We have all experienced that moment where we have pushed to the limits of mental, emotional and physical tolerance and finally get a break--a chance to let down, regroup, recover. Well, here we are!

After weeks of getting lives and things in order through what seemed a rather disorderly process, we cast off the lines from the Constitution Marina in Charlestown, MA on Friday, October 12 at 1400hrs, having waited for Hurricane Michael to head out to sea. Hard to see a hurricane as a blessing, but it gave us two extra days to fill dumpsters and stuff bags aboard. We didn't really have time to know what was actually in the bags, but we felt like we weren't just leaving everything behind. In fact, Roy Greenwald, our fearless crew for this passage wondered whether we had left anything behind!

Anyway, we had a lovely sail across Cape Cod Bay before motoring through the Canal and out the channel into Buzzard's Bay where we set sail for Cape May. The Sunday sunrise found us in gray and blustery conditions off Cape May Harbor. When we tried to charge our batteries, the engine seemed as tired as we were and just wasn't interested. Needing the engine for the upcoming trip through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, we decide to put into the Canyon Club Marina in Cape May Harbor for troubleshooting and repairs if needed. Running the inlet in 30 knots and 4 foot seas under sail made no sense, so the assistance of Towboats US was much appreciated. Tim from Down Jersey Marine taught us some things about Raycor filters that most of us have probably never heard of, and we set off Monday afternoon for the long trip up the Delaware Bay ship channel against the wind and current.

The trip through the C&D Canal was as beautiful as I remembered from my prior excursions--a lovely meander on glassy water with golden reflections everywhere. Leaving the Canal, the choppy tan waters of the Elk River and it's tree-lined shores were a welcome change, especially with the wind now directly on the nose and building. The breeze hit gale force by the time we got to the Bay Bridge, sustained 38 knots until we cruised into Back Creek and things settle down. G23? Two thousand slips, 5 marinas....where in the heck was G23?

It felt good to find the slip, and with some friendly assistance from Pete and Kathy aboard the Puffin, a Nordic Tug 42 in G24, we got in, secured Veneeni to the pilings and enjoyed a hearty round of hugs and high-fives.

And suddenly, there we were ...in Annapolis. No longer scrambling to get ready to go, no longer worrying about weather and talking about what it would be like. We we're there. After three years of preparation and perseverance, we we're there. In fact, here we are. There is a old saying among sailors and navigators--"wherever you go, there you are!"

Yep, good trip, good friends, good karma!
Here we are...until we aren't. Stay tuned!