Yesterday we caught a flood tide up Delaware Bay and then entered what in many respects is the beginning of the inland waterway. We stopped at Chesapeake City, a tiny and quaint little town with its own tiny and quaint little anchorage just off the C&D Canal. Thistle is tied up at the town dock and all the quaintness is just steps away. A steady stream of well wishers and Thistle admirerers have stopped by to chat and we've made some new friends on the sailboat Dolphin, also headed South. With the Jersey Shore passage behind us everything feels different. The weather is warmer, we're more relaxed, and we're getting into the groove.

Today we caught up on some maintenance. We have been anchoring a lot and plan to anchor a lot more and when at anchor one is supposed to have an anchor light. Since the beginning of the voyage the anchor light has not worked. Then, while approaching Cape May, the tricolor light blew and what had been put off could be put off no longer--a trip up the mast. Hannah volunteered to go aloft and make the repairs. Grinnell winched while Linda belayed and up she went. We now have two new LED cluster bulbs at the masthead and another bona fide fix-it person aboard.