Saturday Oct 5
We motored back to the west shore of
the Chesapeake, south of Annapolis, from St Michaels to Quiet Waters
Park off South River on the southern side of Annapolis. Another warm
sunny day, mid 80's. I was told later the temperatures were in the
low 90's on shore. Quiet Waters is a popular county park, on Harness
Creek and the creek it very popular and crowded in the summer with
boaters. They have docks with all sort of water toys for rent.
Well, since we are having summer temperatures without the bugs there
is a fairly good crowd of boats. Most of the power boats left by
dark and the cruisers had the place to themselves. In the evening I
rowed up the creek and talked with one of the local homeowners on the
creek who told me it was a popular Hurricane hole which I suspected.
Sunday Oct 6
We hiked through the park to West
Marine and Fawsetts Marine (Kind of like Defender, much better prices
than Worst Marine). I bought a part at West and then found it for 30
percent less at Fawsetts and found West was charging way over the
list price. So I bought it and made the return to West. Ran into a
Montreal couple who had walked from their boat in Spa Creek in
Annapolis. We were in McDonalds and Linda noticed they had a folding
cart like ours and of course they were catching up on the WiFi at
McDonalds, obviously sailors. Their boat is called Lea-Lou.
Monday Oct 7
Rain is forecast for most of the day,
looking forward to getting the salt washed off the boat. Checking
the weather radar it looks like we have until about noontime, before
it hits. We go for a morning walk and get back just before it lets
loose. Tomorrow we plan to motor and/or sail around to Spa Creek in
Annapolis to see if we can get lucky and pick up a mooring in Spa
Creek by the draw bridge. Even though the mooring field is limited
to 35 foot boats I hope our official length of 35' 8” will get
rounded down.
Tuesday Oct 8
With all this great weather, I got a
little complacent on the marine forecast, glossing over the potential
small craft warnings and decided to continue towing the dinghy with
the outboard on it.
Big mistake. As we left the protection
of the South River we were exposed to 15-20 knots winds from the
north with 2-3 foot waves. Our motoring speed greatly slowed down.
The dinghy got some protection, being behind us as we plowed through
the waves, but once we changed our angle to the waves on the last leg
to Annapolis it was nearly leaping off the tops of some of the
biggest waves. Finally we arrive at Spa Creek, just missing the
every half hour opening of the bridge. Once through, we pickup a
mooring at the St Marys mooring field next to the bridge. Soon after
the harbor patrol stops by to collect for the mooring. They need our
Coast Guard documentation number, we mistakenly hand him a copy of
the Coast Guard registration. I had not notice before, but the
previous owner had put the boat down at 36' 6” for length, can't
round that down. We get kicked off the mooring, but find another
further up the creek in a more protected area for over 35 foot boats
away from the bridge and traffic noise. A lucky upgrade, much nicer
spot. Once we get settled down the holding tank nearly full light
comes on. We get on the radio and call the Annapolis pump out boat,
they come to you, what a deal for only five dollars.
Wed Oct 9
We head for one of the many Annapolis
dinghy docks. Many of the streets near downtown Annapolis that dead
end on the water have dinghy docks for cruising boats to use. Our
mission today is our first laundry since leaving Vermont and
breakfast at “Chick and Ruth's” a local icon. Normally trying to
walk through this place is quite entertaining since everything is so
tightly packed in. Doing that trailing a cart with laundry was next
to impossible. Upon leaving I had to ask a couple people to back out
onto the side walk to let me and my bag of laundry out so they could
reach a table. After breakfast we head for the laundry-mat. It is
full of cruisers, not one local. An overcast dreary day, we had back
to the boat, before it starts to rain.
Thursday Oct 10
Rained most of the night. The gas tank
in the dinghy is nearly floating. Took quite a while to bail out the
dinghy. Put on our foul weather jackets and met up with Vermont
friends George and Deb Molla.
We have lunch at Chick and Ruth's and
walk around town in the rain. That evening we go the Salty Dog Rally
Party in Eastport for cruisers sailing From Norfolk, Virginia to
Virgin Gorda in the BVI's around November 1. We finally meet up with
Rock and Diane, who left Malletts Bay two weeks before us and are
planning to do the Salty Dog Rally. After we walk back into town and
get coffee and a donut at Chick and Ruths. Bail out the dinghy again
and motor back out the boat. After 24 hours of rain we are starting
to find a couple ports that are leaking for the first time in a
couple years. Rains all night.
Friday Oct 11
Wake up and it is still raining. We get
ready to head to the boat show. Thinking about taking the water
taxis, so I don't have to bail the dinghy again, this is getting old
fast. I called the Water Taxi, but half an hour later, no water
taxi, so I bail the dinghy again. I was thinking to call the pump
out boat to come pump out our dinghy. We finally get to shore wearing
our foul weather gear. I wore sandals, so I didn't have to care
about getting my feet wet, since there were puddles everywhere. The
rain did keep the crowds way down at the boat show. We met up with
John and Genie at our usual Boat Show lunch spot, but usually have a
hard time finding seats. No problem today, the place is empty and
rather soggy in places. After the boat show we met up with Deb and
George and head to the Rams Head for what we were told was a great
happy hour. On the way there we run into Rock and Diane who had
recommended the Rams Head and were on their way there also. One of
the best happy hours I have been to. Beers on tap for $2.75 and with
each beer you get two coupons each for a plate of wings. No need for
dinner after that. They had a Caribbean themed band playing on the
outside patio. Just as some of our group starts dancing the rain lets
loose again, party over. Of course on the way back to the boat we
stop in for coffee and desert (donuts) at Chick and Ruths, with
George and Deb. And then one more time I bail the dinghy to get back
to our mooring in the dark.
Saturday Oct 12
Get up in the morning and bail the
dinghy again so we can meet John and Genie at the head of Spa creek.
They have kindly offer to drive us around to do some shopping. Then
after lunch we check out boats at Annapolis Marina in Back Creek.
That evening we are invited to dinner at Richard and Lynne's home,
who live in Annapolis and are long time friends of Bruce and Pam
Foshay, Bob and Judy Chase, John and Genie, who are all there. Had a
wonderful dinner of crab cakes. Of course it rains most of the
evening. John and Genie take us back to the dock where our dinghy
is, for more bailing before we motor back to the boat. Fortunately,
there is just a light rain and the next down pour does not commence
until we are back on the boat. It could not possibly get any damper
in our boat, even notebook paper is limp and nearly impossible to
write on. Wood is starting to swell so cabinet sliding doors stop
working. Hang up a towel dry in the morning and it is damper when we
return at night. Many other boaters are complaining about leaks they
never had before.
Sunday Oct 13
Rained all night, this is getting real
old. Bail the dinghy again, are we having fun yet! Head in for
another day at the boat show. Rain stops early and we have a fairly
dry day. Met up with John, Genie and Judy Chase for lunch. Bob is to
busy buying stuff to stop for lunch. We walk over to Eastport to the
Boatyard Restaurant for dinner with John and Genie. And then one
last bailing of the dinghy before heading back to the boat for the
night.
Monday Oct 14
Get up late, then meet John and Genie
to check out a couple more boatyards. I am always looking for good
ideas to use. We talk with a Catalina 32 owner who made a couple
unique modifications to his boat that we could use. It is a nice
sunny day. Late in the afternoon we head to the Fleet Reserves (Bar)
by the Boat Show to watch the break down of the boat show after
closing at 5:00 o'clock, which is signaled by the firing of a cannon.
Amazing how fast they can move the docks and the boats out of there.
Head back to Eastport to another unique neighborhood eatery, “
Davis'”, found by George and Deb. Cream of crab soup, excellent !
John and Genie drop us off at a dry dinghy, things are looking up.
Linda and friends
Tuesday Oct 15
Met George and Deb for breakfast at
another unique place they discovered in Eastport, Leeward Market.
Great breakfast and very fast WiFi. Paid for “Annapolis Wifi”
when we first arrived, but it was so slow that it was useless. We
head to a local Yacht club to use their shower facilities, I try not
to drain their hot water tank. After showering with finite quantities
of hot water on our boat this is a luxury. Linda and I head back to
do some more laundry and I later take the bus to one of the local
malls to buy some equipment. The plan was to meet Deb and George
back at Rams Head for Tuesday Happy hour, free raw oysters with your
$2.75 beer. I get back too late and George has eaten all the
oysters, by the time we get there, although I do get a couple $2.75
beers even though we get there after the 7:00 PM witching hour.
Wednesday Oct 16
Back to Leeward Market for another
breakfast with George and Deb before they leave for New York City to
visit with their son. Linda and I finally walk to the super market
to buy grocery’s and also stop by ACE Hardware for a few items.
Linda and I make one last trip to Rams Head for our last Happy Hour,
roast beef sandwiches with our beer. It's a good thing we don't live
in Annapolis, I would be on the Rams Head Happy Hour Meal Plan. We
walk back to Ego Ally site of the Boat Show, now totally cleared of
docks and new boats. We have never seem this creek in it's normal
state after years of only being in Annapolis during the boat show.
End the evening with a dry dinghy ride back to the boat.
Thursday Oct 17
We get up early and prepare the boat to
leave early to catch the 9:00 AM bridge opening. Three other boats
have the same idea and we have a boat parade. We stop to fuel up,
water up and start heading to Cambridge on the eastern shore.
Leaving Annapolis
