Nice Day to be on the Water (Day 009)

From: Solomon’s Islands, MD Mill Creek ANchorage MM 97.5
To: Indian Creek Anchorage, VA MM 146.0
L/L: 37 41 48N 76 21 17W
Distance Traveled: 57.6

Weather: Sunny; light and variable; temp range 63 - 79 degrees; calm bay; water temp 69.0 degrees

Point No Point Lighthouse

Comment: The bay was calm today. We were in a parade of over one dozen sailboats and an equal or greater number of trawlers, most headed south. Besides the decrease in degrees of latitude, we observed the first pelican of the trip. Pelicans are usually the first harbingers on our southward progress. Dolphins are the next.

We anchored in Indian Creek in the very quiet Pitman Cove. I’ve use this anchorage one other time and we both agree that it may be better, although not as convenient for shopping, as Jackson Creek in Deltaville, VA.

Tug and Barge in Indian Creek

Sunset from Indian Creek anchorage in Pitman's Cove, Kilmarnock, VA

Solomons Islands, MD Day 008

From: Galesville, MD MM 59.6
To: Solomon’s Island, MD MM 97.5
L/L: 38 29 04N 076 26 91W
Distance Traveled: 50.4
Hours Motoring: 8.0
Hours Sailing: 0
Elapsed Time: 8.0
Average Speed: 6.3

Weather: Overcast most of the day; some showers; temp range 70 to 73 degrees; NW wind 10 - 15 knots

Comment: We made it to the Solomon’s in record time (6 1/2 hours), thanks to good northwest wind. We spent most of the day over 8 mph while motor sailing. At one point, we hit 14.3 mph!!

We need to find a place that will give us a reasonable rate for a quick haulout so I can change the gear oil in the lower units of the new motors. Can you believe we are approaching 20 hours on the new motors already?

We fueled up at the Spring Cove Marina and then found a quiet anchorage on Mill Creek as Back Creek, our usual anchorage, was full.

Here We Go!

Look, it's October 8 and we are finally underway! The new motors require a "break in" period. That means slow going for the first couple of hours. As you can see in the photos, we had a decent day with plenty of sunshine. We enjoyed temps in the mid to high 70's and west wind @ 10 knots or less.

The two spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as viewed from our deck.

Dousing sail for the approach to Annapolis!

The sun is setting as Sea Paws II welcomes us to the anchorage in Galesville, MD. We had a great visit with SUNSHINE's former owners!

Today (Friday, October 9) small craft warnings are posted. We made an effort to beat the predicted wind (south 10 - 15 gusting to 25) and four foot waves, by pulling the anchor at 0630. Our destination was only 25 miles distant (an anchorage off the Little Choptank River) with an ETA around noon. However, once out from the protection of the land, we found 15 knots of wind and 2 - 3 foot seas. The GPS ETA ballooned to 1600 hours as the wind and waves were on the nose and really slowed our progress. Rather than bounce around for nine hours to make 25 miles, we turned tail and headed back to the anchorage to listen to the wind scream through the rigging for the rest of the day.

Tomorrow promises to be a better day with west wind at 10 - 15 knots and two foot waves. That is a better option for sure!

Our current location: Galesville, MD Anchorage

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The Motors Are In!

Greetings Gang - We are still hanging out at Edward's Boatyard. The wind on the bay is blowing at 25 - 35 knots with gusts over 40, so we decided to stay put until tomorrow, when the forecast predicts 10 - 15 knot out of the northwest. We might even put up the sails!

The "Happy Hour Season" started aboard M/V Lo Que Se A, a Great Harbor 37. What a magnificent vessel! Thanks for your hospitality, Judy and Gene! We were then invited aboard M/V Puffin (another magnificent Great Harbor 37) for dinner. Thanks Lois and Carl.

The fist days of Cruise 2009 - 2010 are told in the following pictures:

Saturday, October 3, 2009 - After provisioning the boat, we visited Baltimore. The kids liked pedaling the dinosaurs!

Sunday, October 4, 2009 - The "Moulton Mural" graces the bulkhead in the salon.

Monday, October 5, 2009 - Work begins on the installation of the new motors. This is a photo of the new starboard motor.

Tuesday, October 6 - The motors are in! SUNSHINE gets wet again!

We're Cruisin' - (Sorta)

Saturday, October 3, 2009 Day 1

Comment: Our 2009 -2010 Cruise starts TODAY! Yipee!

Not so fast! The new motors aren't installed yet. We can't go anywhere. What the heck, the house is closed up and we have transportation to the boat. WE are all provisioned and ready to go... except, the motors are installed yet (did I mention that already?).

No worries mate, we'll head down to Edward’s Boatyard with the Foster’s. Following a visit to Baltimore, they’ll drive our car back home for the winter. Thanks Matt, Sandi, Josh and Rose!

Before going to Baltimore, we hastily cut a frame for the mural (made by Terry Moulton) that will grace the main bulkhead in the salon. We’ll do the installation tomorrow.

During a quick visit to Beacon Light Marina, we discovered that the engines will be installed on Monday. We were hoping they’d be installed today, but they are working on harness and chokes in the shop. Monday seems realistic, from what we can tell.

So let's go to Baltimore with the Foster's. We arrived in time for lunch at P. F. Chang’s, after which the Foster’s headed off to the National Aquarium while Anna Marie and I alternately strolled the promenade and found park benches that we could use for people watching and enjoying the nice day. After the aquarium, the kids rode the Dinosaur pedal boats.

It was about 1800 hours and time for the drive back to the boat. Once there, the kids got to run around for a few minutes before we bid good by to Matt, Sandi and the kids.

Sunday, October 4, 2009 Day 2

Comment: Since we can’t be underway, we decided to finish several projects slated for completion while underway, We installed the Moulton Mural and frame, the documentation number board, the SUNSHINE picture and mounted the new Apple iMac Computer, complete with a custom made bracket and mounting shelf.

While they’re installing the engines tomorrow, we’ll waterproof the canvas and repair the leaking portlight.

Monday, October 5, 2009 Day 3

Comment: Good news, the motors arrived this morning and by 1700 hours, they were installed. Positioning the choke cables on the dashboard are the last items to be completed. That will happen tomorrow morning. According the the marina owner, Billy, we will be splashed first thing in the morning!

Right now, we plan to fire up tomorrow and check that everything is in working order. I expect that will take place in the afternoon, so we’ll probably motor around this area and depart for points south on Wednesday (weather permitting).

While the guys were working on the engines, we waterproofed the canvas and did more organizing and cleaning. We didn't get to the leaky portlight yet.

Last Round of Boat Chores Before Departure!

Yes sir, we're getting near the bottom of our boat chore list! On this two day job list, we finished the floor install and trimmed it out; installed the new custom made glass and the spice racks, switched out barbecues (we're going with the charcoal Cobb Grill in lieu of the Force 10 gas grill (it blows out in wind over twelve knots) and installed a new mattress in the master stateroom.

The hull is washed and waxed and SUNSHINE is ready to go... almost! The people who are replacing the engines are still waiting for parts. Supposedly these parts should arrive any day. Once they get here, it shouldn't take long to get the motors in the boat and running.

The overnight temperature was cool... in the high 40's, telling us it's time to move south!

We're heading home this evening to finish closing the houses. We'll be back to the boat on saturday and will leave as soon as the engines are installed and we've had an opportunity to test them out.

Across the Bay!

Current Location - Edward's Boatyard

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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.