Greetings All,
It's been long time since I last blogged. Once we started south from Maine it seemed like we done this before and most of it would be repetitive.
We did have to divert to Manasquan Inlet in NJ after changing a clogged fuel filter mid ocean in 5 ft. seas. It was also getting dark so the prudent thing was to turn around and find the inlet. It was good to sleep at anchor that night.
Atlantic City was the next night's stop and it has a lovely area surrounded by grass and condos but with lots of bird life, especially Black Skimmers, one of my favorites. Then it was on to Cape May where there was no room at the marina we wanted so we anchored and sailed up the Delaware Bay in tandem with a 98' schooner. Fun!
Once in the Chesapeake we took a dock in Annapolis and did some provisioning with a friend's Prius. Thanks Mike P.
We left the boat at a marina in Deltaville, Va. so we could go and take care of two of our grandsons while their parents had an Italian vacation.
During that time Mike made 2 trips back to Va from Charlotte, NC. Once because of the super moon combined with a low pressure causing north winds of 20+ and once because Joaquin, the hurricane, threatened. Mike stripped the boat of her sails and canvas and then the marina pulled her out of the water as a precaution.
Needless to say we had a lot of work to do before she went back in the water. Like getting her launched in the spring.
We made it to Beaufort, SC and Lady's Island Marina by Halloween and we have been here since.
Great marina with wonderful people. Restaurants to walk to and laundry and facilities are good. I have availed myself of the yoga studio on site and met some very welcoming women.
We are staying through Christmas when we will take advantage of a good tide time and move south through Georgia to Florida. This year we are going to go to the Bahamas in January and venture south through the Exumas to the Jumentos and Raggeds. Pretty remote and small islands that are sparsely inhabited. Should be interesting.
We are wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll try to blog more as we go.
love to you all, Ivy and Mike