The best laid plans cannot change the weather. It's gotten very cold and ice has formed on the creeks around Annapolis. In fact, the Potomac, Anacostia, South, and Patuxent Rivers are all frozen from shore to shore. It snowed last night and is only supposed to get colder over the next week. Adverse conditions for working on or moving boats. It's hard to know when the ice will melt and we'll be able to get the boat out of Annapolis -- at least a couple of weeks.

Here's the weather synopsis from the Capitol Weather Gang: "This week delivers the most severe winter conditions we've faced this year. After bitter cold this morning, at least several inches of snow falls tonight. Then, after a round of snow showers Wednesday, record challenging cold blasts into the region through Friday with subzero temperatures possible. Temperatures moderate to near freezing by Saturday afternoon, by which time another winter storm may threaten the area."

The last thing I needed to hear were record challenging forecasts. As you can see from the picture above, the boat is completely surrounded by ice. The engines and generator have been winterized. Here's a look at the bow:



and a look at the stern:



and a frozen Spa Creek:



Wind gusts exceeded sixty knots Saturday night. In the marinas on Spa Creek there were shredded sails and torn shrink-wrap covers. This boat used to be anchored beyond the green marker you can see in the distance. It dragged its anchor in the winds. Looks as though someone was living aboard. If they are still on board it's going to be awhile before they can get off of the boat.



Still trying to avoid wearing socks and my foul weather boots. It gets a bit cold at times but I'm not ready to settle into life in the mid-atlantic region.



Here a shot of the rental car and storage trailer after the snow last night.