Day 17 - Wednesday, 5 December

We've arrived! After turning into Parrot Creek at mile marker 521 on the ICW, we worked our way down the creek to the Morgan River and turned right toward Dataw Marina approximately 2 miles away. We worked our way up to the face dock and with the assistance of Pete and the Marina crew and friend Frank, we tied up at approximately 1:30 PM in a west wind and a tidal current of approximately 2 knots at mid-tide...something we don't even think about on Chesapeake Bay...driving the 5 foot tide into the river. The strong tidal currents and five foot tides are one of the situational factors we are learning to cope with. Cruisers routinely experience these factors along the southern part of the ICW and both currents and tide get stronger and higher as we move south. Maneuvering at dockside is a LOT different here and it really tests a skipper's ability to control his boat in close quarters...we're grateful we have a bow thruster. What's a "bow thruster" you ask...

Bow Thruster Inside and Outside Views

Another Useful Maneuvering Device...In-place and After Being Tuned...

After introductions to the very competent and friendly Marina staff who helped with our docking lines...very welcome given the current and wind...we decided to wait until slack tide to move Windreka into her slip. Joe made a trip up to the Marina office to meet Ron the Marina manager and sign a contract for the slip for the next two months...tariff is $9.75 per foot and $55.00 for a 50 amp electrical connection...about the same as we were paying at Herrington Harbour South. One difference, here the slips are rented on a month to month basis and there are no long term contracts.

After Joe returned to the boat to help Sarah square things away and get ready for life in a marina again, we refilled our almost dry fresh water tanks and topped off the port-side fuel tank. Ron came down with his tape measure to measure Windreka's length. Measurements were taken both fore to aft and aft to fore. The result 51 feet including the anchors and ensign!

At that point it was almost 4:30 and we enlisted Pete and the Marina staff again to help us tie up at our new slip. With the help of Frank at the bow and Sarah at the stern, Joe maneuvered Windreka around the face dock and into the Marina proper to a slip opposite Frank's slip where his Endeavour sailboat, Wander is berthed. It was still windy but the tidal current had slackened and we got Windreka retied up where she will live for the next couple of months.

After 16 days at anchor, it was great to connect up Windreka's electrical systems to shore power and not have to manage battery charging. The Link interface and the Heart 2500 inverter charger took over promptly, the reverse cycle air conditioner began pumping out welcome heat and life was indeed good...time for a relaxing libation and movement on a surface that doesn't move around under your feet...on the other hand, the docks are floating concrete and they do move...just not the same as a vessel underway.

About the same time the aroma of a pot of chili began wafting into the cockpit on the west wind from Frank's boat. We joined Frank, Lieutenant Sophie (boat dog) and Pete...of dock line handling fame...for chili, beer and socializing. Earlier this year, Pete and Frank had been hunting fossilized shark's teeth nearby on the Morgan River and had some very large shark teeth...google megalodon...to show us. The fossils were impressive and I'm grateful the megalodon species is apparently extinct...note apparently! You probably don't want to meet this thing the next time you go for a wade in the water!

We retired early, but the next couple of days have been eventful and we'll post the happenings on another post. This post is being written after the fact from a hotel room about 150 miles south of Richmond as we make our way over land on the next phase of our cruising activities.

Stay tuned!