Today we finally exited the Potomac River and eased back into the Chesapeake Bay.
Our next stop, Stingray Point, VA, where Capt John Smith’s boat ran aground at the mouth of the Rappahannock river. While awaiting high tide to float the vessel, he and his men impaled fish with their swords and Smith speared a cow-nose ray that sank its tail spine into his wrist as he tried to remove it. The toxin swelled Smith’s arm, shoulder and chest but he recovered well enough to eat the ray for supper. He named the place Stingray Point.
Stingray Point is part of Deltaville VA, 20 miles down the bay at the mouth of the Rappahannock River, where it is said the boats outnumber the residents. It is a favorite stopover for boats heading north and south. It has a variety of good boatyards, mechanics and technicians capable of just about any kind of service. It is not the type of place you go for late-night hotspots. The sidewalks roll up before midnight, and even earlier during the week. This is more of a family-friendly destination, with antique shops, u-pick farms, and plenty of country charm.
We docked at the Stingray Point marina, another home sister marina for free. Since we were on anchor for two days without going ashore, we needed to get our sea legs on terra firma; we were eager to get out and max out our Fitbits. We took the free rental bikes and headed for the Deltaville Maritime Museum about 3 miles away.
The museum contained some model boats including the famous F.D. Crockett: one of only two log-bottom boats built exclusively for power existing on the Chesapeake Bay. We visited The F.D. Crockett located off of Holly Point Park and the Explorer, a replica of the boat Captain John Smith used to travel and map the Chesapeake Bay in 1607-1608. There are also many gardens in the 30-acre park, including woodland, wildflower, and children’s gardens.
We biked into town for ice cream but nothing was open so we came back to our boat but felt fully rejuvenate from exercising on bikes. We no longer have our sea legs. Glad to be landlubbers again.
