Ospery nest on a channel marker.We are calling this summer "the summer without bugs" (especially mosquitoes). Due to the lack of pests, it is obvious a drought is occurring in The South. Another observation is the amount of ospreys we are seeing. Lone pilings with a shelf on top are placed along the waterways we have traveled for the birds to establish nests, in addition to the markers already used. We do not remember seeing these birds so often 20 years ago. I noticed the same feeling with the bald eagles in the Pacific Northwest - rarely sighted in the 70-80s, but often seen in the late 90s. Something is happening right for these creatures.
On our way to the Rappahannock River (north along the mainland Virginia coastline) Thursday, 24 July. First stop is Carter's Creek/Irvington. Nice quiet anchorage on the East Branch. Up the other branch are marinas and a resort. The next night we anchor on the West Branch of the Corrotoman River upriver where one of Virginia's last free 2-car cable ferries operates. Then it is to the south side of the Rappahannock River to Urbanna. We anchor across from the Town Dock and walk to town from the free dinghy dock. Small town with lots of marinas, shopping, restaurants, and a grocery store. Our entertainment all day Sunday is watching two guys getting a small sunken wooden fishing boat out of a slip at the Town Dock. It is done in pieces with a block and chain, chainsaw, and pulling large chucks up to the dock by a small pickup truck. By dark, the engine/stern section finally land on the dock to be pulled into the parking lot. It is still sitting there when we up anchor Monday morning.
Back out into the Chesapeake Bay, we head a bit south to the Pliankatank River and Jackson Creek (south side of Deltaville) to anchor off Deltaville Marina and Boatyard. There is a dinghy dock by the boatyard, and marina facilities can be used for $10/day (offers van ride to grocery store). The walk to shopping, NAPA Auto Parts, Post Office and a hardware store is a 1/2 mile and 1 mile.
After being anchored for 2 hours, one of our neighbors in the anchorage attaches his dinghy to the stern of his boat and pulls his boat around in a circle. There is plenty of space between our boats, so we are shocked when he dinghies over and screams (including obscenities) at us. Bobby refuses to move - guess we where in "his space". Back at his boat, he goes below and we do not see him again. We later learn from another neighbor that Mr. Crabby appears to be a miserable person. Seems he was knocked out by the boom hitting him in the head during a jybe (not the cause of his unhappiness) a few days ago and injured his hand. Nice neighbor offers to take him to a doctor...that is refused as doctors just find more stuff wrong with you and want money (hmm), and do not get shots as they are just a government control program...and so forth. Maybe this is why doctors find more wrong with you!
