Saturday, October 8, 2011

Back on the Bay after Toiling in Solomons

If you own a sailboat, and especially an older one, you are well aware that something always needs tending to. This ready supply of needed repairs may be a difficult concept for non-boat owners. I imagine that they visualize us always kicking back, drinking lemonade and watching the sunset. While we do our best to enjoy ourselves and keep things on a slow pace since leaving Jacksonville, there is nevertheless much to be done. Some of these fixes and repairs are on a routine or maintenance basis, yet other projects exist because we chose buy and old boat and refit her. I am not complaining, just explaining.

The unexpected stay in a marina slip has allowed us to order a number of items to launch our attack on a new set of projects: our Shakedown Punch List. But first, maintenance. Some maintenance items include oil change, adjusting the valves, flushing and pickling the water maker, emptying and inspecting lockers for mold, and of course cleaning said lockers, washing the deck of a royal bird mess that seems to include the remnants of a massive meal of cherries (those birds know when you are not around!), polishing stainless steel that indeed does stain regardless of its namesake, washing and protecting the isinglass enclosure, and defrosting both top loading refrigerators. I am fortunate enough to have two refrigerators, but unfortunate in that they were so iced over that each frig took an entire day to melt and remove the ice. Oh, and since the evening temperatures are below 70, it is time to fire up the bread making factory - which seems to mostly mean cinnamon rolls. I did not hold out much hope for Hermann (the bread starter) surviving the summer, he looked pretty gooey and lifeless in the frig. We did resurrect him with some sugar and potato flakes, but that was his last show. Another starter dough is in the works, he will also be named Hermann. Consistency is helpful in communications.

Yes, much maintenance. So much in fact, that we never did really get a start on our Shakedown Punch List…
Solomons was good to us during a difficult time. From the ladies in the marina office, to the maintenance guys and all the new people we meet on our temporary GG dock home. Last weekend, we met Ray and Marybeth, and their dog Nala. They have an Erickson and Myron went out for a sail with them Sunday afternoon. Then they took us to their summer home for dinner and lively conversation as we tried to cram in all the visiting we could in a few short hours. They bought their Erickson right before hurricane Irene arrived. We also got to visit with Randy, Sharon and Randy's mom Dorothy. Randy and Sharon have Sea Escape, a Passport 40. We met them last weekend. They were back last night just in time to offer us their car so we could do some shopping without the time and territory limitations imposed on the marina's loaner car (a one hour time limit and NO crossing the bridge). Their generosity was a shocking bit of fortune. We accepted their gracious offer after informing them of our insurance coverage through USAA. Like kids no longer grounded, we headed straight across the bridge to Walmart and Auto Zone. Walmart has Rotella oil at least $10 cheaper per gallon than Tiffany's for boaters (West Marine). All is well again with our provisions.

When we left today, it dawned on me that what demands our attention changes based upon proximity to a harbor. Leaving a slip has its own challenges, but the traffic we encountered today coming out of Back Creek, at 7:30 a.m. no less, was surprisingly heavy. We prefer not to be with the 'herd' of boats heading south, yet we found ourselves in a full on stampede! We had two very uncomfortable encounters with large power boats. Sailboats are slow and tend to go in a straight line. That must make it tempting to fast boats to pass in front of or near us. I just wonder if driving erratically might make these boats keep better distance. Once all mariners got some distance from each other, the next obstacles were crab pots, when those finally ended we were in the right depth for a fleet of pleasure fishing boats. Once out in the Bay and especially if we are in the shipping channel, we must be ever aware of tugs and cargo ships.

Aside from that epiphany, it was a gorgeous day as we headed out at this morning. We had a light easterly breeze on the beam, enough wind to keep the sails full and we gave a little help with the motor. We lost the wind in the last two hours, but there were some die-hards out there trying to squeeze all they could out of the light breezes. One of those die-hards just came in and anchored behind us on Antipoison Creek. Our guidebook notes a legend that this creek is where Native Americans provided Captain John Smith with a poultice that counteracted venom from a stingray's dart, hence the name Antipoison. I will also note that Stingray Point is on the south side of Rappahannock River. I imagine that point is where Captain John Smith was stung by the creatures!
It is delightfully peaceful here. It was not an easy entrance, however well worth the effort. Hopefully our plan will come together to get a good night of rest, get an early start tomorrow and be anchored and cleaned up in Deltaville in time for church.

Love to all,
Dena
Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}37|37.904|N|076|20.375|W|Anchored Antipoison Creek|Antipoison Creek{GEND}

No comments: