If you've not read the previous blog "We Made It" I suggest you do, it tells you where we are & such...
This blog is about this afternoon.
Our friend Greg on Southern Cross who recommended this anchorage highly didn't bother to tell us that there is no real place to land the dinghy. There is a marina but Old Point Comfort Marina is on an Army base and restricted to military personnel only.
We called them on the VHF radio and explained our quandry. They said if we bring ID & other such documents that we can tie up there. The photocopied our licenses and fild them...wonder what system we're in now!
We were then free to wander the base. what??? Yep, Fort Monroe is there, built in the 1600's, revised in the Civil War, and still in use. Base housing, intelligence buildings, and training facilities are all located within the walls of the fort. It is enormous! We were free to wander where we wished, up the ramparts, along the moat wall, along the streets. Give two freaks full reign of the military instillation... we walked that place end to end. There is a museum including the cell where Jefferson Davis was held captive for nearly 2 years (only the bible to read and only a spoon to take meals with - now that's doing time! No cable tv... like Dennis Miller said, "You've got a weight (wait) room, it's called your cell, now get in it and wait!)
Up on one high wall we found rows and rows of headstones. We got to reading them & realized that no one in the history of the Army has been named Stripey or Biscuit. A pet sematary (yes, I know it is misspelled, but Stephen King fans will appreciate it) was located up on the hill. Probably a hundred or more ranging from the 1920's to present.
We wanted to visit the other side of this secluded bay (we are the only ones anchored still) so we saw an empty stretch of sand, beached the dinghy, tied her up, and off we went. After a short exploration we're back on board and deciding when we're going to Sarah Creek on the York River.
We've decided not to do Yorktown, per the expense vs budget ratio... but the town itself has plenty to offer and a secluded anchorage. | 