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At the Naval Academy
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This year, our Berkeley trip seemed more like a brief visit home than a complete alternate life. We were delayed leaving the Caribbean last year by the purchase of our new boat. This year we rushed the return back by an opportunity to hitch a ride on Kia Orana to Puerto Rico from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Yes, that is the same PDQ 36 Catamaran we were on riding northward from Puerto Rico a couple of years ago. That time the boat was going north for a refit - we have high hopes that the ride down will be less fraught with breakdowns as she now sports new engines and a new jib. Departure is “scheduled” for October 18th (always pending weather) and we should take a few weeks before resurfacing in Puerto Rico in early November. There are “plans” to stop in Bermuda on the way: check here for latest position report..
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Smithsonian Elephant
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It was sad leaving so early. We left even earlier than the putative departure date for a couple of as-long-as-you-are-here reasons. Maryland is Susie's ancestral stomping grounds. We visit old friends, relatives and her father's old work place, the Smithsonian "as-long-as-we-are-here". October 8th also marks the start of the Annapolis boat show, the largest sailboat show in the US. "As-long-as-we-are-here", we might as well take it and the incredibly picturesque town of Annapolis in. Caribbean friends on Crusader, Bob and Marsha, throw an immense Caribbean party every year for all the cruisers in town for the show. "As-long-as-we-are-here"... We got an offer to stay on the boat while we touristed and visited. We flew to Washington DC on Virgin America (wonderful), rented a car, and followed directions to Kia Orana. She is currently anchored at a dock up Dividing Creek on the Magothy River which is owned by cruising friends from Sea Fan, Steve and Jane. Imagine our delight when they said “would you rather stay on the boat or in the guest house?” Flush toilets and endless running water? “No problem, mon.” Their house is huge with a large wooded area cut by a path leading to the dock. We can leisurely load the boat with our massive pile of stuff and enjoy long showers (No drought here). Cruisers are a wonderful breed.
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View to the dock from the guest house
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Cool Cruisers arrive at the show by dinghy |
The Annapolis boat show is fabulous. Ranging from tall ships 'Pride of Baltimore' and 'Virginia' to small skip jacks and crabber re-creations, the show has more exhibitors than sailors on the west coast ever see. Instead of fleets of Hunters and Catalinas, you can see multiple Morris's, Tayanas, Swans &, of course, Oysters. We volunteered to man and woman the SSCA booth for a few hours and even got tickets to the pre-show party. At that party we boarded a megayacht offering luxury charters – Arabella. Best of all we got to personally hassle the vendors who have saddled us with non-working equipment. We drove to the Frigoboat place on Tuesday to pick up parts for our refrigerator after talking with the US distributor (who remembered the pictures Susie had sent in to the tech support group). We bought crab sandwiches from members of the Mount Zion U.M.E. Church, who are definitely heaven bound. We also spent a day wandering around Annapolis which is historic, quaint and picturesque.
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For rent: S/V Arabella |
We learned that people there are called Annapolitans. We visited the historic home of a famous Annapolitan, William Paca. It was historic, quaint and picturesque. Did I mention they have really good crab cakes here?
Favorite roadside sign: “3 Dozen Large Males. $25.00”
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Kia Orana at the dock |
We're excited about the upcoming trip. We will probably take a few days to sail down the Chesapeake to the ocean mouth near Newport News. There we will have to make our decisions as to where and when to cross the Gulf Stream and head east to Bermuda. From Bermuda, we will head almost due south to Puerto Rico passing around the eastern end of the island and stopping at Fajardo. Should be 1500 nautical miles or so and will take several weeks. As is usual, all plans are etched in wave washed sand. The only certain thing is our freezing desire to get south as soon as possible. It is suddenly winter and quite cold.
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William Paca's garden and the Navy Chapel |
your chilled sailors,
Lance & Susie
PS. The sign refers to Maryland crabs.
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