Monday, October 27, 2008
Bluewater Yachting Center, Hampton, VA 37o01.056x077o20.480
50s, cloudy, rain and high winds towards evening.

Breakfast of ham/eggs this morning then boat chores, and a trip to West Marine for anchor stuff. Walked the dock looking at the boats and chatting with Crown Royal (we passed in the North Channel last year but never chatted) for a while. After talking with Joan Conover (Seven Seas Cruising Association - SSCA) and Crown Royal, I wish we were part of the rally, much as I know we're not ready yet. Heck our boat doesn't even qualify (you need to be at least 40 ft to leave with the group from here and we're 36). Joan was looking for someone to crew with another couple (2 people aren't enough - to grueling a trip per Joan) I bit my tongue (much as I wanted to volunteer). After chatting we caught the shuttle with one other guy going to West Marine, and going south with the 1500. I guess we're having our own 1500 going south, just in a different manner. On the way to West Marine, we found out that they give 1500 members a discount on various stuff, and couldn't figure out if we could or should use their discount or not. We still have $20 coupons from the boat show that would probably be more of a discount. Picked up chain (28ft that he gave us for 25ft (what's he going to do with 3 extra feet at the end of the roll?), 150 ft of rode and another delta anchor, shackle, and 2 mugs that I've wanted since having coffee with Lydia and Skip on Flying Pig. At the checkout the kid asked if we were 1500 and before I could say anything, the other guy said, "yes, they are" (we were chatting with him at the check out). So we didn't get to use our coupons and the 1500 discount saved us a whole $1.50. We could have saved more money by paying for a taxi and using a coupon as opposed to taking the shuttle... hmmmmm.... Got back to the boat and started working again but the wind was really howling and the rain started kicking in so we scurried below and kicked on the heat. I put a black plastic bag over the slats in the door to stop the wind from howling in and displacing our heat! Brrrr.... I didn't realize it was getting late, and didn't feel like cooking tonight so it's Kraft Mac/Cheese and hot dogs. Wayne said he liked it but I didn't particularly care for it tonight...

Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Bluewater Yachting Center, Hampton, VA 37o01.056x077o20.480
50s, cloudy, high winds & Gale Warnings issued today.

Very nice shower facilities here and lots of hot water. I steamed it up and thoroughly enjoyed it! Then walked to the office to see if they'd let us stay one more night. I really didn't want to go out in those high waves and winds today at all. There were small craft advisories and gale warnings around us - I definitely didn't want to go out. Adam signed us up for one more day (said he didn't think it'd be a problem) so we started working on filling the water tank, I melted & bound the ends of the new rode (whipped it) and some of the old ropes that were fraying and Wayne worked on the anchor setup. Got everything set to take off in the morning.

Chatted with Joan again & hopefully we'll make contact with Glenlyon while out, they're heading the same way we are. Ran over to Stray Kitty during the dinner hour to relay a message for Joan (on how to get his radio to work) but nobody answered. The second time over to Stray Kitty was a charm. Sounded like he had the bugs already worked out with his radio though J I told him we were heading out tomorrow and left our card with him. Hope we run into them in the Bahamas or somewhere. I'd have liked to have taken our kids on a trip like he's embarking on - what an experience for the parents and kids alike.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Cold, Windy, choppy - yukkkkkolllld

Topped up with a whole 3 gallons of diesel (but at 2.49/gal we had to try), pumped out and then headed out. Cold, cloudy, windy and very sloppy seas. Wind chill was 39 most the day. High wind and waves were trouncing us so we went no further than Hospital Pt, Norfolk VA (about 15 miles) and dropped anchor in front of the Tidewater Yachts Marina just past Red Buoy 36 which is the Mile Marker zero for the Inter-Coastal Waterway (ICW). My teeth won't stop chattering... We huddled under the blankets reading and staying warm. Are we having fun yet?