The Simple Things in Life

The most basic and best things in life are generally free: having a family, a smile, a hug, seeing friends, and of course seeing the world.

It's about finding YOUR best things in life for you to feel the happiest. I am pretty sure we would all rather feel happy than sad. This journey gives us many reasons to smile as we look at the world as if we were a kid again.

Schools of fish on the ocean

Pelicans circling the schools of fish.

Pelican and seagulls, the size of small dogs, fishing for lunch.

For Tony and I , we realize every day how fortunate and thankful we are to have this experience travelling south to Florida. Although we left many friends and family in the cold temps, we smile knowing everyone will be there when we return soon. (I wrote this blog up to this point before I found out about my Mom passing away. Very powerful words I wrote that I never knew just how much they would mean).

Some friends just couldn't be away from us and join us at the Annapolis Boat Show on Sunday, October 11.

Brett and David surprised us again on Monday, Thanksgiving Day as they visited us on Deja Vu at MYC (Maryland Yacht Club) just 40 minutes north of Annapolis.

SO happy to see MCC family for a quick beer before we were all off to seminars.

With no real list of things to buy, other than a larger boat (hee hee), we do make one very important purchase of "Marriage Savers" headsets. They are similar to a cordless phone however you can talk and hear at the same time, with the newest having blue tooth capabilities. Most cruisers appreciate their mate or crew doing their part when docking or anchoring the boat, however not all grunts and sighs and cursing can be heard - thank goodness. However the makers of these headsets (Cruising Solutions) truly want your relationship with your team member or in some cases, your married partner, to be as colourful as can be!
Seriously though, all grumbling and tiss-tissing aside, these headsets are truly marriage savers!
Picture this: I am at the helm, Tony is walking up to the bow and we are about to drop the anchor. Tony and I have agreed previously on a few hand signals to assist with our communication during the lowering of the anchor. As he hangs his head over the bow to lower it, I have lost all visuals of his hands, not knowing if he is even capable of making any; important signals like STOP, REVERSE or NEUTRAL.

Marriage Savers, two headsets needed. Boat show price: priceless

Without sounding like a shopping channel ad, the audio and mic on the headsets are spectacular! We can hear each other breathing, coughing (ouch) and yes, hearing those "ughs" as we let out what we believe to be under-our-breath sounds of frustration. We both say "I heard that", and chuckle as we realize how much easier and more safe our anchoring and docking is becoming. SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE!! Perhaps these would work  for other situations too, with an effective range of 50-70 feet, although could work up to 300 feet.

When would you use them?

As this gorgeous day continued we were able to work on boat chores: laundry, floor wash, wax boat deck and general tidying. Our V-berth guest (Bob) has left so once again this large space becomes our easy-access storage for cockpit cushions, suitcases and small heater.

I prepare a short provisioning list as we look ahead at our travels south toward Virginia.

It's Thanksgiving and we plan our holiday dinner in the picnic area on the waterfront. It's a bit chilly at the dinner hour but we are not complaining since it reached 30C earlier - a temperature that we've never experienced on any past mid-October day at home.

Duck face out, fish lips in.

Thanksgiving Day sunset. Cooler temps at night.

Tony just loves chatting. I think he loves meeting people more than me. He introduces me to Mike, another Catalina 380 owner at the club that is heading south soon, and within an hour of chatting Mike has offered us his car so we can use to get into the town nearby.  Time to make a grocery list.

We are so thankful for such a generous offer to use the car, as the taxi service that I called declined my request, saying 'they don't come out that far';working the Baltimore and Washington airports were their focus.

Early the next day I hear:

BANG!! BANG!! "chhhhhh...shhhh"....

what the heck?

I pretty much run up the steps out of the boat, into the cockpit at the same time another sailor in the boat opposite does the same.

Both of us looking around, I shriek,  "Was that a gun shot?" 

"Yup. Welcome to America", he says.

We scan the waterfront around us, only to see this! I am stunned. This camouflaged boat is just 100 feet away from fuel dock at the yacht club we are moored on.
Duck hunting in a small harbour like this?
I wasn't able to find any pieces on the deck, thankfully there were no more shots as I remained down below to take shelter. 

Shrapnel landed on the boat deck and bounced into the water.
Decoys in front and behind.

Maryland Yacht Club, just off the Chesapeake Bay, southeast of Baltimore.

FUN!

With our fridge and storage areas decently packed with provisions, we set out of MYC into the Chesapeake Bay, motoring and sailing towards Herring Bay, an anchorage about 6 hours south.
Winds gusting to 30 knots, thankful for northwest winds.



This sailor rides the waves in the Chesapeake, just south of Baltimore.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is nearly 5 miles long and almost 200 feet in some areas.
Some say the scariest bridge in America: I drove over this on my way from Ocean City to Annapolis and I say YES!

The eastbound lanes are toll free, but westbound lanes pay the toll.

Tony slurps the hot, spicy chicken soup and manages to give us a fish lip pose.

After careful navigation around shoaling and red markers, we arrive in the small bay opposite a shoreline of cliffs, lovely cottage-type homes and a small beach.
We anchor with ease, thanks to MARRIAGE SAVERS (say in a big voice) and settle in for a calm, quiet night.

Water depth 12 ft, winds from the northwest with very little current. Good muddy bottom.
Note to any sailors planning to anchor in the Chesapeake: Bring bucket of water to bow to splash on chain and anchor

Another early sailor gets this cool sunrise on Thursday, October 15.

Today's glorious, calm voyage takes us from Herring Bay to Solomon's Island, Maryland.

Winds are light (5-10 knots), ocean waves just 1 ft, with full sunshine that gives us 19C and a few fair clouds.

Pelicans, schools of fish, massive freighters and other snowbirds heading south on the water today.

We chatted with "Shine", to verify the restricted area on the charts. We are all willing to sail through - yikes!

Very cool sight. Helicopter training centre nearby.

We see several of the jets on our way out of the harbour the next day.

We are being watched.

Naval Academy airport sends out helicopters and jets! We have our own airshow!

We love saving money by anchoring, so with suggestions from Active Captain, we set out way points to Mill Creek to anchor in Bow Cove.  By the time we have anchored with the help of MARRIAGE SAVERS (say in big voice), we are shedding clothing and wearing shorts while we have dinner under the shade of the bimini.

It seems like we are in the middle of the channel but the small cove is perfect and calm. It's a lovely warm night that brings bald eagles fishing for their dinner at dusk and a few palm-sized translucent jellyfish too, floating on the surface around the boat. No midnight swim for me!

Excellent mud bottom for holding the anchor, approximately 11 ft deep, with 1 foot tidal range. Deja Vu is set.

Soon we have company on the brown river water. Where is the blue ocean?

Our quiet night is disturbed by the "Waaa! Waaa!" of the alarm from the Drag Queen, iPhone app we have, alerting us of some sort of anchor movement. We both bolt out of bed, Tony shuts off the alarm, we poke our heads out of the boat, look for the shore all around and other boats anchored, hoping there is no visual difference. We settle in after agreeing we are ok.
We laugh and compare our early morning wake to the times we answered our own children's cry in the night: one big difference is that our baby weighs in at 20,000 lbs!
There is a bit of sway with the morning winds building from the north. A Canadian cold, high pressure is on the way.

The eagles fly, the jets fly and the helicopters fly and we are off too. Leaving Friday morning at 9:40, we set sail for Reedville, just a 6 hour ocean run today. Although their is a small craft warning, we head out and prepare, knowing the waves and wind forecast will naturally be more, as Mother Nature has a sense of humour.

Loads of sunshine and waves at 2-3 feet, wind 15-20 knots from the north, we have the push behind us and rolling waves greet us as we exit the harbour and head into the open Chesapeake.

We do some sailing but with gusts and wind at our stern, we pull the sails in and motor on the roller coaster into Reedville, a small marina next to a fish factory.

Leaving Solomon's Island area.

The crab pots (buoys) are littered at the entrance to this river. The depth is just 2 ft on each side of the green and red markers. I can't imagine doing any of these inlet trips without navigation software (we use iNavX). Active Captain gives us details that make our eyes open wide: Better hope you don't have a wind from the south, as the smell from the fish factory will make your vomit.
Winds still from the north, although cooling off, we are happy to report that no buckets were needed.

Crab fishing boats just south of the Reedville Marina.

I call in on VHF 16 and am told to pull up and dock at the "Crabby Crab Restaurant". Sounds perfect!

A bowl of fresh crab bisque each, blackened Mahi Mahi for me and Shrimp Fettucine for Tony,
a chat with the other boaters and our day is done!

Have you ever heard the sound of a train roaring in the distance, the roar getting deeper and louder in range? Some people who have experienced hurricanes and tropical storms describe the sound of thewind like a roaring train.

It was just an hour past dawn, clearly Mother Nature is Canadian and she must have felt we missed her, so she sent that cold high pressure air a-roaring into this small marina cove at 7:30 am. At first I really honestly swore there must have been a freight train track nearby, as we hadn't explored the small town as yet. As we sat up in bed and wondered about this noise, it just kept roaring and then the boat began to rumble and sway. One look out the small port light window from the aft cabin confirmed this roar was indeed the cold, Canadian front we were promised!

Here is a view of the lovely home, sunrise reflecting on the water and buildings as the wind disturbs the once misty cove,

We stay in Reedville for another night and leave on Saturday, October 17th at 9:20 am. With our Sail to the Sun Rally beginning in just a few days, we contact the coordinator to confirm we are all set. As we remind him of our keel drawing 7 ft, he advises we don't meet with the rest of the group but rather join him at Fishing Bay Marina, Deltaville, Virginia. We've crossed over into another state!  

You can see the edge of the front, pushing the clouds southeast.
We are coming in from Chesapeake Bay to Fishing Bay Marina,
and those ugly clouds are heading south. 

 It's turning into a nice clear Saturday, although we have sweatshirts on, the sunshine is shining on our next port where we meet up with Wally Moran, the coordinator for the rally we will join.

We arrive at 3:30, up to the fuel dock for diesel at $2.79 U.S. gallon and a pump out too.

This marina has a pool! And a bath house! (just the southern way of saying showers/washrooms).

No sooner have we plugged in to shore power, the power goes out. Apparently there was a fire in the town of Deltaville which caused the power failure in the area. We are told it may come back by 8 pm. We have no way of knowing how the Blue Jays are doing!
I fire up the live stream on my cell and we watch the score to see the Jays win against Texas!!! (power back on at 8:30)

 GO JAYS GO!!!

"Where ya'll from?" says Jim, the dock hand. I love his accent.
The hospitality from all the marina staff is truly genuine. India (the owner's daughter) runs the place and helps us move Deja Vu off the fuel dock to a slip so we are safe and secure.
We borrow a courtesy car and take an quick drive just 10 minutes from the dock into town for a few groceries.

(Courtesy of www.marinas.com)

Not my image. However we are docked on a finger slip here.
Tony had to lasso the huge tree posts on either side of our stern, as I steadied us.
Very different docking with tides, as you must have a loose line that can slide up and down.

It seems the simple things in life are more precious than you can ever imagine.
With my mom being called to rest on Sunday, October 18 and then suddenly Randy McCabe (the father to my 3 children) on Monday, October 19, we travel home to Pickering, Ontario to be with our families.

We begin our mourning of the loss of two precious people in our lives and put our journey on hold.

Love one another and enjoy all the simple things in life.
R.I.P Mom
R.I.P Randy

We will continue our adventures soon,
Sailor Christine
xo

Everyone Has a Story, Even the Sea and the Birds

Schedules and timelines have been pushed and as any smart sailor knows, it's about being flexible, for it's all mighty Mother Nature that rewrites our daily plans of this adventure south.
Bob's arrival, sent by Mother Nature of course, is timed perfectly as the weather window opens up for us to continue our travels down the Hudson towards NYC, with one overnight stop beforehand. With a full cooler of beer and ice, we are on our way. We do drink other beverages too. Just had to add that.

The depth of our boat (7' keel) also plays an important part of where to dock or anchor for the night, and the guessing game of "is it deep enough at that marina?" begins. We pass by several shallow marina options and after a friendly call from a sailor we met at Riverview Marine we end up at Riverfront Marina.

Our route out from there is to the right of the small island ahead on the right.

I am becoming quite confident of my docking skills so far, as I swing Deja Vu around 360 degrees onto the wall as the boat-watching crowd at the waterfront restaurant Billy Joe's Ribworks cheers me on. With a beer in hand, my crew and sailor Dave (from Golden Eye who hailed us to join him here) too, we are thankful for a deep marina at a mere 24'. Deja Vu loves it.
As I look around, I find myself wondering if this is a small version of what it might look like being in the Alps, lol, having never been, but it is what I imagine.

Google image I borrowed. We were docked along the wall, straight ahead.

So Dave's story is one that many extreme sailors dream about: Sailing around the world.
He's from Hamilton I believe and with his wife cheering him on from home, he is on his way down the coast, taking his time and realizing that if he doesn't like it, he'll just call it a day and bring the boat back home. Not much in the way of an extreme sailor but more of a curious and hopeful soul looking for that adventure that we all crave, as it seems, later in life. His wife doesn't sail but she challenges herself by hiking the mountains in Croatia, for example. We'll keep in touch with Dave as he's on his own and it's just wise to have those connections as we head off-shore very soon.

I am starting to wonder if it is just the rich and famous that only live on this stretch of the Hudson River. Have a look at these spectacular homes along our way, as the mountains rise from the river and the homes perch among the trees and line the riverfront.

I wonder what the story is with this poor sailboat? I can guess the last storm and perhaps a poor anchorage wrote the last chapter for this vessel.

Are you a fan of the Duck Dynasty series? I know nothing about it, but we did see a few shacks among the marshes that made me think of the show.

This river is constantly amazing me with places of interest. And for those who know me, this tour I have you on is making me very happy, as I love giving everyone 'the tour'.

West Point United States Military Academy is quite a fortress along the bank. To my disappointment, the men must have been in class and NOT on the rugby field, darn.

Our weather is warm and sunny. The mountains are incredible.

Bear Mountain bridge is huge and it looks as if the highway goes right through the mountain. 

What do you think?

This section of the Hudson in Haverstraw, is the widest at 3.5 miles wide. Windy conditions are perfect for these fall sailors.

Many sights far away play tricks with our eyes. Bob and Tony recognize this area of Nyack, NJ.
In 2012, Tony met Bob around this area after Hurricane Sandy had devastated the docks and marinas along the river. The new Nyack bridge under construction.

"Hey Bob, is that freighter in the middle of the channel?", I ask.
"No, it's just sitting there, bobbing at anchor. Stay in the middle of the channel and you'll be fine."
 "Ahhh, I think it's moving, across the channel, I am going to run right into him. I'll check with the binoculars". My story is like this: I am certain it's moving across in front of us, so I stick to my story and I figure we will wait and see as we get closer.
Bob repeats, "These big guys just look like they are moving but he is not moving. I will check the AIS". This is Bob's story: The freighter is anchored on the right side of the channel.

The AIS says he is NOT moving, and as we motor by, Bob is right. He is anchored.
(But I think he moved across in front of us first and then dropped his anchor just before we passed him). That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Doesn't it look like the freighter is in the channel? Optical illusion?

Is that NYC I see? I am a bit teary and excited to realize we've made it to the Big Apple, finally.
We will grab a mooring ball at the West 79th Street Boat Basin and enjoy a night or two in the city before heading offshore.

I was very successful at bringing the boat to the ball and Tony hooking the large rope and tying off - all under the careful supervision of Sailor Bob.

Here is the crazy 2+ knot current in the basin.

My crew.

Notice the beard on my sailor and the semi-clean shaven Bob.

The dinghy makes it's debut in NYC.

Dinghy ride in to shore is about 10 minutes and after checking in and paying a whopping $30 for the night! What???!! Yes, that's right, we've found the cheapest waterfront hotel in the city.

A short walk up, a few blocks west and we are on Amsterdam Avenue, hunting out a food establishment. With so many to choose from, we look for a busy place that the mid-week locals are frequenting and find "Hy Life". Cuz that's what we are livin', the HY LIFE.

New York flat bread pizza, penne pasta and a fresh fish dinner are among our selections along with some hoppy drinks for Bob and Tony. I stick to one glass of white wine, as we may be leaving for offshore tomorrow and have to be in good shape for the journey.

Our server Sunny helps us with our absent minds as we struggle to remember the actress who played the main role in Sex in the City.
This is Bob's trivia night apparently. He asks us first, "Who is that girl in that show?"
Huh? What girl?
We are struggling to remember her.
Bob offers a hint, "She was or maybe still is married to that guy."
Oh gee, thanks Bob. 

That guy and that girl are Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. Thank you Sunny.
She offers her story about meeting Matthew in the city: "I was working at a Starbucks on the east side of the city and he comes in for a coffee. I tell him I love him in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and aspire to do 'nothing' and 'goof off' as his character did in the movie. He leans forward to say to me, "Quit. Don't stay and just settle for this job. Just quit and do what you want."

Sunny tells us she quit that day and is now studying at Columbia University. Cool story.

Empire State Building and lots of construction going on. Good to see.

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. This carrier is home to the sheltered Space Shuttle.
Shout out to Gavin: Hey I found it! Maybe next time Tony and I are here we will go on the tour!

One World Trade, at Ground Zero in Manhattan. 

Tony motors us out of the NYC harbour, dodging the ferries, water taxis, cruise boats, 

freighters and even jet skis.

We have seen the small craft warning forecast just offshore of Sandy Hook, but we decide to leave as the weather is said to improve as we continue further south, so says the forecast.

Sailor Dave calls us and says he will head to Sandy Hook area for some boat work at the marina before he heads out. He has hired a weather router from Maine to provide him with forecasts. His guy says it's a good day to go and don't wait, as it gets worse if we stay another day.

With a beautiful morning heading out and seas swelling, we are in for quite a ride, but we don't know it yet.

We follow out a few of the big freighters around the markers and are surprised that the depth is just 56 feet in what seems like it should be hundreds of feet deep. The ocean is so vast, rolling swells are building and grow to over 15 feet from what I can tell. They are not white capped, just rolling. We have on our life jackets and settle in for our 30 hour motor and motor-sail down the coast.

Sunset on the coast just north of Atlantic City. Waves are building and night is cooling off from a warm 23C day. Jackets and pants on and full enclosure around us to keep warm.
We take shifts of one hour at the helm each. This gives us a 2 hour rest in-between.

The weather story is this: Left overs from Hurricane Joaquin and a north east system provide a perfect recipe for a confused sea as we pass the Delaware channel and continue south.
Unfortunately my vertigo is building as I pass the 20 hour mark. I choose to take the helm for most of the shifts, as this takes my mind off of the motion. I thought I could do this full on. The conditions are not as bad as our rough journey across Lake Ontario but I can't shake it.
Tony and Bob nap as I motor us through the ocean, taking direction from them around markers and shoals and underwater obstructions, all marked on the charts.

We all decide we've had enough and bring Deja Vu into land in Ocean City, Maryland. Wind gusts top 35 knots and with seas that just won't quit, we call it a day before noon on Wednesday, Oct. 7th.

Just 3 miles offshore from Ocean City, this little bird, a young sparrow comes on board. He scoots in the zipper opening of the enclosure and stows away with us for the next 2 hours.
He nibbles on a few crackers crumbs and granola bar crumbs on the cockpit floor and then settles in the sunshine and closes his eyes. So sweet. Warming himself from the winds and resting.
I wonder what his story is?

My happy tears come again, as Tony brings the boat through the opening of the channel in the morning, and I see dolphins escorting us in! About 6 of them off the bow and port side of the boat, rise above the water as if to say, "Come on, this way!".


We've arrived at White Marlin Marina in Ocean City. We are in for a treat.

We stretch our legs, and take ourselves to the beach and is it incredible!

Beach sculpture for kids to climb on.

Peddle bike on the boardwalk.

Three Miles long! 

My boys enjoy a frozen custard cone.

Interesting signage on this store.

Silly me.

Yes, those are palm trees.

Following Tony's footsteps back to the boardwalk.

Watermelon Ice!

Seems we have arrived on a very busy day, as the town prepares for the 25th Annual Cruiser's Weekend in Ocean City. Classic cars and new models rumble past as they cruise the blocks around the town and locals, followers and tourists line the sidewalks to catch a good look at their favourites.

Here's one for you Mark!

Anyone interested in a week or weekend holiday here? We may consider this in the future, as it is just a 10 hour drive from Toronto!

More cottages across the river from the marina, not beach front,
but golf courses nearby and beach just across five minute drive across a bridge.

We've found The Frog Bar and Grill. Quick hamburger lunch with a view of the channel, in hopes to see those dolphins again!

A sculptor, Peter Toth, has carved a huge Indian head from a 100 year old oak tree, to commemorate the Indian tribe that once claimed these lands in Maryland.

Peter is currently carving a sculpture in each of the fifty states. That would make for an interesting theme for a road trip!

More details on the picture of the plaque below.

Posted on several lamp posts along the beach front.

Capt. David fishing boat is well used, smells as I walk past and has some good stories to tell I am sure.
The new fishing boats along side probably have more exaggerated stories of the ones that got away.

We've really enjoyed the people of Ocean City, the taste of summer with hot days and cool ice cream, and of course the waves and beach too. However it's time to keep moving and after some great thought, I decide to rent a car and meet the boys north and near the Annapolis boat show - Bob's end point with us.
Since my vertigo lingers and the weather is somewhat questionable, I would just rather choose this route and have the boys deliver Deja Vu at the other end.
Tony and Bob sail back up the coast and enter the Delaware River as they decide to take the C & D Canal (The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a 14-mile-long, 450-foot-wide and 35-foot-deep ship canal that connects the Delaware River with the Chesapeake Bay in the states of Delaware and Maryland in the United States. Wikipedia).


We've read about the canal, as it holds the title of being one of the busiest in the world, 
as a mere 25,000 vessels chug along this route every year.





While my crew heads out, I too, have my route up the coast and thoroughly enjoy a lovely fall drive in a rental car (new Kia Rio) heading towards Annapolis.
ETA for Deja Vu is approximately 14 hours to the middle of the canal for a one night stop.
Next day they will have a shorter day sail (6 hours) across the Chesapeake Bay to Maryland Yacht Club, where I will be waiting for them on B Dock, of course.

My ETA is approximately 3 hours.
I arrive in Annapolis just before noon on Friday to see such a gorgeous old seaside town!
Old buildings that house quaint clothing shops, ice cream parlours, and restaurants. A market place and old stone walkways too. I see masts sticking up everywhere along the shore. I realize this is going to be a town I will want to walk and enjoy the shops and perhaps have an ice cream too.

With my GPS set for Annapolis Visitor's Centre, I arrive safely and happily pay the $5 to park and make my way into the centre to chat it up with the staff about accommodations for the night.
If you ever been to this show, you will laugh at the thought that I might even be able to actually find lodging for the night, let alone find a parking spot for the rental car (other than the visitor temp parking).

It's the Columbus Day long weekend in the U.S. and the Annapolis in-water Sailboat show that will see approximately 130,000 attendees over the 5-day event.
What are the odds that I would find any hotel or motel or B & B or inn with my name on a pillow? Slim to poor. Well, if I paid the $299 per night at the Marriott, then yes, I would be poor.
After making 9 calls out to different accommodations in the downtown core, I realize I'm going to have to expand my search.

I drive through the town, hoping I can find somewhere to sleep for the night. I randomly think of bunking in with a strapping young man in the United States Naval Academy, which is right beside the main entrance to the boat show. Perhaps not.
What if I just slid in and slept in a huge catamaran in the show? Who would notice? The 60' boats have large enough bunks that I would easily be hidden away.
Ah, well after going around the roundabout 3 times, I give up. I can't find parking and I am getting hungry and need to stop and rest.
My final phone call to a Hampton Hotel, ends with a smile as I enter in the address in my GPS on the cell and I am off to the interstate, an hour north towards Baltimore.
I've checked in to a decent room for $114 and am now doing some research for a marina or yacht club for Deja Vu to motor to on Saturday.

The boys had some ugly weather pass over them, as they take to anchoring and wait it out. I watched TV and drank some white wine. All was good. Oh, it rained in the hotel parking lot too. It was really dark and scary.

On Saturday the boys decide to take me up on the location I've chosen for them: Maryland Yacht Club in Pasadena, Maryland. It has all the amenities for us: showers, diesel, pump out, laundry and not too far up a shallow creek.
Tony sends me a text and says they will arrive approximately at 4 pm.
Hmm...I have time to write my blog.
Off to the neighbourhood Starbucks I go.

For any of you that do any writing or have a blog on the go, you will know that it takes a decent amount of time to come to the finished product.
Step One: Upload photos to your preferred photo editor (I use Picasa)
Step Two: Choose your key photos that highlight your writing
Step Three: Write the blog
Step Four: Edit the blog
Step Five: Post to the internet (and pray you have decent internet!)

With the weekend approaching and my deadline to post being Sunday (not that I have an editor on my back or anything) I decide to get on it.

I am well on my way writing and adding photos in my corner of Starbucks, when these two interesting men join me at a nearby table.
I meet Dale Crites and his book author, Paul Hoffman. Paul is writing a story about Dale. I don't know much more however he and Paul know Madonna. I'm looking forward to following him on Facebook to see how his future progresses.

Deja Vu loves her dock at Maryland Yacht Club. B Dock is home for her for a couple of days, as Bob is with us just one more night, then back to Toronto. We will miss him.

Centre of the photo, one of those masts belongs to Deja Vu.

My strong and sturdy and silly crew!

Bob and his Sam Adams

BOAT SHOW DAY!!!!

We are up early, breakfast on the way and in less than 45 minutes we have parked and are walking to the show. Although we are not in our car, we have some traffic, on the water. 

We wait as the drawbridge opens for the sailboats to pass through the channel. Sunshine and high of 25C today. Bob is cramming in a fun boat-filled hour at the show before his flight home.

HI John, from Perry.

Tony's story goes like this: We've finished 3 of the 4 legs of our journey south.

1. Oswego to Hudson River
2. Hudson River south to NYC Harbour
3. Chesapeake up to the Annapolis Boat show

Our 4th leg is meeting up with Wally Moran for the ICW Sail to the Sun Rally to our end destination: Vero Beach Florida by December 7.

We are so proud of each other and all we have accomplished thus far. With incredible friends and crew (BOB WE LOVE YOU) along the way and your support from home, we are sure our final part of the journey, down the ICW, will be equally exciting and full of wonderful memories.

We miss our family and Charley. We are missing Thanksgiving dinner this weekend with Tony's parents, my parents and family and our kids. 

But meeting our Mimico friends at the boat show today with their big hugs, gave us a wee bit of warmth from home. We are thankful for your friendship.

Wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving weekend!

We will be taking our time travelling down the Chesapeake over the next 9 days, until we meet up with our group on October 19 in Deltaville, VA.

Hope for internet and some interesting adventures to blog about until then...

Sailor Christine

xo