Dogs Day in Deale, Maryland

Today has been my favorite day thus far in our adventure!  We set out on this waterway adventure to enjoy life and meet great people, along with great views and weather.  We were fortunate enough to seek out a social connection from Facebook Live Aboard Group.  Trang and Brian, along with their mini-double of our dog Garmin. We knew we both had similar lifestyles and such similar puppies.  We exchanged social contacts via Facebook.  It didn't take me long to realize that we needed to meet these awesome people and Garmin needed to meet his mini-double, Chewie! Yesterday we arrive at Brian, Trang, and Chewie's home port. It was a great first greeting!  This morning we were greeted by Garmin's Facebook friend, Chewie!  Chewie demonstrated how his cowboy bucked as he ran along the deck!

Chewie allowed Garmin to wear his cowboy vest!

Garmin complied....

...then ran along the dock to buck-the-cowboy on his back!  We all laughed hysterically all morning at these two!

We were honored to join Trang and Brian for an elaborate, amazing, and thoughtful dinner aboard Temptress. We were truly treated like family. Chewie proudly sported his 'Doggles' and was very protective of Charlie and his appetizer ribs!

Brian and Trang simply outdid themselves with such an elaborate dinner, "Banh Xeo, and amazing hospitality. They so graciously welcomed us into their lives, their home, and their beautiful 58' Hatteras...complete strangers other than the Facebook Live Aboard Group connection.

The Chewster sporting his awesome 'Doggles'.

Today has proven that social media can be a very positive enhancement to life. To connect, meet, and appreciate new friends. To share good times with new people with similar interest.  To open up our lives to truly enjoy living!  Trang generously gifted us with the portable gas stove top to cook this amazing meal, along with all the ingredients and secret recipe. She wanted us to be able to share with others along the waterway this amazing cultural meal from her home country of Vietnam. She also included pre-marinated chicken wings in a Vietnamese sauce for us to grill for lunch tomorrow, along with the ingredients, recipe, and marinade!  My recipe file is now expanded as is my palette and my heart!
Garmin also had a great Dogs Day in Deale, MD! (Although he refused to keep Chewie's 'Doggles' on his eyes)

Thank you for such great memories, Trang, Brian, and Chewie!  We looked forward to more as we venture these waterways for many more years.....and a few more days here, currently!

Beautiful night at port

Deale, Maryland

We traveled 81.7 NM today under cloudy skies and calm water.  We are docked at Herrington Harbour North in Deale, MD.

We have traveled a total of 868.1 NM thus far! We are in our 6th State.

Underway at sunrise...and the sun rises early up here...5:30 a.m.

Smith Point Lighthouse built in 1838

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=440

Point No Point Lighthouse built April 24, 1905

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=434

Cove Point Lighthouse built December 1828

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=431

Garmin "charting" our course!

Many fishing boats in this area of the Chesapeake.

Really excited to meet Trang from the Facebook group, "Live Aboard" !

Garmin finally got to meet Chewie!!

Beautiful sunset tonight!

Deltaville, Virginia - Last Day

Clouds broke free and sun peeked through for about 20 minutes.  Garmin got to see his shadow! I'm predicting 3 months of summer ahead!

We've enjoyed our time here at Deltaville Yacht Center and will miss these awesome guys, Nathan and Clint here at the 1st Class Service Center!  You guys are awesome, hope to see you again soon! Thank you for making our adventure enjoyable and productive! We appreciate the warm hospitality and sorry we can't join you all for the annual Yacht Center party tomorrow.  We so appreciate the invite.  We have to scoot upward tomorrow but will be back next season!

Nathan, Charlie, and Clint

DYC's Finest!

Garmin is very brave and comfortable walking the gunnels on his own.  He's now also claimed the fly-bridge as his 'dog-cave' when we are not underway!

Plane 2 Sea at port

We were interviewed by the yacht center's owners for their Fall newsletter.

Deltaville, Virginia - Day 5

Another rainy day on the Chesapeake Bay.  We used the courtesy car to go into town for lunch and grocery shop.  We found a local farmer who was selling his produce, herbs, and flowers. This farmers rows of Zinnia's were beautiful and he sells them freshly cut. I scored a bouquet for $1.00. I also bought a large bunch of fresh basil, fresh picked peas, and tomatoes.  Charlie bought fresh mint to make Mojito's, again, for only $1.00.  The aroma's on board tonight are competing!

Across the parking lot from our lunch stop was the Waterway Guide Corporate Office. (They are not just a book, website, or an app!)

Garmin has enjoyed plenty of rest during these rainy days.  We are looking forward to better weather and cooperating winds this weekend and will again move north.

Random Rainy Day Wednesday

Garmin and the gnarly trees in Colonial Williamsburg

Garmin at Indian Village at Jamestown Settlement

Charlie and G-man at Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg

Deltaville, Virginia - Day 3

Who knew?!

The tip end of Deltaville is Stingray Point, named by Captain John Smith on July 17, 1608. According to Captain John Smith, he was stung by a stingray there while exploring the bay. Captain Smith is said to have given orders for his men to dig a grave because he believed himself to be dying from the sting. Walter Russell, a doctor of physic, and also a member of Smith's crew, applied a "precious oil" to Smith's wound. The Captain recovered sufficiently to eat the stingray for his dinner that evening. The legend that a cure was given to Smith by local Native Americans, who lived along what is now called Antipoison Creek, has been largely been discredited.

Random Mermaid Monday

(Sculpture photos taken throughout Norfolk, VA last week.)