5/1/2011 NORFOLK TO ONANCOCK, VA ON THE CHESAPEAKE

SUNDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 63 NM

DOCKED AT: ONANCOCK, VA

      ICW MILE MARKER: ABOUT 12 MILES EAST OF MM 121

SUNRISE: 6:11      SUNSET: 7:53

HIGH: 69                LOW: 45

Craig and Alexis were off early this morning; first in a taxi to the airport where they picked up a rental car and then the scenic drive back to Vermont.

Dan and I did some boat cleaning both inside and out then cast off. The Norfolk Harbor is a most fascinating place. The military presence is evident everywhere. You could hardly tell where one ship ended and the next began in this impressive lineup.

SHIP AFTER SHIP AFTER SHIP

NOTE THE NEW STEALTH LINES

THE IMMENSENESS OF THE U.S.S. GEORGE H. W. BUSH
AIRCRAFT CARRIER  WAS AWE INSPIRING

Since we traveled the western shore last year, we opted to cut across the Chesapeake Bay and make our way up the eastern finger of Virginia before ending up in Oxford, MD at the end of the week.

The day was dismally dark and delightfully cool, maybe even cold. We passed car haulers, fishermen, freighters and sail boaters out in the channel of the bay before making a right into Onancock Creek that would lead us to the small village of Onancock.

CAR HAULER HEADING UP TO BALTIMORE OR MAYBE PHILLY

We wove through the charming homes sparsely sprinkled along the creeks shore then pulled up to the marina and docked right behind The Bottom Line, David and Wanda’s 58’ Hatteras.

ONANCOCK WHARF MARINA

OUR VIEW FROM THE QUEST

OK, this might be “the” story of the journey. As we are tying up, a 20’ center consul fishing boat is being loaded onto the trailer at the launch ramp. One guy is helping and eyeing both the big Hatteras M/Y. He looks up at me and says “My dad had two Hatteras’ yachts before he died. I sure miss him and your boats make me think of him.” Then he mentioned that he had bought a Cheoy Lee Yacht after he sold the last Hatteras. This rang a bell in Dan’s mind and he asked the man’s name. Well, sure enough, Mr. Walter Potter was the son of John Ray Potter who had this boat designed and made to order. Walter came on and took a photo of the original name plate that shows John’s name.

"HAY, MY DAD HAD A BOAT JUST LIKE THAT"

WALTER CHECKING OUT HIS DAD'S NAME ON THE
ORIGINAL NAME PLATE

QUEST STARTED OUT LIFE AS "MI-TOI

David and Wanda on The Bottom Line invited us over for cocktails and chat and before we knew it, night was upon us! It is so peaceful and charming here and we hope to explore the village tomorrow.