Ahead of Schedule: Deltaville!

The octagonal 3-story brick keeper’s house at Point No Point is mounted on an iron caisson built in 1905.

Saturday, 27 September

Other than the mileage–at 53.5 NM, the third longest leg of the trip summer cruise–there’s not much to report this day.  Not much left in that northerly of the last few days, and the six knots still there are dead aft.  Not much help heading south.  But then, there’s not much of a sea which makes motoring much easier.  Not much to see when the shore’s two or three miles off to starboard.  Not much traffic, either, a bit of a surprise on such a gorgeous sun-filled day.

But along with the sun, there is something else in ample supply – flies.  Since leaving the Patuxent, biting housefly-type have descended in great number.  From somewhere up the Potomac, perhaps, have come a variety more the size of Mayflies, slow and easy to swat.  Skinny little brown things buzz in once in awhile along with mean-looking inch-long black things with white stripes.  And there’s a lingering cloud-like presence of swarms of gnats (not to be confused with the Washington Nats), the size of No-Seeums but benign other than the fact that they’re hovering everywhere.

Think of it as an entomologists delight.  Or perhaps a chapter from Lord of the Flies.

A sampling of the day’s “kill” litters the cockpit sole.

No.  You’re right.  Yuck.

This boarding party was not a threat when–after being hunkered down in rain and wind for four nights–Steadfast pulled out of Solomon’s Island at 0800, rounded Cedar Point and, once past Point No Point, turned almost due south–175 magnetic–toward Smith Point Light.  The wind at first filled the Genny, pulling her along at a nifty five knots with no assist from Red.  But that lasted less than an hour and raising sail later in the day was to prove futile.

Other than being painted white, the light at Smith Point near Reedville is a duplicate of the light at Wolf Trap off Mathews.

Red was at her best, though, kicking us along at a steady six knots or so, aided by a much appreciated south-bound current.  And your correspondent had a good day with the bat–ah, fly-swatter–hitting close to .700 for the day (better than Big Papi in the ’13 Series!).  By 1600, Steadfast was south of the Great Wicomico River and, given the presence of so many guests aboard, it was decided that the desired quiet night at anchor might not be so quiet.  Ergo, push on to Deltaville and the pier at Zimmerman Marine where, this coming week, Steadfast would be hauled for a quick wash and engine service before heading south on the ICW.

A big Beneteau turns into Broad Creek just ahead of Steadfast showing Fort Myers, FL, as her port of call.  Who knows – she may be seen again in the weeks ahead.

Sea Mist IV got to Broad Creek the same time as Steadfast.

Chris and Bill, good friends that they are, drive up to the marina as Steadfast is tied off.  On the ride to Mathews, it appears not much has changed in the old ‘hood.  True, the bridge over the Piankatank was completed sometime during the summer.  But other than enjoying the sun and swatting various insects, not much to report about this day.

Then again, a big day – completing a round trip of well-over 1,700 nautical miles to more than 50 anchorages and ports-of-call, and creating countless memories.  Praise the Lord, what a blessing this summer has been!

And the best part?  “God willin’ and the Creek don’t rise,” there’s more to come.

Steadfast out.