And We're Off!!
04 October 2017 | Urbanna,CA
Becky
Friday, September 29,2017
We left Urbanna around 10:00 am (after Robert's first meeting of the day). We said our goodbyes to most of our friends here yesterday.
Carl and Joyce are here this morning to see us off!!
It's a beautiful day-- almost fall-like.
Maggie begins to pace and pant as soon as we start the engines. She knows it's time to start moving again!!
We raise both sails before we leave Urbanna Creek. Winds are light, about 6 knots. We motorsail down the Rappahanock at about 5 knots.
About 2 hours into the trip, both Robert and I smell something "burning". It smells like plastic burning. I take the helm and Robert goes down to investigate. Both engines seem fine; electric panel seems fine. Just where the hell is the source???
After about 30 minutes, Robert finds the culprit! The solar water heating element switch accidentally got turned on----that thing WORKS!! Apparently too well-- it burned a hole in the top of the starboard waste holding tank! Thank God that tank was empty!!
After settling our nerves, we open the top hatches and allowed the smoke to dissipate!! Whew!!
After a quick lunch of salad and soup, we decide to head into Deltaville for a fuel stop. Numerous attempts to hail Deltaville Boatyard on the VHF radio were unsuccessful. I phoned them; only to find out their fuel dock is open, but under construction and we need to pull in between two large barges. The dock hand instructs us to "circle around in the creek" a few times while she makes her way down to the fuel dock. We circled around for about 30 minutes; still no dock hand. We said to hell with it, and headed to Fishing Bay Marina--- an hour away!!
As we're heading into Fishing Bay, the starboard engine overheats/then quits. Well SHIT!!
We make it to the fuel dock on one engine. With a full tank of fuel; a bag of ice; a lighter wallet, and a doggie with an empty bladder, we decide to anchor here tonight.
We drop the hook around 5 pm-- we've only made 17 miles today-- NOT a banner day!! Oh, well, cocktails and engine work await!!
While I prepare a delicious dinner of hamburger steaks, mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, and asparagus, Robert quickly diagnoses the engine problem-- a busted coolant hose. He made the repair quickly, and we celebrate with very strong cocktails!!
Day one coulda been better; but coulda been a lot worse.
I'm turning in early with a book. Robert watches a little tv.
Looking forward to day 2!!!