39 04.61'N:76 05.81'W
07/01/2010, Annapolis, MD to Corsica River

June 27th, 2010 Annapolis to Corsica River, MD

This morning after coffee I took the dinghy to town to check out the Farmer's Market. It is still too early for many vegetables but I did pick up some nice red potatoes and a loaf of bread. Then it was down to the CVS pharmacy where they have a cooler with dairy products and bought a dozen eggs and a NY Times. Before I left I loaded up 20 gallons of water to keep our tank closer to full than empty.

Back at the boat we wasted some time debating whether to leave or not while I put the water in our main tank. While Kathy read the paper, I got the boat ready to weigh anchor.

By 11:30 we were ready to haul the anchor and work our way out of Spa Creek. We made the 12:00 opening and headed out into the Severn River in summer Sunday traffic.

We got our sails up and headed north under the Bay Bridge and up around Love Point at the mouth of the Chester River. After motor sailing up the river about 8 miles we pulled into the Corsica River and went up stream a couple of miles before finding a sheltered anchorage.

June 28, 2010 Corsica River, MD

The Corsica River was beautiful and our anchorage was no exception. There are homes along both sides but there is also lots of undeveloped land, farms, and marshy areas.

There was a front forecast to come through today so rather than moving on to Chestertown, we elected to stay and ride any potential storm out here where we have good holding and SW protection.

It was another scorcher. The temps have been in the mid to upper 90's for the last 10 days and a few times broke 100. Today was no exception so we didn't move too fast. Our project for the morning was to begin the process of changing out our life lines.

Instead of using stainless steel line we purchased fittings from Johnson Marine that allowed us to use some of the new no-stretch line that is used on racing boats. I've read about people going this route for a few years and since our life lines needed replacing decided that it was the thing to do.

So after reading up on splicing single braid line we started. Because of the high tension we had to use some splices that were not completely normal but were supposed to hold better. The only problem was that one end was spliced directly to the stanchion at the gate and it was so hot in the sun that by the time I finished one, I had to take a break and a quart of water to rest up.

It took most of the morning to finish off two of the eight sections but we are happy with the final product and they won't rust.

After a late lunch we took a dinghy ride to explore the area but had to cut it short as the skies darkened. We got back to the boat with just enough time to get everything closed up and tied down before the wind hit us. It was a textbook roll-cloud and it really blew. We didn't have time to check, but we must have seen gusts above 50 knots. I started the engine just in cast we need to take a little pressure off the anchor but it wasn't necessary.

A few minutes later the rain caught up and we had a downpour for about 40 minutes and drop of about 20 degrees. I got out and scrubbed the decks a little as the stormed passed.

We had a nice meal and then resumed our dinghy ride.

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07/01/2010, Annapolis, MD

June 14th, 2010 St Michael's to Annapolis, MD

It was cloudy in the morning but we had decided to make the run up to Annapolis so around 9 we weighed anchor and worked our way out of San Domingo Creek. There was a little north wind so we sailed down Broad Creek and out the Choptank, but when we turned north in the Bay it pooped out and we motored most of the day.

We made the 3:30 bridge opening and slowly motored up Spa Creek where we took a mooring for the night. Stan, who we met last Fall, stopped by to say that he was leaving tomorrow and that we should move up the Creek a little and take his anchorage. It is better holding and a little more protected.

June 15th and beyond

We've been here in Annapolis for a week now and have been remiss in not keeping up with our blog for those of you who keep track of us.

We were hopeful initially that we could get a slip for a day or so at Shearwater, and took a mooring all the way down Spa Creek in case that panned out. It didn't so we went on up stream a 100 yards or so and anchored. Stan (one of the harbormaster's) was anchored down there and came by to say that he was leaving and that we should take his spot.

Scott (Steve's son) met us Monday with some packages that we had had delivered to has place which is only about ½ mile up the road from us. He was heading out of town on a fishing trip and made arrangements to see us next week.

David and Peg of "Journey" were back at his parents slip for the summer and we had a nice chat with them.

Besides hauling water, our week has been spent on projects. First I hauled out our old outboard and manhandled it up on the rail to remove the old carburetor and intake manifold. Then I scraped the old gaskets off and cleaned things up before putting everything back together.

We had a new fuel hose made up in town and then dropped it down to the dinghy for a test run. It worked perfectly and we left it on the dinghy in case someone wanted to buy the thing. With it running well we put a listing out on Craig's List along with some chain rode and a 35# anchor that we've been carrying around for three years.

We've been on the phone quite a bit making arrangements for haul out, a driver to take us the Richmond Airport from Deltaville, dentist appointments, doctors appointments, etc.

Usually we make a trip into to town in the afternoon for a walk and been checking out all the happy hour specials for cheap food. One evening we met Bill and Christy from "Veranda" and Lynn and Peter form "First Edition" for a meal at Davis' Pub which is a local hang out in Eastport across Spa Creek from Annapolis.

One morning we hiked to the Safeway (grocery store) which is about 2.5 miles away and purchased what would fit in two back packs before making the trek back to the boat in 90+ temps.

I spent an hour or so one morning moving the fins from our old outboard to the new one and one whole morning scrubbing the yellow crud off our hull which shows up after a trip through the sounds to the Chesapeake.

We had a seam to repair on our dodger and so one morning was spent tearing things down, getting the sewing machine out and set up, sewing, and then putting everything back where it was in the first place.


Yesterday we went into town and hiked our dirty laundry up to the Laundromat that is about a block from the State House. There is a Irish Pub across the street that we had noticed in the past but never checked out so once the washers started, we walked over for a pint. It ended up being a great place. Kathy ran back over 20 minutes later to move cloths to the dryers and then returned. We stayed while clothes were drying and had another pint. When out time was up we thanked the girl at the bar and returned to fold clothes. On our way back the dinghy I was a little dizzy. It was either the heat or they could have put something in the beer.

Most evenings we take a dingy ride exploring some of the coves and creeks in the area...and just putt along checking out the houses and boats.

Our plans are to stick around for a few more days before heading out for a while.

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06/29/2010, St. Michael's, MD

June 13, 2010 St. Michael's, MD

Catching crabs made of us think of our friends, Jack and Debbie, who live in Maryland, so we gave them a call. They were quite excited to find we were nearby (1 1/2 hour drive) and we made plans for them to come visit us.

We picked them up at the dinghy dock this morning and brought them to the boat for a tour and a snack, which included Mike's conch salad and we all found it delicious. We then took a jaunt in to town walking around, having more food at restaurants and enjoying ourselves.

We had the best time. Jack and Debbie are the best kind of friends. It is always as if we had just seen them yesterday, when it may have been months, or even years. We had great conversations and much fun. It was great to see them.

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