Heading South to Norfolk

     It was a beautiful morning and I was lucky to capture some of it.

Pete did a lot of research as to places we could stop tonight that will get us close to Tidewater Marina in Portsmouth and have easy access to walk the dog.  Monday will be very busy for him and he would rather not try to time docking around his buys phone conference schedule.  He considered Cape Charles, but we would still have 5 hours to Portsmouth on Monday. He also investigated South Hall Landing Marina, which would reduce travel to about 3 hours in the morning, so we made reservations for tonight.

     The current was not our friend for a significant part of our travels. From Smith Point to Wolf Trap Light, we were down to 4.7 miles an hour due to the 1.7 knot current against us.  The good news was that from Wolf Trap down to the base of the Chesapeake, we were able to use the main for another ½ mile of speed.  The current became more favorable and we finally were cruising at 7.5 mph. Pete did the calculations and believed we could make Tidewater by 6. Canceling our reservations at South Hall Landing and making one at Tidewater, we increased the engine speed, fought the current in Norfolk, and made it to Tidewater by 5:40!  It is a relief to know that the pressure is off for Pete’s work schedule tomorrow.
         


      Last week was the Great Schooner Race from Annapolis to Norfolk.  In our journey today, we saw a few heading home.  The Waterfront across from Tidewater Marina was loaded with people, tents and a Navy vessel

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A Day to Enjoy the Beauty

  
    The weather was perfect; mid-seventies with a constant breeze.  Three to four dinghies and small boats were beached during the day while families and dogs were enjoyed the day.

     With all the work done on the boat, Pete and I took advantage complete a few projects. I got to use my new immersion blender, which Kel and Chris gave me for last Christmas. Since I had bought a bunch of bananas, I made a few mini loaves of banana nut bread. With limited room, I froze some of the bananas for another day’s baking.   Pete was able to secure the fuel cans to the side rail. He was also able to mount the new microwave, which proved to be more of a challenge than he anticipated. No more moving it when we are under way.

     Once chores were done, the three of us went to shore and enjoyed the walk. We met a local couple who mentioned that Matthew had significantly moved much of the sand tothe south part of the isthmus, creating a new area of beach just south and removing beach from the north. During the summer, they confirmed that this place is jumping.  Boats jockey for a small piece of beach; families and dogs, coolers, beer and BBQs, volley ball and of course, loud music!  Being quiet, deserted, and lit by the setting sun, it was a great opportunity for photographs!  

                                                                      ~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P

Antipoison Creek, One of Our Favorite Places on the Bay

Last night's sunset 

Beach at high tide

     We were away from the dock at 7:45 to be at the fuel dock when they opened at 8 AM.  Just needed to fill the gasoline can for the dinghy. By 8:15, we began the 10 hour/50-mile ride to Antipoison Creek.  The wind gods and current gods treated us kind. We managed to get in some good sailing.

    As we entered Fleet Bay we encountered 2 sets of fish nets.  The water was too shallow to go between them, so we traveled around and saw that there was a sailboat already anchored and another sailboat followed us in.

     Antipoison Creek’s sinister name belies its beauty.  As we entered the creek, to the east there is a sandbar with white sand various scrub trees, bushes and grasses. With long sandy beaches and deep water just to the south, it’s eaLast night'ssy to anchor fairly close to shore as well as easy beaching of the dinghies. With sunny skies and late day sun, the anchorage is tranquil and very picturesque.

Bailey's new look for the
next month. It is to insure her
ears heal without constant scratching.

     Once anchored, we lowered the dinghy and Bailey was more than ready to run to shore. There was already a dinghy on the beach and thee couple had a dog who enjoyed playing.

     A nice sunset and the rising of the almost, full moon was the perfect topping for a great day on the bay.

          ~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~    Kathy & Pete

Finishing Up

Sunrise and the fog looking south from our dock

PEKABU waiting for the Rigger

  

  Jack, one of the riggers, was back this morning to do the work. Since it took most of the day, we will be staying another day here at Zahniser’s.

     A few years ago, the small market that was in walking distance of Back Creek, closed.  That left Food Lion the only provisioning option.  Unfortunately, it is about 2 miles away.  With the amount of cruisers needing significant provisioning, Zahniser’s shuttle service was begun. I took advantage this morning to pick up some last minute provisioning.  It turns out that, as of last Friday, Food Lion is now Weis Food Store.  They have a wide assortment for provisioning and nice looking produce and meats. If I wasn’t so well stocked, I probably would have bought a lot more.

     Tomorrow, we continue our cruise and travel south to Antipoison Creek.

                                                                                              ~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  Kathy & Pete

We’ve Been Invaded!

    

 We were up early catching the heavy fog that was beautiful as it burned off. We needed to prep for the workmen doing repairs today. We never envisioned that they would all arrive at the same time.  10 AM arrived and so did the electronics’ specialist, the two riggers, and the two mechanics! 

     Our auto pilot no longer can keep track of the compass heading, but has also been doing “Crazy Ivans” like in THE HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER. After 2 hours of investigating, we found out that our unit is good, but the culprit was the large, metal, emergency tiller.  Apparently, when we put everything back after the new air conditioning unit was installed, the tiller migrated aft, closer to the flux gate compass for the auto pilot. Thankfully, the autopilot needed only a calibration.

     It’s been frustrating trying to get a rigger to come to our marina to inspect the rigging for the past 2 years   and to do the necessary repairs. We finally decided it was best to make an appointment and go to them.  Thankfully, the riggers here at Zahniser’s are well recommended.  The rigging is now inspected, stanchions need tuning, the jib should be raised and certain halyards that we couldn’t do ourselves need to be replaced. We also know that we will need to have stays replaced, no serious problems now - just some minor items that we can schedule for next spring. All-in-all not as bad as we were anticipating.

     This past weekend, when we attempted to turn on the heat, our month-old air conditioning unit decided to blow a fuse! The investigating, testing, running new wire, and replacing the mother board and pump, took the better part of 4 hours.

     All this work also meant that the large lazzerette and both aft lazzarettes in the cockpit needed to be emptied as well as our aft storage area (aka: the rear berth) as well as the removal of one of the floor panels. Bailey and I were cordoned off in the forward berth area for about 2 hours as there was stuff everywhere!  Then it took another hour or so to put things back in place.  The good news is that we were able to clean and organize as things were put away and know exactly what’s where.

                                                                            ~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~   Kathy & Pete

The Adventure Begins Anew!

The sandy cliffs 

      We were up and out of the slip at “0-dark-thirty” or more conventionally, 6:15 am, the start of Nautical Dawn.  We had a 9 hour, 60-mile trip to Solomons, MD. Since we had contacted Zahniser’s to work on PEKABU, we were supposed to be there yesterday so the work could begin today. They requested we be at their dock as early this afternoon as possible. Even motor sailing and strong ebb tide, doing 7-8 mph still takes time. Had we been able to leave yesterday, the 20+ mph north wind would have shortened the trip considerably. Today’s 7-10 mph NE breezes were pleasant, but not helpful.  Once we were docked, the work crews said that they would be aboard tomorrow morning.

Deep water almost to shore

     While I was doing laundry, Pete sent out the SPOT letting family know we made it this far. John, who happened to be working on his boat, ANDIAMO, here in Solomons, got the message and asked us to join him for dinner here at The Dry Dock Restaurant. It was great catching up with him, but at the same time wishing John and Betty could have made the trip south with us, along the Gerry and Jeanne from RAGTIME, and Dan and Martha from BRUNELLE. It was special cruising with friends.  However, this cruise we look forward to the new friends we will make.

Sunset over Zahniser's 

                                                                                                      ~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~   Kathy & Pete

Since We Returned Home

     Lot’s of wonderful changes have happened since we attempted our cruise south last fall. First and foremost, Pete’s mom is doing very well. Chris and Kel were married and have added a second granddaughter to our family. Greg will be marrying his love, Jenn, later this year, and Heather started a new career in another area of banking, which also meant a move to New Jersey. Our house is sold and our things have been sorted and divided, packed and reorganized. The kids got some, Salvation Army got a whole truck load plus, and the important remaining items have been placed on the boat or placed in storage.  Since May, we moved on board PEKABU and officially became “Full Time Cruisers.”

     This summer has flown by, spent organizing stuff from the move as well as prepping our 13-year-old boat. Like owning a house, lots of things needed repair or replacement. Thankfully, that list is almost complete. Our plan was to attend the Annapolis Sailboat Show, then begin our trip south.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Matthew decided to work itself up the east coast the same weekend. The Chesapeake was spared with only heavy rains and wind. Not the best conditions to visit an outdoor boat show.  Parts of Florida up to The Carolinas were not so lucky. We are watching the reports on Active Captain posted by those ahead of us heading south. Instead of the boat show, we spent the weekend with final preparation and planned to leave on Monday. Saturday night, we had an impromptu potluck dinner with Brian and Amy, our dock mates aboard CAYOTE. Sunday, we had dinner with Chris, Kel and the girls. Those winds I mentioned were from the north, between 20 and 40 mph for days.  It kept the water out of the bay, and more importantly, out of our marina!  We were 2 foot + below mean low water! We couldn’t leave the slip until the winds lessened and allowed the tide to return. So….

                ~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~    Kathy & Pete