11/05/2007, Hampton Roads, VA
Sorry about the lack of contact. Can you believe that people actually have the gall to block their wifi signals! Last night we spent in transit (more about that later) and the previous 2 nights we were down on the Miles River right outside of Solomons Island w/out any internet access. Solomons was nice we walked around some, spent 1.5 days there, found a beach for Gizmo to play on and just basically pissed the day(s) away. We left yesterday morning to head south and were going to head into the Rappahanock to spend the night when I was finally able to induce Gizmo (much to his chagrin) to pee on the deck outside. You could tell he was mortified but I of course was praising him up and down and then gave him lots of treats. 1st 1/2 the day yesterday we had light winds so we put up the gennaker and were doing ~6 knotswhich was pretty good in ~8 knots of apparent wind!!Unfortunately the wind only lasted about 1/2 the day. Then it was a long motor down. Because Giz was able to go to the bathroom and we weren'tall that tired we decided to continue on so we got into Hampton Roads about 5am. We'renow anchored in the downtown part and will stay here through tomorrow and then day after next are planning on heading on down the ICW.
Chuck and Sherri, you would die if you saw this anchorage. We are literally 20' away from the boat next to us and there are light winds so everybody is just swinging too and fro. I've attached a pix so you can see what it looks like.
That basically brings you up to date and now some ruminations. First, I can't believe how busy we are and we still have no time to do anything! I can't figurethis one outand presumably that will change some once we'renot travelling as much but who knows although we are very slowly getting a little bit better organized meaning there isn't quite as much crap lying all over the place. Also, being transportationally challenged doeshave its major drawbacks. We went walking around town today looking for a grocery store (found out it's 1.5 miles away - that'll be tomorrows outing) and the hardware store stil haven't found tht but we're at least in the neighborhood for that. The other thingwe're learning is that when you're out of something, you're out of it. The other day we ran out of eggs, this am it was o.j. so you just make do w/ somehitng else instead. Just something interesting because you take all of this stuff for granted.
Well, enough for now, just checking in and will update when we can. Take care and thanks everybody for everything. We miss you and enjoy hearing from you.
11/01/2007, Selby Bay, South River, MD
Can you believe it. We actually did it and are underway. Yeah!! Little bit of a rough start but we're starting to get the hang of things now. We're sitting in a pretty, quiet little anchorage that is well protected from the front that is supposed to be coming in. We got here about 3:30pm today. We needed it after yesterday.
We got off to a late start because of a clogged fuel filter, some complaints because our bows are literally at the waterline and some confusion at Maryland Yacht Club where we wanted to pump out. So, we didn't actually get to leave until about 2pm yesterday. Made it down to Annapolis ~7pm last night after getting the crap beat out of us. Tim was manning the helm station and I was playing catcher. Literally. I'm inside catching crap that is flying all over the place while trying to comfort Giz who is shaking like jello. Then this morning had a leisurely walk around Annapolis while we got more fuel filters (forgot to put them on the spares list), engine oiland misc. Left there ~12 and expected to get the crap beat out of us. We got lucky today, while the wind was still off our nose, we at least hada quiet ride.It's supposed to startkicking up tonight so we wanted to find a nice safe hidey hole and actually made it down hereabout 3:30 today.
Tomorrow, it's wakeup at 0 dark 30 and then head over to Solomons Island. and then get the hell out of the north before it gets too darn cold. Put up the cockpit enclosure today so hopefully tomorrow we'll be nice and toasty.
10/29/2007, Pasadena, Md
Today is Monday evening, I'm still at work. One more work day to go. It still doesn't seem real. We must be leaving, we keep having going away parties. We had a great send-off happy hour from our friends and old neighbors from Islander St. Then we had another excellent party from our boat friends over at White Rocks, then I had a huge going away lunch from my friends at work. Thank you all very, very much!. Maybe I'm just hung over from all that partying.
Don't feel like a "cruiser" yet. So, last night, I pulled my bike down out of the boat yard and tied it up on the lifeline. Now we'll look like a "cruiser". Didn't work. Still don't feel like a "cruiser" (maybe if I tied on some jerry-jugs).
I need to ask Dave and Margi, our friends who headed south Oct 1, if they feel like cruisers yet, or just people who live on a boat and are 'land transportation challenged'.
So, 38.5 hours from now, we pull away from the dock, head to the fuel dock to pumpout, turn right and we're gone....to somewhere.
