Some Time Out, Sort of . . .

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Before starting south for the adventures the winter promises, there has been plenty of time to pay the visits and do the things around our ‘homes’ in Annapolis, Norfolk, and Williamsburg. In mid-November we will start our next chapter, or major leg, “Southerly,” and chronicle the passage from Norfolk to Brunswick, GA, where we will leave the boat for the Christmas holidays. Meanwhile, we have had a full plate.

After a couple days of ‘housekeeping’ business in Annapolis we departed on Thursday, 10/2, to make our way to Williamsburg for the annual family gathering under the excuse of a couple days of golf. In just 5 minutes, all the planning in the world had to be re-thunk because when we arrived at the Spa Creek Bridge at 0735 we learned (what we could have learned earlier) that the bridge stays closed mornings between 0730 and 0900. We anchored and got on our way a bit late, but by1730 had made our way below the Potomac River on a very choppy, sloppy bay, and we had a delightful anchorage up Mill Creek. On the way we verified that the marina at Kingsmill was closed because the docks had been wrecked by that woman, Isabel. So, on Friday, we docked at the Hampton, VA, YC, met several old friends from Andrea’s sailboat racing days, and left the boat there for three nights.

The whole fam damily was there – Andrea, Betty, Bob, Christy, Old Chuck, Young Chuck, Dave, Jean, Katie, Loele, Lynn, Meg, Nancy, and Tom.  We golfed - Third Annual Wistar Open-to-Sandbaggers Tournament (AWOTS), ate, laughed, lied, shopped, and had a very good time. The weather was perfect, and the golf course reopened the day we started after two weeks of cleanup following the hurricane that savaged the place.

At night we reuned at Jean and Chuck’s, with dinner for all right there. We can’t wait for the Fourth AWOTS Tourney. It looks like early October, 2004, again.

There followed several days in Norfolk. Chuck did some business travel; Andrea visited with her many friends. We found fuel at Portsmouth Marine Services for just over a buck and filled up. First time since Portland, ME!. Ian visited and later Heather, Grayson, and Landon came aboard for a grilled burger dinner.

On Sunday, 10/12, we left early in the morning and after anchoring that night in Solomons Island,  reached Annapolis to prepare for the Annapolis Boat Show. Bill and Sandy were gracious hosts at their dock behind their home on Spa Creek. Tuesday was given over to all the cleaning and stuff preparatory to the Boat Show. On Wednesday, with the help of John D of Portsmouth Marine, we made it to our assigned spot despite two tries to wedge in because of the steady 30 mph winds on the beam. Loading the show is something to behold on a good day. It was even wilder with the excitement the clear, but breezy weather provided. Ian, Heather, Heather, Will, and Morgan visited Saturday for lunch and hanging out. (That’s right. Two Heathers!)

The show was fun and eventful, and we were able to include visits aboard by Bill and Sandy, Larry and Ricci, and an evening with the ‘crew’ including John C, Phil, and Deb. All was over at 1800 sharp Sunday, 10/19, and by 1840 it was our turn to bug out. We welcomed the help from John and Kathi, and made the 1 mile passage back up Spa Creek uneventfully.

For several days we attended to more chores. We left for Oxford, MD, for some service on the boat on Wednesday, 10/22. The bay was really snorting, and we were glad to drop the anchor up the Tred Avon River. By Friday, given that no work had been started, we decided not to do it and ran south to Crisfield for some fabulous crab cakes that evening.

The next day we crossed the Bay in calm conditions to the Ware River off of Mobjack Bay where we anchored that evening and celebrated our 6th anniversary with champagne, fine wine, and more of the world's best crab cakes, "etc." We toasted to 60 more!

Arriving in Norfolk we are docking at the Waterside Marina (the only marina in the world within a two block walk of a Nordstrom's) . Andrea has been doing some volunteer coaching and consulting work at F.O.R.Kids, a non-profit organization helping homeless families and their children re-establish themselves in the community. Chuck is following some business activities, and tending to a lot of deferred little chores and projects on the boat. In a couple weeks, the boat will go into the yard for some final maintenance and warranty work to put us in perfect shape to head south for the winter. We'll have more to say in the next few weeks.

In the process, we so far have enjoyed an entertainingHalloween Block Party on Colley Avenue and chili at Ann's, a birthday parties for Suzanne, Glenda, and Jean, dinners with Stella, John, Bernadette, Ian, Heather, Jim, and Devra, an 'artsy' block party on 21st Street, and brunch with Diane. AND - a total eclipse of the moon. It doesn't get much better.

There's a lot more to come, IF we survive the pace!

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