We left home around noon on a beautiful, sunny, fall morning. Tali cried all the way to the boat but soon took up calm residence in her spot under the dodger. Murphy seemed to know that this was different than the many previous trips down to the dock and had to be coaxed onto to the boat. He did not settle in as quickly as Tali. The Rappahannock River was slightly choppy and there was a favorable breeze so we eventually shook out the sails and glided down the river. Jim was a little fractious, as the electronic boat toys were not cooperating..,,specifically the AIS. After phone calls to Raymarine and to the AIS supplier, we sadly realized that the big thunderclap we had heard the previous evening had done more than scare the dog. Apparently AIS receivers, particularly the early models, are particularly sensitive to nearby lightening strikes. However, I guess we were relieved that the AIS was the only casualty.
We were joined shortly by Karl and Nancy on Karibee Kat (KK) for the rest of the trip out the river. KK is only joining us on the first part of the trip, unless we can convince them that a sudden early retirement is in order. We both pulled into Jackson Creek by late afternoon for our first night. The anchorage was relatively full of snowbirds, as the annual migration has begun. We were entertained the rest of the afternoon by a steel-hulled Canadian boat that ran aground several times, then tangled his fenders on the Fishing Bay Yacht Club pilings and finally crashed into their dock with a resounding crunch. It’s kind of nice not to be the entertainment for a change. We have done our share and will do it again in the future, I am sure.