Across the Bay!

Current Location - Edward's Boatyard

View S/V SUNSHINE 2009 - 2010 in a larger map

Tuesday & Wednesday, September 22 & 23, 2009

After making a few stops along the way, we dropped Mom off to visit Aunt Helen and then headed to the boat. We arrived at about 2100 hours to find SUNSHINE floating high on her lines. Although we were tired, we had several tasks to perform before we could think about hitting the sack:
install the new floor;
install the new step
stow all the items that haven’t been put away;
load additional items.

Early the following morning (Wednesday), we power washed the topsides and installed the dodger. I’ve never had a boat this dirty before! It was a complete mess, probably from all the work that was being done on the tug boat and the traffic (dust). SUNSHINE Spent part of the summer adjacent to an old tug that required considerable work. Generators for welding equipment and other tools created considerable particulate matter that settled on SUNSHINE. We were also adjacent to the dirt driveway and although motorist slowed, they still created a lot of dust. We scrubbed for an hour to get her presentable. We still have to remove some annoying black spots, but we’ll attack that problem while we are underway.

BY 10015, we finally had things secure and the boat in decent shape. It took a couple of minutes, but both engines fired up with only a little coaxing. I slipped my lines and Anna Marie headed off to the car for the drive to Edward’s Boatyard on the western shore. We were only two hours behind schedule, but it didn't really matter because there was a heavy fog over the creek. The fog lifted about twenty minutes before I left the dock.

After navigating Worton Creek, I entered the bay to high level fog and a generally gray day. By 1130 hours, some blue sky showed itself. The temperature reached 84 degrees. Winds were in the 5 to 10 knot range and as the high level fog burned off, the sun got brighter and brighter. The course to my destination was somewhat circuitous as I had to stay clear of the Poole’s Island. It and the surrounding area is restricted by the military.

Having had only four hours sleep, I was extremely tired and, although it was great to be back on the water, I could hardly hold my eyes open. I found myself nodding off repeatedly.

The west side of Poole’s Island is new to me. The water was consistently around ten to fifteen feet deep; there were myriad crab pot floats to dodge; It was nice to see other sailors enjoying a pleasant day for sailing. As I navigated the Middle River, I became less tired. Frog Mortar Creek appeared off my starboard side and I headed up that creek, past Maryland Marina, where I caught a glimpse of S/V Kallista and S/V Canvasback Too. "CB Too" was sporting a brand spanking new bubble, made by Captain Dave. That’ll be a great addition for his southward trip!

I pulled into my assigned spot at Edward’s Boatyard and was surprised to see three Great Harbor trawlers. As luck would have it, Puffin and Lo Que Se A were two of them. This is their summer port!

Being both tired and hungry, Anna Marie and I went out to lunch after which, we visited with Gene and Judy (M/V Lo Que Se A) and then went to see Captain Dave and his new bubble. He is planning to head south either tomorrow afternoon or Friday and will be a about one week ahead of us. We expect to catch up with him along the way. We might also catch up with S/V Tally Ho. Andrew and Vanessa are leaving from St. Michael’s on Monday.

While driving home, my tiredness caught up with me. Anna Marie was getting coffee and tea from the roadside Starbucks; I fell asleep. After a fifteen minute nap, I was ready to go.

We picked Mom up at about 1930 and finished the drive home. After a few chores it was off to the sack! We'll be back on the 30th to try out the new engines.