NYC to Chesapeake Bay

Well its been awhile since we shared our journey status and what we have learned. We are currently loving life as we are in a hotbed of cruisers and SOOOO many nice folks! Its nice to finally be able to hang with women that understand. You can tell the fulltime vs. part-time cruisers as their boats are all full of stuff and they are very willing to share with you everything they know! But then I ask a lot of questions. Its odd to think that we maybe like them will some day say “we have been living aboard for 7 years”…

10-3 — We are on a mooring in Spa Creek off the Severn River in Annapolis, MD and fortunately have an WiFi internet connection provided free by the city of Annapolis.

We will stay hear until after the sail show and then journey down to the Alberg 37 gathering in the Potomac River Oct 15^th weekend. Hope to see sister Theresa as well soon after this. I can’t believe we have been doing this for 4 months! Still loving it and yet miss family/friends!

10-11 — Currently at St. Mary’s River off Potomac River – St. Mary’s City — old city in Maryland. Was the capitol before Annapolis. Came down to hang before the bad weather.

Thoughts:

– I’m still trying to get used of salt water! It is like having a film on your hands if you just let it air dry. I was told that using abit of fabric softener in fresh rinse water it comes off easier.

– Since our last post, we waited 8 days in Atlantic Highland, NJ for a weather window to cross NJ via the Atlantic Ocean. As we arrived, we saw the damage done by winds from Hurricane Florence — 22 boats had dragged or snapped their mooring lines and ended up sunk or damaged.

– WE MADE the Atlantic crossing! The weather was wrong AGAIN but this time in our favor! We had a wonderful crossing with initial winds and seas on the nose but they changed rather quickly such that we had winds on our beam(side) and nice rolling 3-5′ ocean swells from port quarter (left behind). Clear starry skies and I was exhilarated by this so I stayed on watch from 10pm to 8am since I also wanted to see the sunrise. Tom got up a few times to check in and then up at 6am. I then slept after making breakfast for about 1-1/2 hrs. We left Saturday at 3:30pm and arrived into Cape May, NJ at 1pm Sunday. I think we didn’t see any dolphins because we crossed during the night. It was long but its always scary to go into new harbors for fear of what opposing current/winds will bring at the opening and then the POWER BOATS. We were in a washer like situation the whole way in until we got anchored near the Coast Guard (Boot Camp). It was warm and we had things to do to prepare for the following day (fuel/charts/tides preparation). Went to eat crab cakes and went to bed. We needed to depart the next morning to head up the Delaware Bay/River since the weather was AGAIN closing in on us. This area is VERY shallow and strong winds can really kick it up fast. PLUS since there is up to a 2kn current you need to make sure it that it is going with you most of the day. Plus you need to make sure you can make it under the 55′ high fixed bridges. So there is always planning. We then went to Cohansey River anchorage and following day through the C&D Canal to Chesapeake City, MD.

– Chesapeake City, MD was our introduction into eating the famous Maryland blue clawed crab fish. We went with Ista’s and another couple to a all you can eat (for 2 hours) crab feast. It was a blast and we were VERY full. I always thought there wasn’t much meat and there isn’t BUT if you can eat as many as you want…. AND if you learn how to find the meat…..

– Once in the Chesapeake we went to Havre de Grace, Salt Pond and Chester River anchorages. The fall weather is starting to arrive even though we are further south than MN. I guess my mind was subconsciously thinking I would never be cold again. 🙂 A nor’easter came through during the boat show with COLD/RAIN which reminded me of some of our time on Lake Superior. I have had to pull our my mittens, and warmers, long johns and ear muffs. We love FALL and feel so blessed that we are not working this year.

– We arrived in Annapolis, MD abit earlier than projected as our anti-freeze closed cooling system was leaking and we didn’t want the engine to overheat so thought that we should take care of this SOON. We called the harbormaster and was told that there were no moorings left until after the sail show. So we thought that would have to anchor if there was room. Fortunately when we got there there was a harbor boat that told us of 1 mooring that was left – so we grabbed it @ $150/week. We were also told that Spa Creek has poor holding for anchoring and advised against it.

– We had Tom’s cousin and husband (Diane & Larry) come and visit. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain such that they couldn’t come and see Sojourn. Our dinghy had about 6 inches of rain, so the next AM I bucketed it out and used it to wash the salt off of Sojourn. I’m attempting to learn these methods of water conservation prior to getting to the Bahamas!

– We did a number of other projects as well. Installed the new overboard head diverter valve, removed RUST on the bow pulpit from the salt water, reinstalled the radar reflector on the spreader, finding cheap ice cream, etc. etc. Speaking of ice cream – we finally stroke it BIG in Annapolis with huge portion for less than $3! It seems that anywhere we went this summer it is always 1 scoop for $3.

– Powerboat etiquette — you hale them and let them know that you will slow down so they can slow down abit, pass you and then cut directly in front of you before they speed back up – thereby providing minimal wake. Not till we hit the C&D Canal did we start liking SOME powerboats. They have no clue how large their wakes are and how they rock and jostle sailboats — since they never seem to look back. They power by and wave at us like its no big deal. I have to restrain myself from giving them …..

– Our boat doesn’t back up in a straight line. We figured out how to anchor on Lake Superior — but have determined that with opposing tide vs. winds we have had to learn to new method. So be patient with yourselves while you let your boat helps you relearn.

– We have learned lots so far and more to come (powerboats, tides/currents, commercial traffic, ocean storms, hurricanes, new harbors, new docking situations, crab pots/oyster farms, etc. A neat east coast couple told us that after stabilizing a situation from a harried event perhaps dragging anchor or running aground — sit down and have a cup of tea and think. Usually, the boat will show or tell you what she needs.

– I saw my first jelly fish. The water in the Chesapeake since its a lot of rivers is brown so haven’t been hot enough yet to want to swim in it.

– The anchorages are beautiful in the rivers as you can hear the birds, see farms and mansions next to each other. There is so much history in this area and the maritime museums are a good place to explore. We also went to the US Naval Academy and just walk anywhere around the Annapolis/Eastport. I’m biking again to do errands and pleasure – it’s a nice method of transportation.

– We celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary by tacking 33 nautical miles back and forth into the wind in order to make 22 — so we were exhausted. Now that’s romance. It was our first time where Sojourn was drenched in ALOT of salt water. We don’t have alot of water on board so learning how to conserve — i.e. it rained alot one day and we had rain in our dinghy so I scooped it out and put in a bucket so we could use for various cleaning jobs. We have already had to polish some of the stainless as it started to show rust marks and wanted to put abit of a protector on it.

– I rode my bike up to a mall to get my 2nd hair cut since cruising at a Cost Cutters like place. So its short/short again. Vanity has left my life for sure! This was probably the worst bike friendly area I have biked to.

– I guess summer boaters in the Chesapeake Bay have a mesh swimming pool that they use to sit in and cool off in order for the sea nettles not to attack them. I wonder what it looks like when they haul it out?

– Oddly enough – I have had challenges purchasing corn tortillas this entire summer.

– Have been seeing alot of migratory birds (geese, white swans, etc.). Today while sailing in the fog, a wren? took respite and found food enough to continue its journey. So we were blessed to assist it!

LIVE YOUR DREAM NOW!

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