Poplar Island Narrows

A favorite run, seemingly almost always into the wind, through Knapp Narrows, north inside Poplar Island to Eastern Bay and the Miles River.

Oriental

On the morning walk I heard the siren of the Centerville Turnpike bridge on the ICW.  The siren indicates the bridge is opening for traffic on the waterway.  It could have been commercial traffic, or it could have been a snow bird heading north.

I checked the harbor cam at Oriental's Towndock.  There is one sailboat at the town dock.  The other town dock is empty, as are the docks at the hotel/marina.

The Pilgrim and I may go for a walk this afternoon on the Norfolk waterfront.  It will be interesting to see if there are any boats passing through.

packed

Packed SPARTINA yesterday with all the gear, lines, life vests, and sails on spars wrapped in the new sail covers.

I had intended to cut down the amount of stuff on the boat, eliminating anything I didn't really need.  I failed there because everything went back on SPARTINA save for one dock line and a couple old batteries.

But then maybe I had succeeded by not accumulating unneeded gear in the first place.  That's it!  I claim success!

waterfront quarantines

I'm reading that several marinas along the ICW are either not accepting transient boats or are requiring visitors to self-quarantine.  Makes sense, but makes me wonder how or if the snow birds will be heading north this spring.  

The photographs are from last spring's sail on Pamlico Sound, Pamlico River and the Neuse River.  At the top is sailing on the Neuse to Oriental.  Below is SPARTINA tied up next to the town dock in Oriental and bottom is dinner that night - excellent tuna tataki from the Toucan Grill.  You can read that day's log here.

I found this posted on Towndock, Oriental's excellent online publication:

• Non-resident visitors arriving by water must self-isolate during their stay, up to 14 days. They may call for groceries, parts, and other goods to be delivered to the docks for pickup. Information for local businesses who deliver will be posted at the docks.

Right now I should be getting ready for the month-long spring cruise, but that is not going to happen.  Instead I'm thinking about possible day sails under Virginia and North Carolina stay-at-home rules (golfing, fishing with social distances is considered acceptable, so I believe sailing would also be acceptable).  And I'm thinking about some shorter cruises this summer, once the stay-at-home rules have been lifted (let's all hope).

The sail to Oriental was less than a year ago.  Somehow it feels as if it was a decade ago.  The world has changed.

Stay safe.

wake me when it's over

Edge Creek

another use

Glad to have a few buffs in the gear closet.  Yes, I'll have to pull it up to cover my nose, still nice to have on hand.

From the NYTimes:  Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are considering altering the official guidance to encourage people to take measures to cover their faces amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a federal official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it is an ongoing matter of internal discussion and nothing has been finalized.

not too bad

Don't worry, I touched up that little 

spot on the cockpit sole.

taped

Taped, sanded and ready to paint.  Interlux Steel Gray topside paint.  This will be a workboat finish at its finest.  I am, after all, a master of the workboat finish.

cleaned out

Cleaned out SPARTINA to sand down and repaint the cockpit.  It surprises me how much gear finds its way on board.  When I go to put it back I'll make sure each piece of gear needs to be there.  I suspect most of it does in fact need to be there, if not for day sailing certainly for cruising.  We'll see, maybe I can eliminate a few things.

distancing along the Dismal Swamp Canal

A social distancing walk with the Pilgrim along the old Dismal Swamp Canal just over the state line in North Carolina.  Surprisingly warm, hot really, for a March day.  I asked the young man at the kiosk who takes names of everyone who crosses the bridge into the swamp (so that can make sure everyone finds their way out) if he has seen any boats coming north on the canal.  Not yet, he said, maybe next month.