Getting Ready!
16 July 2020 | Selby Bay, Edgewater MD
Sharon
July 16, 2020 Thursday
This is Sharon. After a couple of months here in Selby Bay waiting and wondering, if and when northern cruising spots would open to us, we have been in touch with the NY Canal Corporation to find out we could get started up the Hudson River toward the Erie Canal and the last lock to reopen will be available for passage August 10th or so. As that is on the western part of the canal, we have begun to prepare for departure.
We completed most of the big things on Mike’s list, replaced the sound proofing around the engine, replaced the engine oil cooler, installed a new battery monitor, replaced the canvas dodger extension, rebuilt the three blade Autoprop, found and purchased our replacement Walker Bay dinghy and sold our temporary one on Craig’s List, got our driver’s licenses renewed as the MVA recently reopened by appointment, finished dentist visits, had a distance visit with my parents, had a hugless picnic with our daughter, had the boat bottom cleaned on a short haul, and practiced. new breathing techniques to reduce the stress related to all the covid unknowns. Now we have a little more provisioning to do and we can get under way.
Other than our marina neighbors we haven’s been able to catch up with many friends this time. We did see some sailing friends out on the water but the virus has really limited our social interactions as it has for everyone since March. I hope this is not the new, permanent normal.
After a couple of months of spending every weekend at anchor in order to free up more space on the fuel dock and increase our social distancing space with people who weekend at the marina, it will be good to be heading north. Actually, the weekend sails have been good for us and encouraged us to sail more than we did coming north on the ICW this spring. We are looking forward to seeing the canal and locks and learn some more about the history of that part of our country.