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Countdown II
Mike
09/15/2009, Annapolis, MD

Well, the refridgeration issue is still being remedied. Naturally, it's a little more complicated than first thought. (Isn't it always?) No worries, I've got two more weeks before I leave.

In the mean time, I've been enjoying the annual fall traditions, including the arrival of:

A.) Slightly cooler and less humid days.

2.) The start of the NFL regular season. (Even if the Bears did lose and my favorite player is out for the season!)

and

C.) Sam Adams Octoberfest beer!

My plan as I head south this year, is to spend less time in marinas and more time anchored out. This makes having a properly functioning refridgeration system crucial. I'll let you know how things are progressing.

.......by the way, is it me or did Cutler look like he's been drinking out of Orton's water bottle?? Sheesh!

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09/15/2009 | Joe (jwieneck att its dott jnj dott com)
Mike what type of charging system do you have set up. If your going to anchor out more this year I am sure you have thought about the charging issue. Since i have the same boat I wondering what you do to charge the batteries
09/15/2009 | Chip (chip0617 att gmail dott com)
Capt Mike,

You couldn't be more right, Cutler not sharp and too bad bout Urlacher. Did you see him on the sidelines? After dislocating his wrist (ouch!) standing there watching the game in no pain at all. Don't know what they shot him up with, but I imagine it's available online from Canada somehow. :)

Fair winds, Capt. I'll be out there in 2010 and hoping our paths will cross. I play a little acoustic, but I really suck. lol. The more you drink, the better I sound. Ha! Keep us posted.
09/16/2009 | Jim d (jdudds att hotmail dott com)
Hey Mike, what gave it away?
he looked like he was a Deer in the headlights all night,then the post game interview, he looked like he had cried for an hour..

jim
09/16/2009 | Michael Miller (sgtmikey73 att aol dott com)
Hey Joe. I had two 8D batteries installed before I left and I figure keeping them charged won't be difficult while I'm travelling nearly every day. When I'm anchored for multiple days, I have a portable Honda 1000 watt generator that I can use to recharge the house batteries. For the future, I'm looking into either solar panels or a wind generator.
09/16/2009 | peter loveridge (peter dott loveridge att ns dott sympatico dott ca)
hi mike
as you know i had solar panels and they never gave any trouble, but for every dollar spent, you get 10 times the KWh from a wind generator, if you can stand the noise
09/16/2009 | John (mclaughlin dott john att yahoo dott com)
Mike, if you hang around another week. (Friday 10/9) is the Annapolis Sailboat Show. The guys in those tents are looking to sell and you can usually find some good deals. Check out the wind gen. while there. We're heading down friday--a beers on me..!
John & Di
"Southerly"
09/17/2009 | Jill (bolands4 att comcast dott net)
Ahhh, Octoberfest!! Can't go wrong there! What a fabulous beer...start stocking up my friend! Great to start reading the posts again...keep it up. Travel safe and enjoy the sunsets! Love ya!
09/18/2009 | Manager Todd (twlindsey12 att comcast dott net)
Hey Mikey,

Jake and I have raided the Champaign Sam's inventory of Octoberfest. My garage currently resembles a Sam Adams distribution warehouse. We will save some to enjoy with you at MOTM. Keep on havin' fun!
09/21/2009 | Jim d (jdudds att hotmail dott com)
Hey Mike,
Bears looked a little better last night, huh?
we did ok at the bar, too!!
see you soon,
jim and Marla
Countdown
Mike
09/08/2009, Annapolis,MD

Well, as I mentioned in my previous posting, Norma is back in the water. I have one more significant boat job to accomplish before heading back south for the winter. My refridgeration system has been a little under the weather and needs some attention. Once that's done, I'm all ready to head out.

The plan is to hang out here for the next three weeks or so. Then, I'll start moving south while keeping an eye on the hurricane activity. My rough plan is to get to Florida sometime in November and to be back in the Bahamas by December 1st. We'll see how that all works out.

Thank you Pete and Jim for posting comments and thanks to those who sent emails. It's nice to know that people are still listening. Here's another pic that I took while sailing up the Chesapeake.

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09/08/2009 | Spartan (parrothead1990 att charter dott net)
I'm still checking your blog. I guess I'm living vicariously through you. Thanks.
09/09/2009 | Duane Gallagher (duane2312 att aol dott cm)
We're out here! Don't stop. We love pictures.

Great Blog!
09/09/2009 | janetmarie (pjwade att sbcglobal dott net)
The Norma Fay looks fantastic and ready for another year. Thanks for the updates.
09/09/2009 | Jamie D (jdelaunois att yahoo dott com)
Sure miss you with the band, but would love to spend a week with you looking at scenes like that!
09/09/2009 | Mr. Andy (awg93 att yahoo dott com/net/mrandy dott gov)
Oh, to be back in FL...
09/11/2009 | Melinda Adkins (madkins883 att aol dott com)
Mike keep the updates alive. It is fun to hear about your adventures. Stay safe and dry.
After
Mike
09/03/2009, Annapolis, MD

Well, here she is with her newly raised water line and new bottom paint. She went back into the water today after getting her hull buffed and waxed. I think she's feeling better now and ready for another year.

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09/03/2009 | peter loveridge (peter dott loveridge att ns dott sympatico dott ca)
even the before looks better than Radical Jack, I think we'll be buffing and such until the spring
09/04/2009 | jim d (jdudds att hotmail dott com)
She looks beautiful,Mike
looks like a million bucks!

jim
Before
Mike
08/31/2009, Annapolis,MD

Will this is Norma after fifteen months in the water. The staining on the white part of the hull near the bottom is why I am raising the water line. That should provide a bit more protection. Also, as you can see, her bottom paint looks a little tired.

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Made it!
Mike
08/28/2009, Annapolis, MD

Well, from what I was hearing, the NWS was predicting that Danny would remain off shore for the time being so I went. I was up and off at 0600 this morning.

The weather was unsettled to say the least. According to you-know-who, there was a stalled warm front in the area, an approaching cold front and several thunderstorms wandering around in every direction. I could see lightning on western horizon as I left the dock and, as I left the Patuxent River, I watched a brilliant RED sunrise. ("Red sky at morning, sailor take warning")

Most of the trip up the Chesapeake was overcast, drizzly and windy. Fortunately, the wind was on my starboard beam for most of the trip and I was
able to motorsail for most of the day and average nearly 7 knots. About half way through the trip, the Coast Guard began broadcasting "Warnings to Mariners" regarding severe weather in the area with the closing admonition to "seek safe harbor immediately" if you were in the path of the storm. (I hate it when they say that....You try seeking safe harbor immediately when you're more than five nautical miles from land in any direction and your maximum speed is about 7 knots)

For most of the day, the areas mentioned did not happen to be where I was at the time. As I was arriving in Annapolis, that changed. I had no more than passed the Thomas Point lighthouse when the next weather advisory included that location as being in the path of a severe thunderstorm. (Swell!)

This particular storm hit right as I was getting tied up at my marina, which made my arrival a little more exhilirating than I would have liked, but no harm done. Anyway, I got checked in and Norma is scheduled to be hauled out on Monday. My plan is to post updates regarding the work, complete with pictures.

Here's a picture from the trip up.

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Oh Danny Boy.........
Mike
08/27/2009, Solomons Island, MD

Well, the National Weather Service (you KNOW I love 'em!) is having a little trouble making up their collective mind what Danny's gonna do. In any scenario, it doesn't look like its gonna get this far north before Saturday afternoon at the earliest. Consequently, I'm going to hot foot it to Annapolis tomorrow morning.

Here's another Virginia bridge picture for you. Sorry, I didn't take any new ones today.

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