It’s November, but it feels like Summer!

We’re in Cape Charles Virginia, the southernmost town on the Delmarva Peninsula.  And we had a great time getting here.

Although it didn’t start out that well… remember our water pump?  I thought I had fixed it by correcting a loose hose connection, but it died again that night – Wednesday night!  I think perhaps it burned out because of the weak water supply – running it dry.

Anyway, I got the spare pump out (Yay!) and found out that the hose-to-pump connections were different.  Checked the carton…Yep…right there, it said “replacement for Model 5091”.  Not really.  Had the old pump out in 8 minutes, but it took another 1-1/2 hours to jerry-rig the connections.  Finally walked to West Marine, and Sandy (bless her heart) had the parts we needed.  At that point, we had to stop for eggs and SOS at Roy Rogers!  Yummy.

The worst was yet to come.  The pump is VERY difficult to access, and it took until 1PM before I was through.  By that time, my back had seriously cramped up – I had two knots on my back the size of golf balls.

So we finally left at 1:15 – my latest departure ever – heading SW across the bay, through the Hooper Island Strait to the Wicomico River on the Eastern Shore.  The crossing was smooth and pleasant, and we traveled almost an hour up the Wicomico to visit an old colleague of Lynn’s (Clay and his wife Lorraine).  We had a great visit and a great dinner (filets and crab cakes):  Yummy! 

We awoke this morning to fog, and we left with the radar and the navigation lights turned on.  By the time we reached the mouth of the Wicomico, we were experiencing a beautiful sunny day with calm seas.  The trip was so relaxing that we decided to take a side trip to Tangier Island.  

Clay took multiple photos from his house as we headed back down the Wicomico River.

I’m sure you’ve read about Smith Island and Tangier Island…they won’t exist much longer.  They are very low – scarcely above sea level, so their land mass shrinks every year.  Their population shrinks, as well.  The few hundred folks who live there eke out a living as watermen, and the kids all leave for college or better opportunities.  It’s good to see these islands before they’re gone.

Tangiers – many small houses on the docks along the canal – apparently for bringing in their catch.

Boats carrying crab traps – this is their economy.

And now we’re in Cape Charles.  I had very low expectations for this place.  Cathy and I were here this same weekend five years ago, and it was cold, and gray, and NOT FUN.  Today was sunny, and 70 degrees and FUN!  We rented a golf cart and tooled around the little town, the dinner at Hook & Harvey, the #1 rated restaurant in town.  Thanks to Lynn and Trip Advisor, as always.  WOW!  Great meal!

We kept the cart for tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to breakfast and a mid-morning departure for Hampton, Virginia, at the head of the ICW!

And here’s a bonus: Lynn just told me that Jupiter is close to the moon tonight.  Hope I can stay awake to see it