Getting Ready - It seems like we spent all summer planning, buying, installing and checking out new equipment. When it seemed we were almost done, we made the annual trek to the Annapolis sailboat show and more items followed us home. A few more weeks were spent adding new gear and when we were almost ready, along came hurricane Sandy to add a few more days delay. Finally, we close the house, move onto the boat and push off the dock. Push the engine shift lever forward to start the adventure now November 9th. The most awful clatter came from the engine room. We anchor and try to figure out what happened. What happened was an engine mount broke which caused the engine to settle which caused the shaft coupling to break its bolts and disconnect from the transmission. Dead in the water, we arrange a tow to our local boatyard by Smith Point Sea Rescue, Jennings Boatyard, just 1 mile away. We are ready to have the boat hauled for the winter, unpack everything and call it quits. Larry Jennings is not so quick to give up. After inspection they proclaimed "I can fix this. What do you want to do?" With a 5 to 7 day repair goal, Mary and I move back into the house for a week. Parts are ordered and arrive. What to do now. . .we take ourselves of to the Virginia Meseum of Fine Arts in Richmond to see the Chihuly at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a major exhibition of work by internationally renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly Check out this link to the VMFA WEB site.. Meanwhile, Installation is completed and tested. We once again close the house and leave Jennings boatyard on November 16th heading South on the Chesapeake bay with 60 degree temperatures and 15-20 mph winds out of the North..We had a spirited motor sail under jib to Mobjack Bay East River. The sun finally came out and felt glorious in the cockpit. The second day we continued to Hospital point on the Elizabeth River, Norfolk. The next day being Sunday we were able to pass through the opening bridges in Norfolk on their regular hourly schedules without rush hour traffic non-opening restrictions. Finally we are past ICW mile marker 0 (mm 0) (Hospital Point). We approach Coinjock N.C. at mm50 via the North Landing River where we encounter winds of 20-25 mph with gusts to 35mph. The waves were smaller than we had encountered on the Chesapeake a few days earlier but it was still quite a ride. Top off fuel, a trip to the ships store; obligatory prime rib dinner at the restaurant and we are on our way the next day. So far all is OK.