good eating fish. Ocean-going fish harvesting vessels supported by a number of spotter aircraft catch these fish in huge nets. They are then cooked in large mass and processed for various products: omega-3 for human consumption and various other products for livestock and cats. The oils from the fish are also used in soaps, lotions and petroleum products.
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| Menhaden Harvesting Vessel |
That evening all the boaters from the two sailboats & two trawlers docked at Reedville got together and shared sea stories! Each one better than the previous!!!
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| Four Boats Docked in Reedville |
Early the next morning we headed out of Reedville for Olverson's Marina. There was a group of sailors that were heading out into the bay at the same time. We fell in behind them, watching as they unfurled their sails waiting for the wind to take them out to the bay.
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| Following Sailboats out of Reedville |
As we left the Chesapeake Bay and entered the mouth of the Potomac River we were struck with strong winds & current. After a couple of hours of bashing up & down and sideways, we decided that we did not want to continue three more hours in these conditions. So we checked the charts for an alternative stop and decided to head for an anchorage in the Coan River. Soon we were in calm waters and entered into a safe haven of peace & beauty.
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| Look Hun I caught a Croaker |
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| That's My Captain! |
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| Yummy Salmon Dinner at Anchorage |
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Geese at Coan River
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On the Hook at Coan River
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| Caught This Osprey Just as He Took Off |
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Hey Watcha Lookin At??? :-)
After leaving Coan River we headed up the Potomac again. This time the weather was much nicer and we headed for Olverson's. On the way over we spotted a familiar trawler heading in the opposite direction. Hey that's Rob & Barb on the "Traveller"! We hailed them down on the VHF radio and caught up a bit. They were on their way to Solomons Island.
Olverson's was stepping back into the 50's and was a quick stop for one night and it was free. (as MTOA members you get one night free per year at their marina) Got to do laundry, cool off in the pool, and test our our grilling feature on the microwave. Made the best pepper steak ever!
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| Oyster Farming |
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| Sunrise Heading Out of Olverson's |
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