Marathon early 2023

      As mentioned in the previous post I did a repair of our dinghy transom. Also, just when the kids were coming for the holidays, our dinghy motor started acting up. Tohatsu outboards used to be so reliable but this one has had several somewhat minor issues that cumulatively have been very annoying. Once again it started having starting issues and would not idle. The first time this happened, I replaced the carburetor. Expensive. This time, again suspecting a low speed carb jet issue, I took the carburetor apart and cleaned the parts in a solvent. When I put it all back together again, it worked! I usually feel comfortable replacing things but getting into the inside of engines, etc (a complex carburetor in this case) is more intimidating (and risky). Things don't always go back together correctly, parts get lost or you run out of skill and then you are stuck on the boat and unable to get to service. Not quite the same as having an on land issue. For that reason I waited for the kids to leave before attempting the repair. It turned out successful and the outboard purrs like a kitten. And should, for about two years. That's how long it seems to take before ethanol in the gasoline causes problems. Again. Sigh. 

     The Celtic Fest was early in January and we again volunteered. It is hard work for about 3 hours each day of the weekend. We work at the beer station pulling beer and taking in the money. Hard work but it is also fun. In exchange for volunteering we get entry to the concerts and the grounds of the festival. Free t-shirts, etc., too. Two of the musical acts are first rate. The others are good but Albanach and the Screaming Orphans are top of the line. Especially the Orphans. Google or YouTube them. The energy they both bring in their live shows is amazing. 

     About 2 weeks into 2023 our first norther came through. A classic. The Christmas cold spell wasn't really a norther, what we call a cold front down here. A rapid wind shift to the north, 20 mph or more with a sharp drop in temperature. 60° or less. Brrr. It was 80 again in less than a week, however. 

     Cleo started rapidly losing weight recently despite always being hungry. Drinking and peeing a lot, too. Suspecting diabetes, we did a couple of blood sugar tests. They read low but we learned that cat blood does not test accurately with some human glucometers. After a $700+ vet visit we learned she has hyperthyroidism. Manageable with pricey meds. Sigh.  

                          Cleo at the vet.

     In mid-January we went under the boat to clean the bottom and the props. We need to do this at least monthly in these waters or the boat will be hard to get underway. The props will not generate thrust and the barnacles and plant growth make for too much drag. Friction. Tried out a new system for us, an extra long air hose so the compressed air tank does not have to be carried on my back. That is getting to be impossible for me on the boat. The tank stays on deck or some people put it in a dinghy. The downside is it is more work to breathe, harder, but the upside is it is less work than surface breathing and then diving and scraping. 

     While underwater I was confronted by a Giant or Goliath Grouper. He was only about 2 1/2 or 3 ft. long and a foot tall so a little on the young side. A few years ago I met one closer to 4 ft. long while under the boat. He really got my attention but left me alone. This one pushed on me several times and came at me (slowly) when I backed away from him. I left the area for a bit but when I went back to work he kept getting between me and the hull I was scraping. He came up to my facemask and stared at me, too. These are generally slow and non-aggressive fish but their mouths are big enough to swallow an arm and they have several rows of teeth. An amazing encounter for sure but I prefer to observe a creature I meet if it's safe to do so. Him reaching out and touching me was a bit more worrisome. 

     I am not entirely sure we agreed on our places in the food chain. 

     Carol's brother developed a hiatal hernia and required hospitalization (where he got Covid) and surgery. She flew up to New Hampshire to help the family out and was away from Marathon quite a while. This left me to deal with the cat's health issues (giving pills) and to get in (or cause) trouble regarding the community's desire to protect the local grass flats and Monroe County's desire to follow their bureaucratic rules and procedures which are more important, it seems, than actually protecting this critical environmental habitat. I served as a conduit for information between the person who took action to protect our neighborhood, the County Marine Administrator and our local boating community. Took some heat, got some praise but did little compared to the guy laid out over $3400 of his own money and put his neck on the line. I helped raise a few dollars to help offset a small part of his cost. Being annoying is a skill set I possess. You can ask Carol. 

     When Carol returned to Marathon from New Hampshire, she had some vision issues. A local ophthalmologist suspected a retina tear but after an urgent trip to a Miami specialist it was merely a symptom of old age. Vitrial thinning. We will need to keep an eye on it. Ok, that was bad. It was a very stressful day and a half. Scrambling to get a rental car, arranging for someone to watch the boat and fighting the traffic on the round trip. Did get shopping at BJs at Homestead in, however. 

     The last couple of weeks of February were very warm and humid. Mid-80s and above. Playing pickleball became a health hazzard for old people. Did it anyway but after a low blood pressure scare I got more cautious and took more rest periods and doubled my hydration. Survived. Didn't stop. 

     The end of February and into March had great weather. Warm (85ish) and less humid. We will probably leave just as the weather starts to go downhill. Wrapping up our winter stay gets a little rushed as we try to get prepared for departure: stock up on food, get taxes done, have the boat bottom professionally cleaned, change the engine oils and more. It's tough dragging ourselves away from here. We enjoy the weather, the activities, the people, the entire lifestyle too much. 

     Although we do not get to our northern home until May just thinking about the cold up there now is depressing. Makes us want to stay but we do know how hot is here in the summer. Oh, BTW, there are hurricanes then, too.  

     Our departure date changed several times. We were going to leave on Saturday, the 11th. Then the weather was deteriorating, with a strong cold front on the mainland. The weather window kept moving to earlier in the week. First Friday, then Wednesday, then Tuesday. Tuesday was too soon, we would not be prepared, so we started looking at the next window... Sunday the 12th of March. This would mean we would not be in the Miami area on a weekend. This is a positive. It is very crowded on the water and in the anchorages in South Florida on weekends. Extremely noisy, too. Everyone feels they have to blast their own personal favorite 'music'. $50,000 boats with $30,000 sound systems added. Not fun to be around. 

     So, we will see how our decision works out in the first few days of our northbound passages. 

Marathon 2022 to 23.

      November started out extremely warm. New high-temperature records warm. We do like it warm but mid to upper 80s is beyond our comfort level. Waking up to mid 70s is nice, however. Playing pickleball above 85° is not so great either. I do it anyway 😓. 

     About 2 weeks into our season a tropical system developed in the Bahamas. Worried us for a bit but then it targetted central Florida after the northern Bahamas. We got wind but not too much. Got rain. But not too much. As mentioned in the previous blog posting, we got to Marathon early after mostly great weather after we left Annapolis. Folks travelling after us have not had the same good luck we had. Strong winds and storms in the Carolinas down to Florida have made difficult passages for many. Hurricane Nicole then messed up plans for a good part of Florida then up into Georgia and both Carolinas. This delayed many an arrival into the Keys and a lot of people had trouble finding places to safely hide. Happy to be lucky. For a change. The storm came ashore near Vero Beach and towns north of there, like Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, were hit very hard. Again. Glad that some shore based friends in those areas came through okay. 

     In mid-November we had to rent a car and drive to Miami for regular follow-up medical 'stuff'. We could not get a CT scan, Evusheld injections and my oncologist visit scheduled together so we spent 3 days and 2 nights in South Miami, Doral, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove for shopping, dining, touristing and the medical 'stuff'. The medical was all positive, the dining was interesting, if expensive, and the tourist exploration was fascinating. We went to a Peruvian restaurant and had ceviche and a fish soup that were both great. Hadn't had first rate ceviche since being in Ecuador in 1999. We also went to Fairchild Gardens and saw thousands of exotic plants, a rainforest, saltwater crocs and butterflies and moths bigger than your hand. We also chatted with volunteers there who do what I do at Crane Point here in Marathon... lead tours and educate visitors. Fun to be on the receiving end of the knowledge exchange.

The medical reports were great and we discussed with the doctor the likely timing of my future lymphoma return but also the likelihood of dying (well into the future, we hope) with lymphoma but not of lymphoma. An important distinction. 

     Thanksgiving went okay. We volunteered to help at the community dinner for the first time. We haven't participated in the meal every year we've been here due to guests aboard or Covid or other forgotten reasons. This year the number of participants was down a little but it seemed everyone had a good time. Carol's side dishes vanished quickly. I was unable to stuff myself as my weekly Ozempic injection for Type II diabetes really makes you feel full quickly and doesn't let you overeat. What's the fun in that? Of course, we don't eat dead birds or pigs but the side dishes were always the highlight for me at past family dinners. And the deserts. Somehow I managed to check out a few deserts in spite of being stuffed. No leftovers made it back to the boat, including our vegetarian stuffing.  

     It really didn't cool down much into December, just a few degrees but still above 80°. About a week before Christmas it got a little cooler with some unsettled weather. We went to the Marathon Community Theater's Christmas/Holiday production of 'Sparkle', guests of our friend Gwyn. It was... uh... amusing. Fun and funny but perhaps not in the way they intended. A rare night out for us. We left the boat after our usual bedtime. Later nights became more frequent when the kids came to visit us for Christmas. It dropped to 60° for a few days in honor of their arrival and the weather was poor (by our standards) for two days but they got a trip to Key West and a couple of beach days in. The first full day of their visit was rainy so we were stuck aboard, cold and damp, with a restless 5 year old and a 10 month old expanding her mobility. What fun! Cobbe enjoyed his visit to our local aquarium and I got my usual activities in, pickleball and my work at Crane Point. Our friends Mike and Carol came down from Ft. Pierce to visit the kids while they were here and we had a pleasant lunch at Burdines. 

     Our dinghy transom was damaged by old age and overuse but I managed to make repairs after the family left. Poor quality dinghy brand (Zodiac) but we got it cheap. 

     So 2022 came to an end but we have half a winter season yet to come. The Celtic Fest is upcoming and more stuff will happen, I'm sure. 

Last leg to Marathon

      We dragged up the anchor in Faber Cove, Ft. Pierce and got underway in nice conditions. Fort Pierce Inlet was slow due to the incoming current but the ocean was calm with a long, slow swell. Comfortable. An easy day ended anchored in Lake Worth, Palm Beach, FL. 

     In order to get to the Miami area in  daylight we got up at 0400 to head back out to sea. Lake Worth Inlet is an all-weather, all hour waterway. Wide and well lit. And we've been in and out in the dark here several times. Heading out was easy and the sea was mostly calm. Started out with seas of 4 to 6. Inches, that is. Then they went down to ripples from there. The only issue was in calm conditions powerboat wakes can travel for miles. Wind driven waves knock down wakes but we got quite a few big ones from boats that had long passed out of sight. We ended up in No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne. It's Baggs State Park and where Carol went for the first swim of the 'season'. A tiring 11 hour day but it got us past Fort Lauderdale and the boat show congestion (FLIBS). 

     When we get to Key Biscayne we feel that we are finally in the 'Keys' even though Key Biscayne is really Miami. The park is 'the Keys', the rest is Miami. When we leave there to head south in Biscayne Bay we are 'in the Keys'. Clear water. A clean scent in the air. Feels like home. The passage is a bit tiring as it is a long day to Upper Matecumbe Key (Islamorada) where we anchor for our last night southbound. The gap between good anchoring spots for us make it a short day or a long day and we choose to go further and end our day between 3 and 4 o'clock. About 8 hours. Not too bad. A cleansing swim in clear, shallow, almost warm water let me find and cut some fishing line caught in a saildrive zinc. We may have a hull/saildrive rubber seal issue to deal with in Marathon. Nothing crucial, just an annoyance. Another one. Our night at anchor got a little rough as the winds got up near 20kts. Made for 1ft. waves and noise. There were also professional fireworks on shore for some reason. And after 10 o'clock, too. Kinda late. Oh, well. The winds eased about 0400 as forecast and we got underway at our usual time. The water in Hawk Channel was calmer than forecast. Lighter winds. Nice 1-2ft seas on the stern. Not a bad last day. Warm. Sunny. NE breeze. Would be a nice all-winter forecast. Not likely.

     We arrived at the Boot Key Harbor City Marina in Marathon, FL. about noon. Our earliest arrival day by a few days and we got the smallest number mooring ball we ever had, too. C-1. Probably the closest we've ever been to the dinghy docks. 

     Because we arrived earlier than usual it seemed a little quiet. It will get busy in the next few weeks. Activities will ramp up. 

     Let's sum up this year's cruise south: It went fairly well. Fairly easy. Our first couple of days in Long Island Sound were mostly rough. Then our passages off New Jersey were nice and smooth. So were our days in the Chesapeake Bay before our haul-out. Our time in Annapolis was nasty due to the remnants of hurricane Ian but once we started south again it was nice. We had one extra day in Oriental for rain and thunderstorms but even that was brief and we still got some walks and shopping in. Dining out, too. That was it for lay days until Ft. Pierce where we stopped for an extra night to visit friends. Our offshore passage off South Carolina and Georgia was a snap as were our hops off the coast of Florida. All that added up to no delays and our early arrival to Marathon. Now we have to hope no late season tropical weather gets us. 

Autographing my Points East article. Not quite sure if they were yanking my chain in requesting the autograph. 2nd time ever for a request. Weird. 

  

Offshore and to Ft. Pierce

      We left Charleston at first light. Sunrise wasn't until we were in the shipping channel headed out past Fort Sumpter.

 It was almost totally calm and not quite as cold as it had been. The forecast was for near calm at Chucktown with a north or northwest breeze and 2ft seas in Florida waters. That is pretty much what happened. Go figure. At times the sea was glassy with a very small, gentle swell. At other times there were ripples on the water. The breeze picked up as we neared the St. Marys channel, at first on the beam, and then later on the stern. St. Marys Inlet is the border of Georgia and Florida. The seas were up to 2ft but because they were behind us we were quite comfortable. 

     During the first day we had 3 different large pods of dolphin come to us and play in our bow wave. Stern wave, too. The ocean was so clear we could see down into the depths and it seemed the dolphin were swimming in air. We've had this happen a few times over the years but it is still amazing to see. The thrill hasn't faded. 

      I don't know if this dolphin video will play for you. 

We ended up in St. Augustine as planned after 27 hours at sea and got a city marina mooring. The seas entering the channel were a workout for the arms but at 2ft we were not uncomfortable. We caught up on some of our sleep, showered ashore and did some shopping in the tourist traps. We also went out to dinner at A1A restaurant out on their balcony. Even though it was 70°, it got a bit chilly. Good food, however. 

      The next morning we got underway about 20 minutes later than usual because the sun is getting up later and later. We had an easy time dealing with the bascule bridges and the George Musson was nice enough to hold the opening a couple of minutes so we could get through there without a 30 minute wait. They do not have to do that but some tenders are nice enough to help the boaters out if possible. We appreciate it when they do. A couple of the fixed bridges were very low (okay the water was high) and we had to crawl under them. We made it without hitting anything. We stopped for fuel at Daytona Beach. It was the most we have ever paid. Over $400 for 78 gallons. Highest rate we have ever paid, too. Ft. Pierce will be only a dime cheaper per gallon but we won't take on as much. Sigh. 

     So we anchored at New Smyrna at a wide spot in the road. I left some kidney stones and half my prostate here 6 or 7 years ago. The anchorage was a bit rough due to the wind and the wakes from passing-by local weekend boaters. Both were forecast to fade overnight and did. 

     Crepuscular rays at sunrise at New Smyrna. 

     Departure from New Smyrna was problematic. Our windlass woes got worse. Sounds like a gear issue on retrieve and an electrical issue on lowering. Makes no sense. Not going to be fun the last stretch to Marathon. We went down to Eau Gallie and anchored around Dragon Pt. This is just north of Melbourne and a regular spot for us. This passage seems long when it is nice out like it has been recently and endless when it's dismal as it has been a few times in the past. Our nice weather stretch was forecast to continue. Going to Fort Pierce was tricky because the water was very high at several of the bridges. We barely made it under the Wabasso and the 2 Vero Beach bridges. It was a very close call but we made it. The fact that we are finally into 80° weather made it better.  After a stop at the City Marina for fuel we crossed the ICW to anchor in Faber Cove, Ft. Pierce. This is a favorite spot but while we were here we observed a boater dinghying back from someone's personal dock after trespassing through their yard. Those are people who end up ruining it for the rest of us. Powerboaters. From the midwest. Sigh. 

     We will stay in Ft. Pierce 2 nights, visit old friends, and then head out on our last segments to Marathon. The weather forecast is great so we will probably inlet hop... go offshore each day and come in each night. Next posting will be from our winter home. 

Great Bridge and beyond

      We left Great Bridge very early, about an hour earlier than normal. Being a holiday, the Centerville Turnpike Swing bridge did not have the opening restriction until 0830. Went through it by 0725. I had to call the bridgetender to convince her it was a Federal Holiday and that they should be opening on request. It wasn't until we were through that I told her the holiday was my birthday. #70.

      We sighted multiple eagles along the way. Other raptors, too. It was very, very cold but calm. 

     As mentioned in the previous post, we got the new Covid booster while in Great Bridge and of course, I got very sick the next day. Chills, fever, sore eyes, sore shoulder. I'm used to it. Happens every time. Still sucks. 

     We ended up in a usual anchorage in Broad Creek, just before Albemarle Sound. We were between Shiloh, NC and Jarvisburg, NC. We did not get the bug swarm Carol feared. A transient in Great Bridge said they got them 2 or 3 weeks ago. All dead, I guess. Cold snap was good for something. The Albemarle Sound crossing was uneventful. Light breeze behind us. It isn't always this nice. Blue skies but cool. Warming up! Basically uneventful all the way to Belhaven, NC. I bumped the bottom of the Alligator-Pungo Canal when I squeezed to the side to give room to a northbound barge. I guess that's an event. No big deal. We went aground in the same spot 10 years ago. Not this time. Our passage on the Neuse/Pamlico waters was also uneventful. Not quite calm but light 1ft seas were mostly astern. We ended up in Oriental, NC at a free town dock. We got there early enough to get a spot as we watched the live camera feed on the internet as we were travelling on the Neuse River to be sure there was space for us. Of course someone scooted in after my last check of the feed just before we entered the harbor. They were just there to get coffee at the shop across the street but it forced us to switch our tie-up side at the last moment. An annoyance but no big deal. We planned to stay 2 nights due to forecast thunderstorms. 

     There is a slightly strange theme in Oriental. They have dragon eggs, okay painted rocks, all around the area. On our walks we sighted at least 6. Then there is the actual dragon. No, not the one painted on the bench. 

   

 The town is named for the sign board from the wreckage of a ship lost near Cape Hatteras in the early 19th century and found by the then newly appointed postmaster's wife. Yes, she found the name board along the outer coast 25 miles away and suggested the name of the town be changed to match it. Not strange at all. This is likely the origin of the oriental dragon themes that abound here. 

     Anyway, after one partly rainy day, we got underway again. Our passage to Camp LeJeune, the Marine Corp base, was a little cooler and a lot cloudier than forecast. We had good current most of the way so, in spite of a fuel stop, we made good time. Our trip from Camp LeJeune, Mile Hammock basin, was nice. Great weather, with blue skies, if a little cool to start. Our passage through the New River inlet area was taken slow because it is shallow and difficult to navigate but we did okay. It's been dredged (ongoing) but it's still an adventure. We just barely made the 1100 Figure Eight Island swing bridge opening but, having done so, the Wrightsville Beach bridge 1200 opening was easy to make. We got a municipal mooring at Carolina Beach again for one night. At $20/night, the cost is reasonable. We sat out weather and did some exploring here this past spring. Not this time. We departed Carolina Beach slightly later than normal to try and time the currents. It worked reasonably well. The Cape Fear River had ripples building to 6". Nice. The current when rejoining the ICW at Southport was good and stayed mostly good all day. Lockwoods Folly only caused minor agita and Shallotte Inlet was a breeze. We anchored at Calabash Creek just into SC once again. Our trip through the Myrtle Beach ICW area after that was slow due to adverse current most of the day. Started off wearing short pants but with a sweatshirt and it warmed up from there. We stopped at Wacca Wache Marina for fuel and then went right into nearby Cow House Creek where our anchor winch failed. I thought it was the down switch but after investigation apparently it's not. The relay clicks but does not engage. The 'up' function works, however. Strange. Still investigating/guessing. Our passage down the Waccamaw River was swift and smooth. Winyah Bay had small waves behind us so that was comfortable, too. Once back in the ICW at the Estherville-Minim Canal we passed by our usual anchorage at Minim Creek because it was very early in the day and a new-to-us anchorage at the South Santee River would get us closer to Charleston for the next day. We got a few repairs done including getting the windlass working properly. No great genius of mechanical ability was involved. I have no idea why the relay was kicking in correctly. Or why it stopped previously. A future problem coming I suspect. I reconnected the wires I had snipped while testing it the day before. Boating is fun. Anyway, the South Santee anchorage is exposed to the wind and has a lot of current but conditions were benign and posed no problems. 

     When we got underway for Charleston it was very, very cold. Not quite freezing but with the breeze... brrr. Wore many layers. The shallows of McClellanville were less worrisome because we anchored 45 minutes closer to it in the South Santee. We beat the low tide. By just a little. Once again, for the 2nd year in a row, we anchored in the Ashley River where we used to regularly stop years ago. It was a 'fly off and work' stop for Carol. Not a great anchorage due to wind and current. Not a great place to be alone like I used to be. Great city, however. We haven't visited it in a while. 

     We are going to head offshore from here. Small weather window again. Remember, this past spring didn't work out so well. Supposed to be nice here and a bit south but northern Florida may not be so great. We shall see. 

     The next posting will be from Florida, maybe Marathon. Uh, if we survive. Funny, we never used to question that. 

     

South from Annapolis

      Our time in Annapolis was a bit damp. Hurricane Ian was a long way off to the southwest when we got there but we still got outer bands which gave us a lot of rain and wind. Near gale winds. Our first night was the worst of it but our anchorage spot in Spa Creek had a good enough holding bottom and wind protection so we stayed secured. Then Ian dissipated and was absorbed into a strong cold front. This caused more rain and wind. Very slightly less wind but just as much rain. More than 4 days and 5 nights worth of rain. The weather radar showed the swirling rotational pattern of a hurricane but it wasn't even considered subtropical. It certainly wasn't warm. Brrr. 

     At least our first walk to the pharmacy in Eastport was pretty.

    

We got a couple of brief breaks in the rain and got to a bakery, the drug store (twice) and the water dock at Truxtum Park. Then, after 5 nights, we left. In some rain. And wind. At least we got our needed meds but not our needed vaccinations. Re-scheduled those for our next multi-day stop in Great Bridge. Oh, well. 

     Our trip to Solomons was in Small Craft Advisory (SCA) conditions but the rain was mostly passed. The wind and seas were behind us so we were not all that uncomfortable. Not bad at all. Mostly 2ft but 4ft seas happened at some points. The Solomons anchorage areas were mostly full with transient boats which was a little unusual. They may have stayed in port due to the weather we had been out in. Also, perhaps like us, cruisers are not gathering at the 'too late in the month this year' boat show and are already on the road south. Luckily there are many areas to anchor so no problems. 

     Finally we got back to cruising mode, up early and 8 hour days. We went south to Deltaville, VA, crossing the mouth of the Potomac River in 1 ft. following seas. Conditions eventually became totally calm and we anchored in a usual spot in Jackson Creek. After a beautiful and calm night we headed out in near calm conditions which eventually became almost 6 inch seas. A breeze developed on the nose which caused the wavelets. It was also a day of adverse currents which became awful as we went into Hampton Roads. Our time enroute was 90 minutes longer than our average passage time due to the current. We went into the High Street Basin in Portsmouth to dock but there was no room due to local small boats taking up space. They do not stay overnight so the space becomes available eventually. Just not when someone could use it. We went back a short way to anchor off the Portsmouth Naval Hospital. We've been there many times and it's okay but not great. Holding ground is only fair, crab pot floats abound and it is exposed to ICW and commercial traffic wakes. Pretty 'though. The Hospital is on the near shore and the battleship Wisconsin is across the river. Exteriors for the TV show NCIS were filmed nearby. Whoop-de-do. In the morning we picked up the anchor earlier than we used to because it was Saturday and the Gilmerton Lift Bridge was not restricted as to opening times. When we got there a very large barge wanted to come through the bridge northbound and the waiting vessels squoze to the sides of the channel. This let us go through first southbound as we were the only boat positioned properly after the barge passed. It didn't really matter as we have to wait for the schedule at the Great Bridge Lock anyway. The lock was full and the boats were slow going in and out but we made it through for the 10am Great Bridge bascule bridge opening. Our planned fuel stop at AYB was delayed by other boats so we tied up at the free dock on the opposite side of the ICW briefly. We then untied and went to the fuel dock, filled up and then went back to the free dock for two nights. This is one of our favorite ICW stops. Free dockage. Groceries close. Pharmacies, restaurants, a museum, a library and walking trails are also features. What else could one want? Did I mention the free dockage? 

     We went up the mast to remove some equipment to allow us to get under some bridges on the ICW, got a couple of vaccinations each, picked up more meds, got groceries, did some routine and minor maintenance and then got underway to continue south. 

     Next posting may be from our home in Marathon. Maybe sooner. Who knows? 

Cruise # 13 Start

     We started our 13th cruise south about a week earlier than average. We planned for a haul out where we used to have it done in the past and needed to adjust for the time ashore. The last five or so years we've been hauled for our annual maintenance in nearby Essex, CT. 

     Our first day underway was beautiful and nasty. Beautiful if you were on land, warm, sunny and dry. Nasty if you were on Long Island Sound bashing straight into the wind and 3+ft. seas. Nothing major broke. Several minor things did not fare as well. Some fresh blueberries flew out the fridge and decorated the galley. Think blue puree all over the floor. Several dinghy tie down lines chafed through but that was nothing new. Sigh. 

Throgs Neck and Long Island Sound behind us on day 3.

     Our start on our 2nd day was delayed because of very strong winds but we eventually left Port Jefferson in late morning when the wind eased. A little. The angle of the wind and seas made for an okay passage even with the heavier winds and we ended up on a free mooring in Port Washington, NY. Then we got underway very early the next day to go through New York City with the current. Hell Gate can be lots of fun (not) if you have an opposing current. The forecast was good so, even though we wanted to hopscotch down the NJ coast with day only trips, we decided we would do another overnight passage offshore to take advantage of a two day weather window. The seas were not quite calm, there were ripples on a gentle, small swell. We'll take it. Not our calmest overnight passage but close to it. The Cape May rounding was easy as we followed our previously established route on our GPS. We call it 'following the breadcrumbs'. You put your vessel icon on the recorded previous course track on the GPS screen and steer your boat so your icon stays on the track. It's still a bit scary to rely on your GPS and go very close (maybe 100 meters or less) to the beach to make the rounding. In the dark. Flat calm seas and a half moon overhead made it as close to easy as is possible. A few hours later we heard a sailboat that was behind us went aground in the Cape May Channel. We use that route if it is safer (due to wind and waves) than the beach route. We do not know if they screwed up or the channel had shifted from bad weather recently. 

     

     Going up the Delaware River was slow but calm. Nice boring sunny weather and seas about zero inches is nice (for a change) but when the current is against you, it's a slow passage. Boring, but boring can be nice. Beats having an adventure. Hate those. Last year this section was so rough our stern plants died from salt water spraying over the entire boat. We ended the day (two straight days that is) anchored in Chesapeake City. Very warm and dry. We planned to wander around the upper Chesapeake Bay until it was time to go to Pasadena, MD to get hauled. 

     

After two nights we went down to the Sassafras River. We've anchored near the mouth but this time we went about 90 minutes up the river to Georgetown/Fredricktown. We went just because we never had before. Pretty, but not really worth it. We stayed at a Sailing Associates Marina fixed dock for the price of a mooring and got showers and a swim in the marina pool. By not really worth it, I mean not worth the time it takes to go up the river and the time it takes to get back to the Chesapeake Bay main channel. 90 minutes each way. Like I said, a beautiful area but there are areas just as nice that are not as far off the road. After getting back to the Bay it was only another 90 minutes to be anchored in Worton Creek, one of my favorite spots. We sat out several storms here in the past but our run of great weather continued. We did not sight any of the eagles we could hear in the nearby trees.  

     When we left Worton the next day we, in fact, did see a bald eagle on a daymark right outside the creek. Impressive. The passage down the Bay was nearly flat calm and we went into the Magothy River and Sillery Bay to anchor for a few days before heading to our haulout facility. One of Carol's favorite spots, it is very beautiful, landlocked, quiet and protected. Our great run of weather was going to come to an end while there and it's not a bad spot to do nothing. 

     We didn't quite do nothing but fairly close. In Chesapeake City I did battery maintenance which I forgot to do monthly over the summer. This could have been bad and almost was. In our little cove in northern Sillery Bay I did engine oil changes before the serious weather change hit us. Other than that, it was mostly nothing. A little writing about our experiences and a lot of reading. Oh, and some observations of the sights around us. Just watching the day go by. The horses grazing on land, the birds swirling about overhead, fish tails snapping at the surface of the water, the nettles pulsing by below, the clouds drifting by above. Like I said, a total waste of time. 

     When we picked up the anchor after three nights and one serious storm the anchor was a bit difficult to pick up. Dug in well. That's good but makes for some work. A trade-off. We also saw one of the eagles we'd been hearing around us. I may be wrong but we seem to be seeing more and more bald eagles in the upper Chesapeake. Nice. We won't see them in our next stop. Too suburban. That stop was Bodkin Creek where we anchored to await our scheduled haul-out. 

     

     We got hauled out at Pleasure Cove Marina for the first time in 5 or 6 years. It went well and was only a little more expensive than Essex Boat Works in Conn. Carol likes it better here because it is cooler than it is in Conn. in August. Duh. Boat looks pretty but the new depth sounder we installed does not match our GPS. Very upset with the GPS Store where we bought it. It cannot be replaced without hauling the boat as it would leave a large hole in the bottom of the boat. Not good. 

     

     We left the marina after 4 nights and headed to Annapolis. A bit lumpy along the way but the 2-3 foot seas were mostly behind us (as was the 15+kt. breeze) so it wasn't too uncomfortable. It was fast anyway, even against the current. A clean, smooth boat bottom surely helps.

     We got 94 gallons of diesel when we got to Annapolis and then looked for an open City mooring. None available. We anchored well up Spa Creek and hope we will hold on as a gale, the remnants of hurricane Ian, will hit us our first night. Not likely to be fun. It is supposed to rain most of every day we are here but we already stocked up on groceries in Pasadena courtesy of a ride from a semi-local boating friend, Gwyn. We just need to get some pre-ordered prescriptions and flu and Covid boosters. 

     We are not going to the Annapolis Boat Show for only the second time in 35 or 40 years. It is too late this year and we would be late to my medical appointments in Miami in November. Sigh. We will miss going to the show. IMHO, they made an error with the scheduling. 

     We plan to be in Annapolis 4 or 5 days, weather dependent. Of course surviving the first night is weather dependent, too. I hate "I" hurricanes.