Mill Creek, to Mill Creek to Lippincott

     C'est tout!  OR  "TH-TH-THat's all folks" as Porky used to say.  We are home!  We pulled into our slip at 6:30 pm this evening after a long but very easy day coming up the bay from the Great Wicomico River, just south of the Potomac.   On Tuesday, we got up early and headed off in spite of the forecast calling for North winds.  The winds were actually mostly from the West so we made good time for the early part of the day.  As the wind moved around to the north we began to lose headway in the chop that was developing and decided to head in early.  We anchored in another Mill Creek, just off the Great Wicomico River around 3:45 pm.  The creek was peaceful and beautiful and we watched a pair of eagles perched and then flying around.  We took several pictures, but none turned out all that well (sorry kids, I know you really wanted to see another eagle picture from Dad.) 
     We hadn't made the prescribed half way mark on our trip up the bay, so we knew we'd have to make an early start to make it home in one day.  That meant a 5:30 am start.  Luckily it was calm and there was enough light to head off that early, and we enjoyed the sunrise as we wound our way out the creek.  The forecasted strong southerly winds did not materialize until mid afternoon, but we were able to make at least 6+ knots consistently all day.   We had the main up all day and it finally paid off when the wind finally strengthened.  
     It has been a wonderful trip and as ready as we are to get home,  we are sorry it is ending.  Hopefully we will be able to do it again in the near future.  We especially hope to get more of our family and friends to join us along the way next time. ~~~_/)~~~D&M
Google Earth track files for 5/12
Google Earth track files for 5/13

Very little to see as we trekked northward on Tuesday, I thought this was one of the prettier tugs I've seen.

Predawn departure from Mill Creek off the Great Wicomico River on Wednesday.

The sun peeping through the trees as we left Mill Creek.

A MUCH quieter morning than yesterday.

I've always wondered how these fish weirs were used.

With all the times we've passed the LNG pier at Cove Point, this is the first time we've seen it in use.

Great Bridge to Mill Creek, Hampton, VA

     I knew I never should have quoted a frog!!  We got up Sunday and Dan asked if he could renege on his offer to take me out to lunch for Mother's Day (I'm not HIS mother) so that we could head off and just keep going until we got back to home base.  I've never been all that fond of the Mother's Day concept, so I was all for it.  We called the Great Bridge bridge to request an opening and were told that the RR bridge 5 miles down the canal was closed all day!  So much for "movin' right along"!  We walked "uptown" and visited the Fresh Grocer (where every second person left with a bunch of flowers for Mom.)  When we returned to the boat, we decided we would go across the canal to the Marina that offered diesel and then make the 12:00 opening of the bridge to try the other side of the bridge.  We tied up and listened to all the boats that we had passed as we put in long days catch up and stop on one side of the bridge or the other!  
     Monday dawned gray and dreary, but we were determined to press on.  We went into the Great Bridge lock at 8:00 am because any earlier would have necessitated waiting at the bridges further on.  We meandered through the maze that is Norfolk and were undecided whether the weather would permit us to keep going.  When we reached the bridge/tunnel that connects Norfolk with Hampton, the rain, wind, wind direction and temperature made the decision easy to pull in behind Fort Monroe and anchor just off Old Comfort Marina in Mill Creek.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better! ~~~_/)~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

Brunelle at the free dock just before the Great Bridge bridge, a RR and 65' footer back down the canal.

The view from the other side of the Great Bridge bridge - - - we moved all of 300 yards in 24 hours!

Our neighbors while we waited for the RR bridge to be repaired were a familiar sight...wonder how many are gracing Lake PaHaGaCo right about now.

Gray, windy, rainy, not the best way to start up the bay. We anchored before getting a chance to get a picture of a 55' sport fisherman that sank less than half a mile from here! The crew got off safely.