Williamsburg, Virginia
| A peaceful anchorage in Horn Harbor September 1998 |  |
During the past two years, since acquiring Escapade, Harley and I have enjoyed many cruises around the Southern Chesapeake Bay. Our destinations have been varied, ranging from quaint historic villages, to full-service resort marinas with excellent **** restaurants. We love the tranquility of our home marina off the York River. In the Spring, the osprey build nests atop the channel markers, and Great Blue Heron line the tidal marsh shore. Have your cameras ready! They are called "gunkholes" in Chesapeake lingo -- those creeks, coves, and inlets, that make charming and secluded anchorages. We've discovered favorites in Mobjack Bay which is south of Deltaville. We spent many days learning the boat in those waters, and many a night snugly anchored in one of the four main rivers off Mobjack. Our maiden Bay crossing to the Eastern Shore of Virginia took us to Onancock, a quaint fishing village which has a beautiful creek approach to true Eastern Shore hospitality. It was worth the trip to experience Armando's, described as an eclectic Italian restaurant owned by a bongo-playing Argentinian. No Lie! Check out the other "Daily Dozen" cruising destinations on the Deltaville Yachts website. In Onancock, locals come down to the harbor to visit with the transient boats and trade stories. What fun! Another leg of that cruise included a hop to Tangier Island a working fishing village settled in the 1600's. The inhabitants still have a trace of the Elizabethan accent. Bennington, aka Benni, our 11 year/old tabby cat, jumped ship during our stay at the Tangier docks. No doubt he was enticed by the smell of the Blue Crab. The thunderstorm during the night kept him away from the open dock, and we were forced to set sail the following day without him on board. Ron and Louise Thompson, moored next to us on their 40' Tartan, Tailwind, took our name and telephone number. After giving up hope, thirty-one days later, we received a long-distance call from Mr. Parks, owner of Park's Marina. Benni had taken up shelter underneath the nearby Parks' home. How he ever knew that The Thompsons had given our phone number to Milton Parks, remains a mystery! Benni was spotted on the deck, late at night, sneaking cat food after the Parks' seven cats finished eating. Harley took the ferry boat from Readsville to Tangier to rescue him from his escapade.
