Tuesday, October 20th

Wachapreague, VA

The wind forecast for today looked terrible, 15 knots and more straight from the SW, exactly my course. This would have been an ordeal and I wouldn't have been able to make Norfolk before nightfall under those conditions. Dave and RoseAnn from Pyxis persuaded me to wait a day, and I'm glad they did.

First of all I had time to make myself a proper breakfast (bacon and eggs on toast!), and could sit inside and relax in the warmth. My big propane tank ran out, and I'm on the last of my little one-pound bottles, but just in time the temperatures are rising.

I suddenly got a little wake, and looking out I saw a boat with half a dozen people docking at the old coast guard station. They stood around on the deck in front of it for some time and then opened the windows and doors. Another boat arrived and they looked like over a dozen visitors.

I shaved and got dressed and inflated the dinghy, but by the time I got to shore they had walked off into the woods. I walked after them, and realized too late that I didn't bring any mosquito repellent, a big mistake.

I soon encountered the first people of the group and introduced myself. They told me that the island is actually off limits and that they are with the Nature Conservancy. I walked with them back to the station and had some great conversations with a few of them. One of them, Belle, was a bear guide in Alaska in the season - imagine that for a job. They told me about their project to make the coast guard station into a showroom/shelter for school groups that they plan to bring to the island as an excursion. In turn they were curious about my story. I'm glad I met those nice people. They even offered me a ride back into town when they heard I needed provisions, and a free ride back. I cannot reach the town with the Caprice, unfortunately. I thanked them for the offer, and instead they left me a half dozen half liter water bottles - my water situation is thus solved.

After they left I spent some time cleaning up the boat, and then I saw another sailboat sailing into the inlet, but they turned north. When I looked again a few minutes later, they were still in the same position, with their sails up. Eventually I realized they must be stuck. Unfortunately I couldn't go and offer assistance, because I think Caprice will likely run aground over there as well. And they were much too far for me to row over with the rubber dinghy. I switched on the radio and listened if they were calling for help but I didn't hear any calls.

By sunset the tide had receded pretty far and my last view of them was them leaning over a bit. It doesn't look too terrible, the next tide will hopefully be high enough for them to free themselves. Poor guys, this could have been me two days ago.