I know it’s been far too long since I last wrote, but the last week has been an exciting one!!
Sunday October 17th 2010
Last night we walked over to “Big Woody’s Bar and Grill” to see if we could possibly watch the Husky game. It was about 9:00pm when we got there, and boy, was it crowded!! Luckily, another couple was just leaving, so we were able to get a table. We had a late dinner while we waited for the game to start, and we were serenaded by a rather loud live band.
When the game started, we had an okay view of the TV, if no one tall stood in the way. Fortunately, a party in a back room left, so we were able to move in there, and had a front row seat for a big screen viewing. We were the only ones in there, and could actually hear the commentators! The game seemed to go on and on, and ended in a tie. It was already 1:30am, and here we were going into overtime!! The bar wanted to close at 2:00, but the game was in its second overtime, with one more play to go, so they let us stay. Huskies win 35-34 over Oregon State!
Needless to say, we slept in this morning. It’s been a really long time since we closed down a bar! We a sure had fun though.
Today we took advantage of a beautiful day and moved down the ICW to Coinjock, North Carolina. There are two marinas here, one on each side of the canal, and little else. Dave did decide, late in the afternoon, to go see some football in the bar at the restaurant. He came back to the boat a short time later and told me I had to go with him back to the restaurant.
As we neared the place, I could hear someone singing with an acoustic guitar. He was good! He was playing out on the patio, and it was crowded, so we asked another couple if we could join them. They were happy to do so, and we ended up having a wonderful time talking with them, and listening to the music. We also enjoyed a fabulous meal! They had a 32 oz. prime rib on the menu that we were told we must get, so we did! Oh my god! Dave and I shared the meal, and managed to eat most of it. What we didn’t eat was consumed by the marina black lab, who had his eye on it from the start. We had a fabulous time, eating, listening, and watching the sun go down.
After our late night before, by the time we both had showers, we were ready for bed.
Monday October 18th 2010
Today was another beautiful day! Highs in the upper 70’s. We continued on down the canal and into Albemarle Sound. The water was perfectly flat and the little bit of wind that there was, was on our nose, of course! So, no sailing.
We continued on down the Alligator River, to a small bay that would be our home for the night. There were already two other sailboats there, so we found the perfect spot and lowered our anchor. Then the show began. Four F-15’s were using us for target practice. They flew over us, and over us, and over us… and not all together. They flew over one at a time, then circled around, and flew over again and again and again. At first it was fun, but when it didn’t stop, we headed into the boat to get some peace and quiet.
When we were sure they were gone, Dave went on deck to get some air. All of a sudden, I heard, ”Get me the binoculars! Quick!” I figured he must have spotted an alligator, since we were in the Alligator River, but when I asked him what it was in the water, he said it was a dog!!! Since we could only see its wet head, it looked like a beagle. It started swimming circles around the boat next to us. There was an elderly man, alone, on that boat, and he shouted to us, asking what he should do? We told him to haul the dog on board. So, he did. After a quick inspection, he discovered a tag on the dog, with a name and phone number. His cell phone had no coverage, but ours did, so Dave called the owner and told him that we had his dog. We were expecting that maybe he had fallen off a passing boat, but instead, his owner had sent him out that morning, bear hunting, and he had not returned. He was not a beagle, he was a hound dog, and a very determined one. His owner arrived just about dark, in his skiff, to pick him up. He was one happy, wet, dog!! I decided to call him “Jim Bob”, a real southern name, and because when we saw him, he was bobbing along.
Tuesday October 19th 2010
We were up early today, anxious to get further South. We found ourselves in a parade of boats, also headed south. When this occurs, it is inevitable that a large power boat, or two or three, will come up behind us and want to pass. The rule is, that the boat being overtaken will slow down, and the power boat will also slow down as it passes, so it will not rock your socks off. Then, once passed, it will resume its faster speed. If it is a very polite captain, he will call your boat on the VHF radio, and let you know that he wishes to pass. We really appreciate that, as sometimes they sneak up on you. This arrangement works out really well, until a power boat doesn’t obey the rule.
As we were cruising along our way, we heard a plea on the radio from another boat, a trawler (most mid-size power boats). Two large Carolina Kingfishers (big, long, pleasure fishing boats) had passed “Partners in Paradise” at full speed and without warning, tossing the trawler on to its right side and back up again. This is not normal for a trawler. Everything on the left side of the boat, ended up on the right side, including a freezer and two large heavy tool chests that were previously bolted down. Needless to say, a lot of damage was done, and “Partners in Paradise” wanted to catch the two boats that caused the damage. They needed the names of the boats, and their home ports.
So, the hunt was on! We knew that the two boats in question were still behind us. As they continued south, you could hear the reports on the radio from all the other boaters, who were more than happy to provide “P in P” with all the information they would need. By the time they reached us, they did do a slow pass, but did not try to call us on the radio, nor would they return our calls to them. Obviously, the two kingfishers could hear the chatter on the radio, and were choosing to avoid the situation. However, the coast guard had been notified, and could be waiting for them, somewhere down the waterway! A call had gone out to all the marinas to please report their presence to the police, if they should enter one of them. We were not sure we would ever hear how this would turn out.
However, that afternoon, we pulled into Bellhaven, North Carolina, and dropped anchor. A short time later, “Partners in Paradise” came in and tied up at the marina. We had planned to go ashore anyway, so we did, and strolled down the dock to talk with “P in P”. They were awaiting a visit from the authorities, and were more than happy to retell their story, now that they had had a chance to collect their wits. Maybe some day we’ll find out whether there was a happy ending or not. Fortunately, no one was injured. The owner’s wife’s 84 year old father was aboard, and could easily have been injured!
The rest of our time in Bellhaven was a bust! We were told by others that this was a must stop place, but we are not sure why. It is almost a ghost town. One very short main street in each direction, with mostly vacant stores. The laundromat seemed to be the busiest place in town, other than the hospital. Our tour of town lasted all of 45 minutes, then we headed back to the boat.
Wednesday October 20th 2010
This morning we awoke to a very heavy fog. We could not see the boats anchored closest to us. Around 10:00am we thought the fog was clearing and decided to leave the harbor. No sooner were we outside the harbor breakwall, then we decided we may have left a little too soon. Thankfully, with the GPS and our radar, we could find the way to go and stay out of trouble, but fog is very disorienting. We had to keep our minds from being tricked. I was extremely relieved when the fog started to lift and we could see land around us.
Today we returned to one of our favorite places, Oriental, North Carolina. We stayed there when we were boat shopping, a few years ago, and then again on our way North to DC. They have a very nice small marina and inn. You dock your boat and can then walk right up to the Tiki Bar and pool, and have a nice cold drink while you sit on the shaded deck or on the well manicured lawn. They also have one of the nicest shower facilities, and they provide you with towels, shampoo, and soap. My only complaint is that they have but one washer and dryer, and charge $2.00 a load. But, if you must do laundry, it’s nice to have a tiki bar to wait at.
Thursday October 21st 2010
We decided to get a little exercise today. We hiked about a mile to the grocery store. It wasn’t like the supermarkets in the big cities, but we were able to pick up a few things we needed. We took our shopping bags and a back pack, and were prepared to haul everything back to the boat, but one of the locals asked if we were headed for the marina, and offered to give us a ride. They are so nice!!
Of course, we decided to spend happy hour at the tiki bar. While there, we talked with “Kentucky Jim”, one of the locals. The community is having an apple event this weekend. You can participate by baking something with apples, or making something that is not apple, and entering it. The apples, all purchased in Kentucky, are provided for the asking. Even though we were not going to be there for the event, Jim insisted that we take some apples. We left with about 8 different kinds of apples, including one called a “Mutzu”, that I had never heard of. I really should make something with them before they rot!
Those of you that know me well, know that I do not drink coffee. I did get hooked on Caramel White Chocolate Mochas, especially the 99 cent ones at AM/PM mini-marts, but I’m not sure that qualifies as coffee. In this, our new life, mochas are few and far between. I actually crave them and look forward to opportunities to purchase them. Fortunately, Oriental has an espresso stand called “The Bean”, so I was able to satisfy by craving! I have come upon so many towns and marinas that could do a booming business with a coffee stand. Anyone need a business opportunity???
Friday October 22nd 2010
We shoved off today, headed for the big city of Beaufort, North Carolina. It was another beautiful day on the water. The weather has been great! We pulled up to the city marina, right on the city waterfront, and went for a stroll.
First up was lunch, on the deck of one of their recommended restaurants. There is an island just across the waterway, that can only be reached by boat. On this island are wild ponies! While we ate lunch we saw a herd of them in one area, and further down on the beach we saw a few other ponies. We could see them very clearly, without binoculars, that’s how close the island is.
After lunch we perused the many shops, and of course we felt obligated to spend some money there. We have to do our part for the economy!! As I was looking over the merchandise in one of the stores, a cute little monkey dressed in pirate garb asked me if he could be a stowaway. Of course I had to say yes! I had a hard time trying to come up with a name for him. I thought maybe I should name him Jock Robin (instead of Jack Sparrow), but it seemed too formal. So, he ended up being “Matey” (as in Aye, matey!) He has Velcro on his paws, so when he hangs from the grab rail, he is about a foot long, and so cute in his striped pants, red vest, captains hat, and eye patch!
That night, all hell broke loose on the waterfront! We were trying to get to sleep, or I should say, I was trying to fall asleep, Dave was having no problem!!! I kept hearing all this shouting, and women screaming. I envisioned that there was a fight going on. Suddenly I heard a whistle blowing. My first thought was the keystone cops, but that seemed a little silly. I think it might have been someone on a sailboat just trying to distract the crowd. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally heard the police sirens and knew that there would be an end to this madness!
Saturday October 23rd 2010
We awoke to another beautiful day, and set sail for New River, North Carolina. Although we passed through this same area, back in July, it looks different from this direction. It isn’t until I see something specific, that it jogs my memory and looks familiar. So, every day is still very exciting.
Today we spotted dolphins!!! It has been quite awhile since we saw them last. It’s fun to see them glide through the water and sometimes they will start their own special ballet, jumping up out of the water, and then gliding back down into the water.
We had some anxious moments while we were waiting for bridges to open. Most of them only open on the hour, or if you are lucky, also on the half hour. However, it is very difficult to time your arrival just when the opening occurs. Sometimes, you are forced to do circles, or if there is no current, to come to a complete stop. This can be very tricky if there are multiple boats waiting. It can be especially nerve wracking if it is shallow water and you do not want to run aground!
While we were headed north, we saw very few other boats in the ICW. On this trip south, we have been accompanied by a lot of other boats, both power and sail. We are now officially traveling with the “snowbirds”. We are one of them! We are all headed south, as fast as we dare, looking for warmer weather. The nights are getting colder and colder. The days are still nice and warm, but for us boats with no heat, we must get to warmer nights. We are about 5 days away from being in Charleston, South Carolina. Once we are there, we will wait until after November 15th to head south down the outside of the coast, and make an overnight passage all the way to Fernandina Beach, Florida. That is, if the winds will allow us to sail!! We will be able to skip the meandering ICW in Georgia, and go straight to Florida. Our insurance does not allow us to be south of Brunswick, Georgia until after November 15th, hence the reason for the delay. We decided that Charleston would be a good place to spend a little time.
The marina ( ? ) here in New River is actually a trailer park, with a few docks for small fishing boats. They do have a gas dock, and that is where we spent the night. I don’t think they have overnight guests very often. They had to find an extension cord to hook us up to power. Then, when we went to check out the shower facility, we found only cold water. They discovered that the pilot light on the water heater was out! We did get a good nights sleep, and it was cheap, only $1.00 per foot.
We tried hard to stay up and listen to the Husky game against Arizona, but it was another late game, 10:15pm, and not very interesting. Dave konked out about halfway through the 2nd quarter. I hung in there until almost the end of the 3rd quarter, when I realized there was no way they could bridge the huge gap in score. I went to bed! Won’t they ever have a game again that starts at the old 12:30pm PDT that they used to start?????
Sunday October 24th 2010
This morning we shoved off and caught up with a group of sailboats. We followed each other most of the day, then scattered for different places for the night. We ended up anchoring at Wrightsville Beach. We stayed here before, on the trip north. The town is all along the coast, and we are in a bay on the other side of the town.
We decided to go and have dinner at the same Mexican restaurant we ate at last time. They have excellent food, and Dave can watch a little football. He really does miss it!!
I think we have gotten the launching of the dinghy, down to a science. It all goes pretty smoothly now. And we are really enjoying our new inflatable. Even the outboard engine seems to start relatively easy now. It is also much easier to get on and off Dream Ketcher, than it was on Altair, our other sailboat.
Speaking of Altair, we have been getting emails from her new owners, informing us of their adventures, asking questions, seeking advice, etc. It has been really interesting, and fun to know that she is still sailing in Puget Sound.
Monday October 25th 2010
Oh boy! How the weather has changed. Today we have had severe thunderstorm warnings all day! Three times the wind picked up and the rains came, only to be replaced with relative calm.
Now, however, we are smack in the middle of a thunder and lightning show. Needless to say, we have remained here in Wrightsville Beach, and are hoping the weather will get better, soon!
We have both been on the computer all day. I couldn’t wait any longer to share all of our adventures with you! I am still waiting to hear from all of you. I have only gotten one email since last I wrote (thanks, Nancy!) I really do want to know what is happening at home, so please, please, please send me an email….or even a text message. Just something to let me know that someone is really reading this blog. In case you lost it, I can be reached at kuchmeister@gmail.com.
Hope things are well with all of you. By the time I write again, we should be in Charleston.
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Sunday October 10th 2010
Amid beautiful sunshine, we finally departed from Point Look Out Marina and headed South. It was one of those mornings where you are grateful to be alive! And, there are more boats out and about, than there were on our trip North.
After a fabulous day on the water, we headed into Dozier’s Regatta Point Yacht Center, in Deltaville, Virginia. This marina is on the opposite side of the peninsula from Deltaville Marina, where we stayed on the way North. We went aground in the channel on our way out of Deltaville, previously, and did not want to do it again. We decided to give Dozier’s a try, and are we ever glad we did!!! It is a beautiful marina!! We liked it so much, we decided to stay a second night when the weather went bad! This allowed us the opportunity to talk with a couple from Canada that are also traveling south to the Bahamas. I’m sure we will run into them again.
Tuesday October 12th 2010
We left Deltaville early, on another beautiful sunny day. The wind even decided to cooperate so we could sail!! We saw several other sailboats heading South, and even a few freighters. Around 4:00 we pulled into Bluewater Marina in Hampton, Virginia, and guess who was there?? The same Canadian couple.
By this time, the temperature was pretty warm, so we decided to take advantage of it, and went for a dip in the pool. It was fairly cold, but very refreshing! As the sun started to fade, we headed for the restaurant bar for a beer and some dinner. With our tummies full, we headed back to the boat. As we got closer, we could hear the sounds of a marching band, and realized that they were having a practice directly across the water from us, at Hampton College. It brought back a few Husky band memories!!
Wednesday October 13th 2010
Today was overcast and gray. Quite a contrast to yesterday. We left early, and headed for Norfolk/Portsmouth. The water was a little choppy, and for awhile we were surfing on the waves. As we made our way past the Navy base and Ocean Marine Yacht Center, it looked so different without the bright sunshine we had when we were there last time. We were able to put up the Yankee sail, to increase our speed and help even out the boat, but it had to come down when we got to the first bridge.
All in all, we had to go under three bridges, and go through one lock, to get to our destination, the Atlantic Yacht Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is very near the North Carolina border. We will stay here for several days while we wait for a break in the weather. It is supposed to deteriorate rapidly.
We walked up the road towards town, and the first thing we saw was…. a Dairy Queen!! So, we had a late lunch there, then walked to the grocery store to pick up a few items, and then returned to the DQ for a blizzard.
Thursday October 14th 2010
On the road again….We decided to take advantage of being stuck, and rented a car. Destination? The Outer Banks of North Carolina. We headed south and had no sooner gotten across the border when a severe thunderstorm blew in. It was raining so hard that it became impossible to see the road. We pulled over into a gas station to wait it out, along with about a dozen other cars. Not only did we have thunder and lightning, but a steady downpour, and hail the size of nickels. It reminded us of the storms you see that precede a tornado. We were expecting a cow to go flying by! Fortunately that didn’t happen. After about 20 minutes the storm let up, and we were on our way. A few miles down the road, the sun came out and everything was dry!
We drove through Kitty Hawk, and on to Kill Devil Hills, where we visited a monument erected for the Wright Brothers and their successful attempts at flying a motorized glider. The monument sits atop what was the highest sand dune in the area. From the top, you can see for miles in all directions: the Atlantic Ocean to the East, Albemarle Sound to the West, the Outer Banks stretching South to Cape Hatteras, and North to Virginia.
Next, it was past time for lunch, so we drove down the main street by the beach, looking for someplace to eat. Most of the restaurants were closed for the off season, but we finally came upon the “Kill Devil Hill Grill”. The parking lot was packed, so we figured it had to be good. It wasn’t good, it was great!!! The locals told us to have the steak and cheese egg rolls. They were fabulous! We even got an order to take back to the boat for later. We also had a fried chicken salad, with corn, cucumber, bacon and tomatoes. It was yummy!! As if that wasn’t enough, we also tried the fresh strawberry shortcake. Homemade and to die for!!!!
When it was time to roll out of the diner, the thunderstorm had hit there, so we waited a bit to let it blow over. Then, we headed for Roanoke Island. It is the site of the place where Sir Walter Raleigh built a fort for the 116 people he brought to the new world. Ten years later, someone finally got back to the settlement and found it abandoned. The colony was gone and never found. They call it the Lost Colony, and there are several theories as to what happened to the colonists. During the peak tourist season there is a lot to see and do, but in the off season, they were doing some renovations and there was not a lot to see, especially in the rain, so we headed back to Chesapeake.
Friday October 15th 2010
Today, high winds are predicted, so we will stay put! The weather has been changing all day long. Sunny and warm, to cool and raining, but always windy. I tried to cook breakfast this morning, but could not get the propane stove to work! Dave fooled with it for awhile, then decided we had better hang on to the car in case we needed to get parts. Which we did. The propane tank needed a new regulator.
So, while Dave works on the boat, I’ve been paying bills and am now working on the blog. It’s nice to have the time, with power, to work on it. Tonight we are taking our neighbor out for dinner, so he can advise us on anchorages as we head south. He is all alone on his 50 foot Gulfstar sailboat.
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!! We are looking forward to listening to the Huskies play Oregon State. It is so hard though, when the game doesn’t start until 10:00pm EST.
We are hoping to leave here on Sunday, and it looks like we’ll have a week of good weather to sail in. Next stop, the Alligator River! We did finally get a chance to buy some warmer clothes to wear as we head south. It’s tough without a heater on board. We can’t get to Florida fast enough!!
Stay warm, stay healthy, and I’ll report in next week! Our love to you all!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Amid beautiful sunshine, we finally departed from Point Look Out Marina and headed South. It was one of those mornings where you are grateful to be alive! And, there are more boats out and about, than there were on our trip North.
After a fabulous day on the water, we headed into Dozier’s Regatta Point Yacht Center, in Deltaville, Virginia. This marina is on the opposite side of the peninsula from Deltaville Marina, where we stayed on the way North. We went aground in the channel on our way out of Deltaville, previously, and did not want to do it again. We decided to give Dozier’s a try, and are we ever glad we did!!! It is a beautiful marina!! We liked it so much, we decided to stay a second night when the weather went bad! This allowed us the opportunity to talk with a couple from Canada that are also traveling south to the Bahamas. I’m sure we will run into them again.
Tuesday October 12th 2010
We left Deltaville early, on another beautiful sunny day. The wind even decided to cooperate so we could sail!! We saw several other sailboats heading South, and even a few freighters. Around 4:00 we pulled into Bluewater Marina in Hampton, Virginia, and guess who was there?? The same Canadian couple.
By this time, the temperature was pretty warm, so we decided to take advantage of it, and went for a dip in the pool. It was fairly cold, but very refreshing! As the sun started to fade, we headed for the restaurant bar for a beer and some dinner. With our tummies full, we headed back to the boat. As we got closer, we could hear the sounds of a marching band, and realized that they were having a practice directly across the water from us, at Hampton College. It brought back a few Husky band memories!!
Wednesday October 13th 2010
Today was overcast and gray. Quite a contrast to yesterday. We left early, and headed for Norfolk/Portsmouth. The water was a little choppy, and for awhile we were surfing on the waves. As we made our way past the Navy base and Ocean Marine Yacht Center, it looked so different without the bright sunshine we had when we were there last time. We were able to put up the Yankee sail, to increase our speed and help even out the boat, but it had to come down when we got to the first bridge.
All in all, we had to go under three bridges, and go through one lock, to get to our destination, the Atlantic Yacht Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is very near the North Carolina border. We will stay here for several days while we wait for a break in the weather. It is supposed to deteriorate rapidly.
We walked up the road towards town, and the first thing we saw was…. a Dairy Queen!! So, we had a late lunch there, then walked to the grocery store to pick up a few items, and then returned to the DQ for a blizzard.
Thursday October 14th 2010
On the road again….We decided to take advantage of being stuck, and rented a car. Destination? The Outer Banks of North Carolina. We headed south and had no sooner gotten across the border when a severe thunderstorm blew in. It was raining so hard that it became impossible to see the road. We pulled over into a gas station to wait it out, along with about a dozen other cars. Not only did we have thunder and lightning, but a steady downpour, and hail the size of nickels. It reminded us of the storms you see that precede a tornado. We were expecting a cow to go flying by! Fortunately that didn’t happen. After about 20 minutes the storm let up, and we were on our way. A few miles down the road, the sun came out and everything was dry!
We drove through Kitty Hawk, and on to Kill Devil Hills, where we visited a monument erected for the Wright Brothers and their successful attempts at flying a motorized glider. The monument sits atop what was the highest sand dune in the area. From the top, you can see for miles in all directions: the Atlantic Ocean to the East, Albemarle Sound to the West, the Outer Banks stretching South to Cape Hatteras, and North to Virginia.
Next, it was past time for lunch, so we drove down the main street by the beach, looking for someplace to eat. Most of the restaurants were closed for the off season, but we finally came upon the “Kill Devil Hill Grill”. The parking lot was packed, so we figured it had to be good. It wasn’t good, it was great!!! The locals told us to have the steak and cheese egg rolls. They were fabulous! We even got an order to take back to the boat for later. We also had a fried chicken salad, with corn, cucumber, bacon and tomatoes. It was yummy!! As if that wasn’t enough, we also tried the fresh strawberry shortcake. Homemade and to die for!!!!
When it was time to roll out of the diner, the thunderstorm had hit there, so we waited a bit to let it blow over. Then, we headed for Roanoke Island. It is the site of the place where Sir Walter Raleigh built a fort for the 116 people he brought to the new world. Ten years later, someone finally got back to the settlement and found it abandoned. The colony was gone and never found. They call it the Lost Colony, and there are several theories as to what happened to the colonists. During the peak tourist season there is a lot to see and do, but in the off season, they were doing some renovations and there was not a lot to see, especially in the rain, so we headed back to Chesapeake.
Friday October 15th 2010
Today, high winds are predicted, so we will stay put! The weather has been changing all day long. Sunny and warm, to cool and raining, but always windy. I tried to cook breakfast this morning, but could not get the propane stove to work! Dave fooled with it for awhile, then decided we had better hang on to the car in case we needed to get parts. Which we did. The propane tank needed a new regulator.
So, while Dave works on the boat, I’ve been paying bills and am now working on the blog. It’s nice to have the time, with power, to work on it. Tonight we are taking our neighbor out for dinner, so he can advise us on anchorages as we head south. He is all alone on his 50 foot Gulfstar sailboat.
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!! We are looking forward to listening to the Huskies play Oregon State. It is so hard though, when the game doesn’t start until 10:00pm EST.
We are hoping to leave here on Sunday, and it looks like we’ll have a week of good weather to sail in. Next stop, the Alligator River! We did finally get a chance to buy some warmer clothes to wear as we head south. It’s tough without a heater on board. We can’t get to Florida fast enough!!
Stay warm, stay healthy, and I’ll report in next week! Our love to you all!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Saturday, October 9, 2010
WOW!!! Another week has gone by. As usual, it was terribly busy.
Friday October 1st 2010
Woke up this morning to more rain!! Time to blow this joint!!! We called our local Enterprise, arranged for a car, and couldn’t pack it fast enough. We were soon on our way, surprised to find that we were close to PAX, the local naval air station. It took about an hour and a half to get to the Bethesda Marriott, where we quickly made ourselves at home. First on the schedule…laundry! They had two washers and two dryers; well, make that one good dryer and one broken dryer. But, they were free!! It took all evening to do our 4 loads.
Saturday October 2nd 2010
We were up bright and early, and had breakfast at “The Original Pancake House”. It was delicious!!! They had a huge menu, including about 12 different crepes. Dave was in seventh heaven! Plus, it is a beautiful sunny day!!
After gorging ourselves, we made our way to Austin and Cindy’s apartment, where we were introduced to “Tiger”, the newest Kooky Monster. She is adorable, and was a little overwhelmed with new people, since in addition to the four of us, Cindy’s parents, Jim and Jelan were there as well. Once we had gotten our puppy time, we all left for Annapolis, leaving Austin with a quiet house to sleep in, now that he is working nights at the Marriott. We even took the puppy with us, to ensure that he would be able to sleep.
Once we were parked in Annapolis, we met up with Cindy, Jim and Jelan, then had lunch at a sidewalk restaurant. Then, off for some window shopping. No trip to Annapolis would be complete without ice cream. So, we found a great shop and indulged!! Fortunately, they had my favorite, Rum Raisin. Mmmmm! After a few more shops, and a few more purchases, we headed back to Silver Spring.
By this time, it was 5:00!! Time for some drinks and appetizers. We met up again at “Austin’s Grill” in the Silver Spring center, which allowed Austin a little more sleep, then met up with him at “Mama Lucia’s”, about a block from their home, for dinner. Afterwards, we raced back to the Marriott, where we watched the last 7 minutes of the Husky game against USC. What a game!! It ended the same way it ended last year: a last second field goal by the Huskies for the win!!! WOOF!
Sunday October 3rd 2010
This morning it was back to clouds and cool weather. We decided to brighten it by returning to the Pancake House for breakfast. Another round of good food was had by all, then we moved MaryLynne and Ted from the Marriott, to the Hilton, where they will stay for the remainder of their time here in DC. We did make one more stop to see Tiger, but she was super tired and not interested in company.
Time to head back to the boat! Half way there, the rain started in again, which made moving back on board a little difficult. And, it was definitely time to break out the heater! We went up to the restaurant for a late night snack, and learned that Friday night had been as bad as Thursday, high winds and all.
Monday October 4th 2010
It was soooo cold this morning!! After a little repacking, we hit the road and headed for Galesville for the Whitby Rendevouz. We arrived just in time for the social hour, and a dinner of ham, beans, and pot luck. There were about 50 people there, but only 12 boats. Seventeen boats were expected, so we were not the only ones whose boat could not make the destination.
After the first session, we headed to Annapolis, where we stayed with Mark and Joelle Whitson. Mark was in the Husky Band with Dave, back in the ‘70’s. He played Bass drum. He read about our adventures in the Husky alum newsletter, “The Lyre”, and invited us to come visit. Little did he know that only a few days later, we’d take him up on it. They were great hosts! We spent 3 nights in their beautiful home, and had a great time catching up on the last 30 years.
Tuesday October 5th & Wednesday October 6th 2010
We spent these two days at the rendezvous, attending classes in diesel engines, paint, projects, sewing, first aid, etc. In between, it seemed like all we did was eat!! We did have time to just chat with the other boat owners, and take a look at the boats that were there. We came away with all kinds of ideas and new friendships! Certainly a worthwhile gathering! And, though I know I’m prejudiced, I think we have the best interior, of all the boats we saw. It made me realize what great condition it’s in, for its age.
Each night we would return to Mark and Joelle’s, and reminisce a little more. They will be chartering a sailboat in Croatia in July, and asked if we would join them. We’ll have to give it some serious thought. Sure looks like a beautiful country!!
Thursday October 7th 2010
Another beautiful day! We headed into downtown Annapolis for the Boat Show, one of the biggest in the country! One of the first persons we saw, was Mike Lochatell, our boat broker. We agreed to meet up with him a little later, to share a Pain Killer, that most delicious rum drink, we learned to appreciate while in the BVI.
We had a limited amount of time, so we avoided going aboard the many new sailboats. Instead, we perused the booths of the many merchants that were there, trying not to spend too much money!!
We also enjoyed our lunch and Pain Killers with Mike. He is a great friend and super broker, and it was great to see him again. If you should ever need a broker, he is the owner of Discovery Yachts in Seattle.
After the boat show, we drove to Baltimore, Maryland, to see our old college pal, Avi, and his wife,Noris. After all these years, it was great to see their home, and catch up on events in our lives. Avi is a fisherman in Alaska, who owns his very own set net site. He fishes there in June and July, whenever the fish run occurs, then ships home a lot of the salmon, to smoke and sell in Maryland. It has been a nice profitable business for him. His wife, Noris, and daughter, Celia, join him in Alaska and help with the fish harvest.
We spent the night in their lovely home, and were joined on our bed by their cats, Onyx and Chinook.
Friday October 8th 2010
Time to go home! To the boat!! We woke to a beautiful sunny day, and were soon on our way back to Point Look Out. When we arrived, it looked so different! NO RAIN!!! It made unpacking the car, so much easier!
After opening up the boat, we headed back up the road to WALMART, where we loaded up on food for our next voyage. We also bought a few more warm clothes, to ensure that the weather will be hot on our trip down the coast. Then, once again it was time to do the laundry. We loaded up the washers, then headed to the restaurant for some drinks and appetizers. While the clothes were drying, we watched the Phillies and the Cubs play baseball. I’ve never seen a game where so many players got hit by pitches!! The Phillies came back to win by a score of 7 to 4.
Saturday October 9th 2010
Another beautiful day!! We headed back into the nearest town, Lexington Park, and picked up a few more things at Walmart that were forgotten, then returned our rental car.
Back at the boat, we both turned to the many chores that needed doing. For Dave, changing the oil and filters, and repairing the on deck wash down, etc., and for me, lots of wood polishing, vacuuming, washing windows, etc. It was so nice out and felt good to open up all the ports and let the clean air in.
Now, we are listening to the Husky game via computer. The game is about to start, and we are hopeful that they will beat Arizona State. It is 10:15pm, so we will be trying to stay awake!!
Our love and best wishes to you all!!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
Friday October 1st 2010
Woke up this morning to more rain!! Time to blow this joint!!! We called our local Enterprise, arranged for a car, and couldn’t pack it fast enough. We were soon on our way, surprised to find that we were close to PAX, the local naval air station. It took about an hour and a half to get to the Bethesda Marriott, where we quickly made ourselves at home. First on the schedule…laundry! They had two washers and two dryers; well, make that one good dryer and one broken dryer. But, they were free!! It took all evening to do our 4 loads.
Saturday October 2nd 2010
We were up bright and early, and had breakfast at “The Original Pancake House”. It was delicious!!! They had a huge menu, including about 12 different crepes. Dave was in seventh heaven! Plus, it is a beautiful sunny day!!
After gorging ourselves, we made our way to Austin and Cindy’s apartment, where we were introduced to “Tiger”, the newest Kooky Monster. She is adorable, and was a little overwhelmed with new people, since in addition to the four of us, Cindy’s parents, Jim and Jelan were there as well. Once we had gotten our puppy time, we all left for Annapolis, leaving Austin with a quiet house to sleep in, now that he is working nights at the Marriott. We even took the puppy with us, to ensure that he would be able to sleep.
Once we were parked in Annapolis, we met up with Cindy, Jim and Jelan, then had lunch at a sidewalk restaurant. Then, off for some window shopping. No trip to Annapolis would be complete without ice cream. So, we found a great shop and indulged!! Fortunately, they had my favorite, Rum Raisin. Mmmmm! After a few more shops, and a few more purchases, we headed back to Silver Spring.
By this time, it was 5:00!! Time for some drinks and appetizers. We met up again at “Austin’s Grill” in the Silver Spring center, which allowed Austin a little more sleep, then met up with him at “Mama Lucia’s”, about a block from their home, for dinner. Afterwards, we raced back to the Marriott, where we watched the last 7 minutes of the Husky game against USC. What a game!! It ended the same way it ended last year: a last second field goal by the Huskies for the win!!! WOOF!
Sunday October 3rd 2010
This morning it was back to clouds and cool weather. We decided to brighten it by returning to the Pancake House for breakfast. Another round of good food was had by all, then we moved MaryLynne and Ted from the Marriott, to the Hilton, where they will stay for the remainder of their time here in DC. We did make one more stop to see Tiger, but she was super tired and not interested in company.
Time to head back to the boat! Half way there, the rain started in again, which made moving back on board a little difficult. And, it was definitely time to break out the heater! We went up to the restaurant for a late night snack, and learned that Friday night had been as bad as Thursday, high winds and all.
Monday October 4th 2010
It was soooo cold this morning!! After a little repacking, we hit the road and headed for Galesville for the Whitby Rendevouz. We arrived just in time for the social hour, and a dinner of ham, beans, and pot luck. There were about 50 people there, but only 12 boats. Seventeen boats were expected, so we were not the only ones whose boat could not make the destination.
After the first session, we headed to Annapolis, where we stayed with Mark and Joelle Whitson. Mark was in the Husky Band with Dave, back in the ‘70’s. He played Bass drum. He read about our adventures in the Husky alum newsletter, “The Lyre”, and invited us to come visit. Little did he know that only a few days later, we’d take him up on it. They were great hosts! We spent 3 nights in their beautiful home, and had a great time catching up on the last 30 years.
Tuesday October 5th & Wednesday October 6th 2010
We spent these two days at the rendezvous, attending classes in diesel engines, paint, projects, sewing, first aid, etc. In between, it seemed like all we did was eat!! We did have time to just chat with the other boat owners, and take a look at the boats that were there. We came away with all kinds of ideas and new friendships! Certainly a worthwhile gathering! And, though I know I’m prejudiced, I think we have the best interior, of all the boats we saw. It made me realize what great condition it’s in, for its age.
Each night we would return to Mark and Joelle’s, and reminisce a little more. They will be chartering a sailboat in Croatia in July, and asked if we would join them. We’ll have to give it some serious thought. Sure looks like a beautiful country!!
Thursday October 7th 2010
Another beautiful day! We headed into downtown Annapolis for the Boat Show, one of the biggest in the country! One of the first persons we saw, was Mike Lochatell, our boat broker. We agreed to meet up with him a little later, to share a Pain Killer, that most delicious rum drink, we learned to appreciate while in the BVI.
We had a limited amount of time, so we avoided going aboard the many new sailboats. Instead, we perused the booths of the many merchants that were there, trying not to spend too much money!!
We also enjoyed our lunch and Pain Killers with Mike. He is a great friend and super broker, and it was great to see him again. If you should ever need a broker, he is the owner of Discovery Yachts in Seattle.
After the boat show, we drove to Baltimore, Maryland, to see our old college pal, Avi, and his wife,Noris. After all these years, it was great to see their home, and catch up on events in our lives. Avi is a fisherman in Alaska, who owns his very own set net site. He fishes there in June and July, whenever the fish run occurs, then ships home a lot of the salmon, to smoke and sell in Maryland. It has been a nice profitable business for him. His wife, Noris, and daughter, Celia, join him in Alaska and help with the fish harvest.
We spent the night in their lovely home, and were joined on our bed by their cats, Onyx and Chinook.
Friday October 8th 2010
Time to go home! To the boat!! We woke to a beautiful sunny day, and were soon on our way back to Point Look Out. When we arrived, it looked so different! NO RAIN!!! It made unpacking the car, so much easier!
After opening up the boat, we headed back up the road to WALMART, where we loaded up on food for our next voyage. We also bought a few more warm clothes, to ensure that the weather will be hot on our trip down the coast. Then, once again it was time to do the laundry. We loaded up the washers, then headed to the restaurant for some drinks and appetizers. While the clothes were drying, we watched the Phillies and the Cubs play baseball. I’ve never seen a game where so many players got hit by pitches!! The Phillies came back to win by a score of 7 to 4.
Saturday October 9th 2010
Another beautiful day!! We headed back into the nearest town, Lexington Park, and picked up a few more things at Walmart that were forgotten, then returned our rental car.
Back at the boat, we both turned to the many chores that needed doing. For Dave, changing the oil and filters, and repairing the on deck wash down, etc., and for me, lots of wood polishing, vacuuming, washing windows, etc. It was so nice out and felt good to open up all the ports and let the clean air in.
Now, we are listening to the Husky game via computer. The game is about to start, and we are hopeful that they will beat Arizona State. It is 10:15pm, so we will be trying to stay awake!!
Our love and best wishes to you all!!
Love & Hugs,
The Admiral
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