Visit to Golden Age Charters July 20, 2019 Part I
Click here for Part II
Located in the small historic town of Urbanna, Virginia, known for its annual Oyster Festival, and home to the famous 1755 Mitchell Map of the then known parts of what is now the United States. The map lives in the 1766 built visitor center and museum (Facebook). Urbanna has many historic structures many of which are mentioned on this walking tour page. Nearby is the enormous and amazing Bethpage camp-resort which has park models and cottages for rent for those without an RV. Their cow themed mini-golf and ice cream is open to the public. There’s even a trolley bus for getting around town! Take a look at BayDreaming.com for more info about this town.
Golden Age Charters (facebook) offers year round Sunrise / Sunset Cruises, On Board Dining, Holiday Outings, Event Hosting, Weddings, Sightseeing, Head Rate Outings and much, much more on board the historic M/V Veteran. She was built in nearby Irvington, Virginia as the Elsie Louise in 1914. She started life as a freight and oyster dredge boat for the Morattico Packing Company of Baltimore. Check out this excellent article for more information about her various careers and how she got her current name and form.
I was met by Captain Michael Sheffield and Mate Jacob Sheffield on the dock next to this beautiful boat and was invited aboard. The gangway made boarding a snap and was stowed on the bow once we were all aboard. Entrance to the interior of the boat was via the pilot house. I began exploring of the interior of the M/V Veteran with the Sheffields pointing out the various features.
She feels akin to a small summer home placed in a wooden hull. She has all the comforts of home including a kitchen complete with a freezer, a back porch on the fantail which includes a grill, and a bathroom on the lowest deck. There’s even a beautiful little cast iron stove which provides more than enough heat in the colder months.
Hiding under the floor of the kitchen/dining area is the engine room where a Detroit 6-71 lives providing 238 horsepower for the boat which allows her to cruise at 5 knots (about 5.75mph). This may sound slow but makes for a very leisurely and pleasant cruise.
Once the tour was complete the crew pushed off from Urbanna Town Marina and headed out for a scenic cruise on the Rappahannock River. It was early on one of the hottest days of the year and already about 90 degrees but hanging out by the pilot house it was quite comfortable while underway.
The Sheffields indicated points of interest while underway such as the place where the M/V Veteran was built and the Bethpage campground. The river is approximately two miles wide here so having binoculars is handy. Some local fishing boats were seen as well as some pleasure boat traffic but it felt mostly uncluttered and peaceful.
Click here for Part II