What to do, What to do?
26 June 2009
We completed our Intracoastal travels a week ago when we arrived at Norfolk, VA - Mile 0 of the ICW. We spent a couple days anchored on the Portsmouth side, spending time discovering Portsmouth, visiting a Lightship Museum, talking a self-guided walking tour of the historic buildings...
While we hung out there we began debating what to do and where to go from there. Originally I had hoped to travel up the Potomac to Washington, DC. It is possible to anchor right off the city, in sight of the Mall. I thought it'd be a neat opportunity to visit the Nation's Capitol, take time exploring the Smithsonian, etc.
Then there was the day in Portsmouth when it was in the 90's, hazy, hot, humid and airless and I remembered, "Oh yeah - that's an average daily forecast for DC in the summertime." The idea of baking on an un-air-conditioned boat, stomping around in the hot sticky sun all day, no breeze to cool things off...
We decided to pass on that.
So then, what to do?
The only fixed date we have at this point is to be back in the Boston area at the end of August. Back in May when I flew to Boston it was to interview in Wellesley, the district I taught in before our trip. Much to my good fortune they had an elementary opening for next year and I was offered the job. Hip Hip Hurrah! Unfortunately as of yet Andrew has not had the same success - we just found out the company he interviewed with offered the position to someone else (bummer, Dude). Since for now I am the only one with a start date, why pay dock fees any sooner than necessary? As Andrew put it - "Carolyn starts the 27th of August so we have to be back in Boston by... August 26th?"
Having said that, we both are feeling like the boat really needs a little TLC. We definitely need to haul it out, inspect and repaint the bottom. We also want to do some maintenance on the engine. Andrew has done all the standard maintenance duties, but we're having trouble with the starter motor (again), he wants to check the valve seals, etc. The exterior varnish is horrendous (I varnished it all last June in Panama - but a year in the Caribbean sun, combined with the low-quality Caribbean varnish, the toe-rail varnish is currently falling off in sheets), We need to rebed some of the portlights... All in all Pendragon has earned a rest and some pampering.
We don't want to pay dock fees any sooner than necessary. We're looking to wait until September to return to Boston so we only have to pay the monthly dock rate for two months (the winter season starts November 1st). However we're looking into going up for Salem for the month of August. We'll get the boat pulled out there and then we'll either anchor or get a mooring (so we can use marina facilities) for the rest of the month to do our assorted jobs.
So then what to until August? Travel around the Chesapeake? Reconsider going to DC? Head back to New England?
Hmmm
From Portsmouth/Norfolk we did head up the Chesapeake to a couple of different harbors, but we both were feeling, "What's the point of heading north up the Chesapeake only to have to turn around again?"
In our little jaunt we decided to stop by Fishing Bay near Deltaville - a spot we did not visit during our trip down the Chesapeake two years ago. Our visit here exemplifies one of the things I like most about sailing/cruising - the boating community.
We were doing the snaking approach around shoals and I went below to check the chart. I heard Andrew shout out, "Hey - It's Rachel!" Julie and Mark on 'Rachel' were heading out of the harbor. We spent time traveling with them in the Bahamas; it was a kick to see them again. We chatted on the radio. They are currently heading up the Chesapeake and then from there on to New England so we're hoping to catch up with them down the road.
The sense of 'boating community' was further illustrated when we decided to take a stroll. We were walking out to the main road when a car pulled up to us. The driver asked if we were boaters and would we like a ride into town. Being a hot, sticky day we accepted - figuring we'd get our exercise on the walk home. The gentleman dropped us off at the hardware store where we picked up a couple of things. We heard there was a West Marine and grocery store down the road so we were walking that way when another driver pulled up and asked if we were on a boat and would we like a ride to the grocery store...
Everyone we met was friendly, offering assistance, etc. How often does that happen to you land dwellers??
When we got back to the boat we continued to waffle around, unsure what to do next. We had pretty much decided that the Chesapeake in summer is hot, sticky, buggy, and doesn't have lots of wind for sailing so let's just head north.
That thinking was reinforced when we discovered that our good buddy Joe from 'Onward' is leaving Baltimore and heading to New England. He will be traveling through the C & D canal then down Delaware Bay to Cape May. From there his plans include a stop at Atlantic City. We are planning to head out at Norfolk and had considered a stop at Atlantic City. While he does his trip down the Delaware, we can be doing the off-shore Delaware trip and we can meet up in Atlantic City. Perfect!! It'll be super to reconnect with a great sailing buddy (and to have some company again!)
So - that's the plan.
For now!
C