Coming into Annapolis

Most traffic we've had all week.

Friday on the Chesapeake

Jane has just announced that she got all of her shopping needs satisfied yesterday in St. Michael's. We'll see how long she holds on to that resolution when we get to Annapolis harbour.  I think losing her new Droid last night and then Jana finding it today after many anxious hours might have something to do with her calm status.

The relatively low winds reflects the calm chi we're all experiencing today. We can see the CB bridge off our starboard bow as we head toward Annapolis.

Dinner was delicious last night at the Big Pickle. Kudos to the restaurant chef and staff.

Happy Birthday Neil!

Enjoying a full day at St. Michael's...and it's Neil's birthday!

Got here yesterday after a full day of sailing under power. No wind and brutally hot. Arriving at the dock we readied for our first solo docking procedure only to have our motor give out on us again. But Neil and the trusty wrench saved the day.

Jana and David were waiting for us when we arrived.  We swam in the pool and drank margaritas while a storm blew in.
We had dinner at the Crab claw restaurant. Sauteedsoft crabs were the best!  

The winds were fierce during the night. Neil and I kept jumping up and going on the deck to make sure we weren't sinking. It was loud and it turned cold, which is a good thing.

We decided to keep the boat another night so were staying tonight in St. Michael's and on to Annapolis tomorrow.

If any of you go to St Michael's, be sure to try out a new cafe called the Big Pickle. The food was great and service outstanding. We liked it so much we're going back for dinner. We haven't gone back to the same restaurant so soon after a visit since we were in Taormina with the same crew.

Plans for Wednesday

Today we are sailing toward St. Michael's to meet Jana & David. We have a slip at the harbor for the night and dinner reservations at the Crab Claw. We're hoping for favorable wind speed and direction.

Jesse has been wonderful at the helm following Neil's directions through tight channels. Thank goodness for Jane's iPad and the fact that she downloaded a great navigation app in advance! It has been invaluable!!! Neil's time spent charting our routes has been well worth the effort. Everything has been going smoothly so far. Good planning makes a huge difference!

Jane & I over planned the quantity of food we would need. Big surprise! But I guess there is no harm done in that...good Girl Scouts that we are! I mean, really, who could possibly be better prepared than this crew! Would you really want to be on a cruise with Gilligan and the Skipper? I think not!

TTFN...

Wednesday on the Chesapeake-July 13

Yesterday we had fair winds. We motored under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge then hoisted the sails again and sailed past Annapolis and hooked a mooring ball in Galesville on the West River.

We heaved-to at the Thomas Point light house and enjoyed lunch. We practiced our jibing skills in the morning and our tacking technique in the afternoon. We have successfully anchored one night and got a mooring ball the second night.

Once on the mooring ball in Galesville, Jane looked up current news only to find that a body had been found on a sailboat on Monday in the anchorage immediately next to us, an apparent suicide by hanging. Neil said, "at least it wasn't a shooting!"

Jesse & Neil took the dingy to the Hartge Yacht Club to check out the facilities. Jane and I took a dip in the river. Ahhhhh...very refreshing.

Jane talked to Nancy on the phone and mentioned how bad the biting flies had been during the day. Nancy said she knew of a home remedy. Drink 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Before she could relay the rest of the cure, Ria dove for the cupboard, opened a new bottle of vinegar and chug a lugged, passing the bottle to the rest of the crew. After belching up that little bit of battery acid, Nancy told Jane it was supposed to be diluted in water and it was to repel mosquitoes, not flies. Oh, great! Jesse & Ria had some queezy stomach issues after that but all is good now.

Then we all went by dingy to the club to shower in the luxury of clean and air conditioned :) showers! Then we walked about a mile - so much for cooling off in the showers - to Thursday's Steak and Seafood restaurant. Good eats in the A/C. We were the only people in the dining room. When walked back the temp had cooled significantly and we all had a good, cool night's sleep. Jane & Ria have perfected the sleeping arrangements on deck.

Bald eagle nesting on chanel marker as we exit Bodkin

Tuesday morning in Bodkin Creek

We spent a quiet night anchored in Bodkin Creek last night. Well after the lightening, rain, and wind subsided that is.  Jane and I slept on deck in the cockpit. We thought it would be cooler and would let Neil and Jesse have a snore free sleep. When we woke up we saw Neil had to close his port hole to block the stereo snoring song.

Under way now. Hoping to get to Annapolis tonight if the winds cooperate.

Ahoy maties!

The fearless 4 are back on a sailboat. This time on the Chesapeake Bay. Only a few false starts. Jane and I left 16 g of bottled H2O, dinner meats, charcoal, etc in trunk of Prius :(

Then while sailing we tried to turn on motor.  Nothing. Capt. Dave told Neil everything he could think of to do. Finally he said just to hit the engine with a wrench. And it worked! Go figure.