The beautiful Bahama waters

Lunch time - cracked conch

WishBone in Blue Water Marina, Bimini

Her courtesy flag flying high!

 

 

The VHF call was from Release, "Do you see them?"  The Bahamas were in sight! Yeah!  We left Miami at 5 a.m. Monday, motored through Government Cut with all the other cruise ships coming in, and motored across the Gulf.  There was little wind and no sails were hauled.  The water was rolly, but not bad.  We pulled into Alice Town, Bimini around 2:30 p.m. and cleared customs.  We took April to the beach where is romped and played as only April can.  We are staying at Bimini Blue Water Marina while we wait for another weather window.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sunday, December 29th

Miami from the anchorage here in Key Biscayne last night

Crashed after a great run on the beach and playing as only April can with a coconut

April and Skipper in April's dinghy dolphin watching - there were so many it took all morning!

 

Again, the anchorage in Mariner's Stadium, Key Biscayne - it is hot and hazy.

 

We left Ft. Lauderdale yesterday morning with Release and started the great bridge marathon that one must endure to get to Miami of 13 restricted bridges.  All the bridges only open at restricted times.  If you don't make that time one must wait until the next scheduled time.  That is not always easy.  We made it as far as Mauli Lake, dropped anchor for lunch and a bridge break, and headed out again.  We stopped for fuel along the way and watched good sized cruisers being towed off the shoal.  It was like a party with lots of observers in boats and kayaks and people standing on the shoal watching.  We had gotten a heads up from another cruiser so knew enough to hug the green markers.  However, even with that knowledge, we had a small boat get between us and a green marker to tell us we only had six feet of water as we bumped and bumped again.  I told him we didn't have six feet because he was in it.  Anyway, we made it into Miami and then on into the anchorage at Mariner's Stadium, Key Biscayne.  We plan to leave here tomorrow, Monday, with Release to cross the Gulf Stream into Bimini.  Our phone will be shut off.  I will continue to post the blog when wifi is available.  We are excited to get to the islands, and have our fingers crossed all goes well.

 



December 26th

We did some boat work in the morning on Christmas Day after a beautiful walk on the beach in the AM and in the afternoon we had Christmas dinner aboard Release.  We talked with Geoff and Renee and caught up with home in the evening.  Today, we worked on provisioning again as far as propane, boat spare parts, dog food, etc.  Franci and I took the dogs to the ocean boardwalk to shop while Ken and Bill did the marine supply, hardware store, etc. end.  What attention our two dogs get when on the boardwalk.  Picture taking and the whole business!  Tomorrow we head for Miami for our crossing to the Bahamas.  There we will wait for the weather window.  I am really excited that we have actually made it!

Christmas Eve
We are in Las Olas Marina in Ft. Lauderdale.  What a beautiful place to be on Christmas Eve!  I provisioned today with food, etc. and found a place for it all.  Bus to the store, taxi back.  Franci came with me and April and Skipper stayed with Bill and Ken who did boat work - specifically work on our shaft.  It is moving forward and we cannot determine why.  We will have Christmas tomorrow with Ken and Franci and a friend of theirs who lives here in Ft. Lauderdale.  Thursday will be getting more provisioning done re: boat spare parts, dog supplies, laundry, etc.  Then we will be hopefully looking for that weather window to cross either from here or from Miami.  A front is coming through with lots of wind from the NE and a little rain.  However, the temps are still in the 70's and I am loving that.  MERRY CHRISTMAS from all aboard WishBone!  Thanks for checking in with us and keeping in touch.  There is no phone service for us in the Bahamas and limited wifi, but I will post to the blog when I can.  Lots of Love.

Monday. December 23rd

We hauled anchor with Release from Lantana at 7:00 a.m. All was well until Bill did the boat check and found our dripless bearing was leaking like a sieve.  We had 13 restricted bridges to go through and we did maybe 5 when the bilge pump could not handle the water.  So we anchored, Release pulled up right behind us. We rafted.  Ken and Bill were down in the engine room at least an hour.  Problem solved, we continued on and made all the remaining bridges - with the help of two power boats - and are now in Ft. Lauderdale.  We are exhausted but fine and tomorrow will think about the Christmas celebration.  Love to all.

Sunday, December 22nd

Another very windy but warm and sunny day on the waterway.  We are beginning to look tanned.  April is soaking up the heat and drinking a lot of water.  We did five more bridges today going only eighteen miles in five and one half hours!  What speed!  We missed a couple of the scheduled openings and so had to dance around the channel waiting for the next opening.  We dropped anchor with Release in Lantana.  With an early start tomorrow morning, we should hopefully be able to make Ft. Lauderdale and Los Olas Marina tomorrow afternoon.  We will be there for a few days to provision for the Bahamas.

 

Anchored by the Jensen Beach Causeway Bridge

There has been discussion about how much longer the ICW will be able to be navigated and then today we see this dredging project.  We do need to do more of this if the channel is to remain open.

 

Just some beautiful homes we saw today along the Jupiter Island area of the ICW

Saturday, December 21st

Eureka!  We finally caught up with our friends Ken and Francie and Skipper on Release.  They were anchored at Jensen Beach Causeway waiting for us.  We had a great celebration with endless stories and a great dinner Francie prepared and a game of cribbage.  This morning we were off and running to Lake Worth.  It was a day of many restricted bridges and many boaters out on the waterways on this beautiful day.  This is the third day in a row we've had shorts on!  We are headed for Ft. Lauderdale to provision for our crossing to the islands. 

Thursday, December 19th

Bill and April had a quick trip around the small island we were anchored in front of and after breakfast we pulled anchor and headed for Vero Beach.  A boat check revealed that the dripless bearing was leaking A LOT.  Okay, change of plans.  Called USBoat for a marina that could help us out.  Sebastian was the nearest and we headed for it - 8 miles out.  We've been in Sebastian before with Snow Goose.  One of the many times we lost the exhaust connection.  We found the channel and headed in.  They had our problem solved within an hour and we went off again headed for Vero Beach.  We fueled at Vero and watered and rafted with an abandoned boat.  April had long walks, we had showers and food and we are ready to meet our friends Ken, Francie and Skipper tomorrow in Jensen Beach Causeway and begin our plans for crossing to the Bahamas.

Wednesday, December 18th

We had a nice voyage yesterday, cold in the beginning of the day but warming up into the 60's and uneventful.  We started out against the tide, but after a short time caught the tide and ended up in Titusville - a good run.  We docked in those darn poles.  You need every line aboard to tie up - two for the bow, two for the stern and a mid ship.  Makes for a lot of work coming and going.  The highlight of the day was a big dog park we found for April.  She played and she play with the other dogs.  There was a 4 month old Goldendoodle who was tired by the time April left.  We got an early start this morning.  Bill back out of that dock - pilings on all sides - like the expert.  April was on the bow to give the goodbyes to all admirers.  There is no tide here on the Indian River, the wind was blowing 15 to 20 right up our stern, so we did our cruising speed of 6.5 or better the entire day with skinny water.  It makes one wonder how much longer boats will be able to navigate the ICW.  We are anchored tonight off a couple of islands near Sebastian, FL.  We had anchored with Snow Goose and decided April would enjoy the islands, and she did.  She went for a swim and ran around free as a bird.  There is still a little too much wind, but hopefully it will die down.  Tomorrow we will make a short run to Vero Beach for fuel and water, fish oil and vitamins for our itchy April - and a bath.  Friday we will meet Ken and Francie Bushee at Jensen Beach Causeway and plan our crossing to the Bahamas!  We have finally caught up with them!  We are hoping all our followers are having a happy holiday season.  Bill, Barb and April wish you the best of  holiday greetings.

Monday, December 16th
The thunderstorms came into St. Augustine Saturday afternoon and did it rain and it continued through the night and didn't let up until Sunday afternoon.  Our intention was to head out Sunday morning, but I didn't think that was such a good idea and didn't meet with any opposition.  It rained so hard that one could take a bath in dinghy.  Bill bailed out 37 two gallon buckets and then pumped and pumped some more.

We left the dock at 7:15 this morning, temperature 38 degrees, and had a good cold running day with the tides.  We made it through some skinny water and Devil's Elbow (the last time we went through there with Snow Goose we were aground high and dry - thank you TowBoat US).  We are in Daytona Beach this evening, but it is still very cold.  They are predicting a cold night but warmer day tomorrow - please!

Happy Birthday Geoffrey.  We love you and miss you.  April sends her special kisses.

Saturday, December 14th

Beautiful St. Augustine

 

April was a little intimidated by the horses

 

Tour boat waiting for the Bridge of Lions to open

Patio dining

Thursday, December 12

It is not easy keyboarding with the rocking and rolling we are  having, but here I go.  We got off to a late start, 9 AM, somewhat because of the tide and somewhat because of Miss April who has been having a intestinal problem for the past couple of day, which means Mon and Dad have been having a lot of no sleep nights.  Anyway, we left about 9 am with a lot of NE wind and a temperature of 54 degrees.  But we had the water and tide with us so we arrived at St. Augustine around 2 pm at the fuel dock  April being what she was, we decided to take a slip.  It was like we had arrived in familiar territory and a very nice feeling.  We were able to enjoy the back porch and watch the other vessels come in. We have fueled, and will water and then provision. We both need hair cuts and I need to shop in the old town.  So we will probably be here two days and then on to Daytona.  We are beginning to see Christmas.

Wednesday, December 11th

We needed the assistance of two line handlers to get off the dock this morning against the wind and tide, but made it and were off to Jacksonville - our stopover before St. Augustine.  We hadn't left Fernandina Beach for long when the skinny water found us again.  The first bump was big, followed by a couple more.  As I was in the head at the time, it was quite a surprise!  The cold front is still blowing in, so it was a windy day but without rain and 61 degrees cold is much  better than 28 degrees.

Tuesday, December 10th

With all good intentions to  be under way early, when we got up yesterday the fog was so dense you couldn't see your nose in front of your face, and it didn't even begin to think about lifting until noon time.  So, too late for us to get anywhere, we stayed in Brunswick, called a taxi to take us to PetSmart for dog food.  That was an experience.  The taxi was on its way to pick us up, but there was a young mother and baby that needed to get to the hospital quickly.  So we waved that taxi on.  The next taxi picked us up, we traveled to the bridge where the vehicle got a flat tire - major blowout.  Okay.  Another taxi picks us up and takes us to the wrong pet store - however, we clarified that issue and arrived at PetSmart.  When we returned to the marina with our two 40 lbs bags of dog food and treats we were told we owed them $4.00 for the dog.  That did not set well with Bill as I had asked the price of the fare when I called for a pickup.  Of course Bill told them she was a service dog and a call to the AG's office might be needed.  Bill got a phone call back from the taxi company later with a apology - first for the service (3 cabs) and then for charging $ for April.  Brunswick was a good stop for April as she charmed the dock master and everyone on the dock, and there was a huge park where she could run free.  We left Brunswick this morning and are now in Fernandina Beach, Florida - a cause for celebration!!!!  We dodged a cold front coming in the whole way down the waterway, but then after arriving at Fernandina Beach and while walking April we got caught in a down pour.  Showers and the laundry dryers followed.  We found some fresh snapper in the fish store for dinner, met some fellow cruisers we have  been traveling with and a couple from Portsmouth NH.  Weather permitting, we hope to be continuing our travel south to meet up with our dear friends on Release in Stuart, FL.

Sunday, December 8th

It was so beautiful at sunset where we anchored on the Dublin River.  However, it rained and blew up during the night and then the fog rolled in.  By morning, it was very foggy and cold.  However, we decided moving would be better than sitting it out in a place with nothing going on, so we donned the foul weather gear, wrapped up the dog, and headed out.  As we came out of the Dublin River, a Canadian boat crossed in front of us going along the ICW.  We followed them all day through some of the poorest parts of the ditch, but we had the tide with us so the water was high and we did just fine.  We are in Brunswick tonight and intend to be in Fernandina Beach tomorrow.

 

Dublin River

Saturday

We traveled in the fog this morning, but the weather was warm.  We left Delegal Island and plowed through the mud in Hells Gate.  Georgia should reimburse WishBone for dredging the ditch.  We were in mud so deep even the depth sounder alarm quit.  The sun finally found us this afternoon and the water got deeper.  We had to fight the tide off and on all day.  We made 50 miles and dropped anchor in the Duplin River, just off Doboy Sound.  Bill fired up the outboard and dinghy with April aboard have gone into the ferry terminal pier.  I'm on anchor watch.  Tomorrow brings us very close to being out of Georgia and into Florida!  This is the second day I've had shorts on and I'm loving it!

April's new ride - Dad we have to get one of these!

 

 

The marina at Delegal Island is inexpensive and the sun was shining and it was warm this morning.  We decided to take a day off from the waterway and stay for the day and enjoy the island.  We took the golf cart and headed for the village only to find that we were running out of charge, so we turned around and went back to the marina.  We just made it.  We then took the fully charged cart and went to the Village.  April loved every minute of the ride.  Squirrel hunting is unbelievable along the golf course paths from the cart!  We had the first pizza in a long time at the Village Bar & Grill along with one of their craft beers.  We did some banking, grocery shopping and enjoyed our day.  

Thursday, December 5th

Again today we got an early start and were underway at 7:15 a.m.  We left Skull Creek and traveled only a short distance when the fog rolled in.  We decided to continue on.  The fog lifted after about half an hour.  However, it wasn't long before it reappeared and we traveled in the fog all morning.  We were glad we made the decision not to sail outside today.  We also had the tide against us all morning so the going was very slow.  We are now in Georgia, the land of the marine mechanic bandit Tommy Lee.  We are off Skidaway Island tonight, just off the ICW.  This is another of those golf course residential places i.e. Hilton Head.  Great for walking April (on leash) as there are golf cart paths everywhere and little traffic.  She did get to do some off leash squirrel hunting around the marina - boy, do they have squirrels.  Again today, it was warm and once the fog burned off it was 70 degrees.  We are now seeing the big shrimp boats along with the crab boats.  We are also seeing dolphins - finally! 

December 4th

We left Charleston in a docking flurry - there was a huge wooden boat in back of us at the fuel dock.  We wanted to leave and they were not moving.  Nobody was showing up at the marina to offer help with lines.  So we decided we can do this backing up out of the dock with the tide against us around this wooden boat.  Well we live to tell about it, but it wasn't pretty.  Dinghy did a fly over the dock as the tide pushed our bow back in.  Poor dinghy.  We had a good day after that event though and spent the evening off Parrott Creek and the Morgan River in Dataw Island.  Today we are in Hilton Head after another good day with the tides.  It hit 80 degrees here in the late afternoon.  April had a bath and we did some good dog walks.  Tomorrow it is Georgia!

December 2, 2013

We are south of Charleston tonight back on the ICW.  We fought the tide today, especially through the Elliot Cut.  I've marked the chart to make sure to check the tides before we go through there again.  We were lucky to be moving in a forward motion.  At the worst we were doing 1.1 knots and holding our breath.  Good think it wasn't very long.  Yesterday we had skinny water all day, but had the tide with us.  We know our depth sounder alarm works.  All day long the depth sounder and the knots we reading close to the same numbers.  We also have been doing the crazy swing bridges that only open on the hour during certain hours. The weather has turned warmer for us in the past couple of days - 40's at night and 50's during the day.  The sunshine certainly does a lot for the attitude.  We are traveling with the same boats now.  There is a wooden boat from Blue Hill, Maine with a family aboard - 3 young sons and a daughter and Cousteau the dog.  They had to repower in Elizabeth City.  They are a really nice family headed for the Bahamas.  We have almost made the acquaintance of a couple from Oriental aboard Kittiwait who have taken a year off from teaching to travel to the islands.  We think the tide might be more favorable tomorrow along with the bridges.  Who knows about the skinny water - we will find out.  Happy Birthday Greg - all our love, hugs and wet dog kisses from April!

Saturday, November 30th
Yikes, November is on its way out and its cold and we still need to go further South.  Cruisers are starting to decorate their boats for the holiday.  We pulled into Bucksport Marina yesterday in the early afternoon for fuel.  We knew we couldn't make Georgetown SC so we decided to tie up there.  April was in her glory as they had three fields and she worked the doves and some other gamey bird.  She ran and ran and pointed and pointed.  We all had showers, April included, at the end of the hunt. 

We had another short run today to Georgetown to provision.  We are in the marina closest to the downtown.  We walked to the Food Lion and called a taxi to get back to the boat with our food.  The dock master has a yellow lab that April befriended and they ran and played around the marina.  We will haul out early tomorrow to get beyond Charleston.  We have decided not to stop there as we saw Charleston with Connie and Joe last trip and it is still very cold and we feel the need to travel.

 

This is typical of an abandoned boat and a problem for the waterway.

 

Typical along the waterway - lots of marshland that the waterway cuts through

 

Thanksgiving Day, 2013
The rain and the wind came and we hunkered down in Southport.  The laundry was free and good thing because by the time we followed April around for two days most everything needed at least drying.  We left Southport this morning in 21 degrees - took a too sharp starboard turn and bumped - backed up and headed out.  Knowing it was going to be cold and a holiday, we had called ahead to Myrtle Beach Marina for dockage.  So we pull into the channel where there are three big marinas and start looking for the fuel dock where we are supposed to dock.  Can't find it  We pull into the Thead in B dock where we had directions, tie up and walk until we find a local.  He tells us where the fuel dock to Myrtle Beach Marina is.  We start up WishBone again and head in the direction given only to find the fuel dock with two sizable trawlers tied up to the docks.  One of the boaters on the trawler yells to us that we can take whatever slip we like.  Since we are now at a dead end channel, we pull into the slip with a port side tie up - I have now run around the boat a couple of times with lines and fenders for tie ups.  It seems that one of these big trawlers decided not to leave today and took up our dock space.  Power boats!  The other trawler was a beautiful 36' Grand Banks with cruisers we have met before.  Tomorrow it will be cold again but we want to get some miles in and hope for Georgetown, SC.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Gathering the oysters for the stuffing

Waterway pictures

Tuesday, November 26th

We woke up to 23 degrees in Wrightsville Beach yesterday.  The furnace had run all night.  We took our time for breakfast and a dog walk and left the dock about 10:30 AM at 40 degrees.  It was not predicted to get any warmer.  We were on our way to Southport NC, a 37 mile hop.  The waterway was open to the ocean so it remained cold.  This is the Cape Fear region.  We were changing shifts at the helm and missed our turn back into the ICW.  We had picked up the wrong channel.  Oopps, quick circle and back to the buoys.  We pulled into Indigo Plantation's transit dock around 2 p.m. and I headed for the laundry.  April headed for the wonderful area to run, Bill right behind her.  Ken and Francie suggested this marina, and it is perfect for April to get some free running time. 

It is warm and rainy today - 68 degrees!!  The wind will blow hard until Thursday with some severe thunderstorm warnings.  So looks like we check out the Southport sights, get clean again and give April some good walks.

Sunday, November 24th

We had a good trip yesterday despite all the bridges and the difficulties they cause the boat traffic.  I do believe every bridge along the East Coast is being rebuilt.  This causes trouble with openings for the boat traffic as well as the vehicular traffic.  Vehicular traffic complaint cause bridges to open less frequently for boat traffic.  If you are not up to the bridge at the opening time, you wait another hour - not so good for planning for your next destination before sunset.  Our savior yesterday was a commercial barge at one bridge and TowBoat US at another.  Bridges open on demand for commercial traffic. 

Anyway, we arrived in good time and pulled up at Bridge Tender's Marina in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  We woke up this morning to 30 mph winds out of the North and a high temperature today of 43 degrees.  We had a cold walk along the waterway to the beach this morning hoping to let April get a run only to be told on leash only.  Then we walked to Harris Teeters and West Marine in the afternoon followed by a lunch at the Fish Pier to warm up.  Tonight is expect to go down into the 20's however the winds are supposed to lessen to, so we'll see tomorrow morning what the game plan will be.  Southport, NH is our next destination.  Blue Indigo Marina has a laundry - a must - and a good place for a dog to run - another must.  It has been a long couple of weeks for April only being on leash.

We have no plans for the holiday as we don't know when or where we will be.  We need to get South to warmer weather.  However, we want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and a special thank you for keeping in touch with us.

Yes, it was cold and I needed all of my toys to snuggle with - plus my blanket.

 

This is pretty Oriental from the boat - Bill has been playing with his iPad which takes beautiful pics

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

We pushed off the dock against a 24 knot wind and motored out the channel.  We were leaving, wind or not, we hoped.  Yes, the bridge did open for us.  The winds picked up. We were tossed around for the first hour or so and then things calmed down.  WishBone handled it just fine.  We had a good day traveling the waterway with a couple other sailboats.  We made good time with all that North wind pushing us in the butt and were in Belhaven, NC by 3 pm.  We were in Belhaven once before and recognized the nice little town and the great hardware store – a cruiser’s favorite place.  April chased the squirrels around, we had dinner aboard, a game of cribbage and crashed for the night.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Again up at the crack of dawn, April is good at that, and off and running to Oriental.  We are in WishBone’s previous home.  There were some rain showers in the morning but it wasn’t as cold – 55 degrees – and we had a good run with two other sailboats were have met along the way.  We walked to a small grocery store and picked up essentials – I was careful to keep it to essentials because we were carrying it back to the boat.  Then we walked to a small family run restaurant Bill had discovered when he purchased WishBone.  We had delicious shrimp and tuna and homemade coconut cream pie!  April was welcomed with great enthusiasm.  The fog rolling in tonight.  I hope that it has lifted in the morning.

Friday, November 22, 2013

We backed out of the slip – Bill is really getting good at that (yes, I need to learn too), and started out the channel – oopps, that’s bottom!  Not wide enough around that green buoy.  Bill did some maneuvering and we were off and running again.  We had dressed in our traditional long underwear, fleece, down, bibs and jackets for the trip.  By 7 a.m. we were starting to remove layers.  The day turned out to be beautiful, 66 degrees and sunny.  We had a great run and are now in Swansboro, NC.  April got to play with her favorite blue ball, running and leaping through the air.  Then she and I did some obedience training/play – her favorite kind, with treats. We walked all over the village area.  They have all the lights and decorations up for the holidays.  They have a boat parade the day after Thanksgiving.  It is amazing what a nice warm sunny day does for the attitude.  Next up, Wrightsville Beach, NC.

 

November 19th - Yikes!

The month is flying by and we have a long way to go.  We are still in Alligator River Marina.  Yesterday was another foggy day and we couldn't get out by the bridge, and today the wind is blowing 30 mph.  Actually we are told the bridge will not open if it blows much harder.  Too rough to play in this wide, swallow area.  We walked April this morning and put up a bunch of ducks.  She was on a lead much to her dismay.  This is duck hunting country.  A number of hunters went out this morning and are coming back in now.

There is a little lunch place here where we had burgers and chatted with the locals.  We asked about all the bear signs we saw on our walk.  Yes, they have an over abundance of black bears here.  That ends my walking April in the evening.  The locals were telling us about one of their residence, a lady in her 70's who lives alone back in the woods with no power or running water.  She gets a ride with a neighbor a couple of times a week into town.  She is a friend of the bears.  She sprays a scent all over her (secret formula) and wraps her legs in plastic bags to keep the ticks out and goes out into the woods and call the bears and they come to see her.  She has 6 or 7 bears that will come to her house to visit her.  I wonder how long they stay, and if they know enough to go home after a visit.

Bill has been glad to have some down time to learn how to use his new iPad and find some new navigation and weather apps - and of course some games.  We also caught up with Balmar, the alternator manufacturer, and requested restitution for the second alternator we purchased.  We will see how that comes out.

With luck, and no fog and high winds, we will be on our way again tomorrow AM headed for Belhaven, North Carolina.

Sunday, November 17th

So we were up at the crack of dawn - April get up time - and ready to haul out.  It was bigga the mist, but we thought doable.  We motored out of the marine and called the bridge only to be told that it was too dangerous to open the bridge - the fog was too heavy.  Okay.  Back to the marina  We tied up and the fog actually got worse as the day went on so I guess we were saved a lot of stressful navigation. Unfortunately, there is a blow building tomorrow so now it looks like we have to sit tight for a couple of days in a place where nothing is going on - and I mean nothing.  Lots of boats are in here with us though so we will have lots of company and will make new friends - April's favorite thing to do.  The marina told us today that she is welcome anywhere so we had lunch in their restaurant/pickup store - soft shell crab rolls and they were GOOD!  There is always boat work to do and dog walks, so we will keep busy.  Bill has a new ipad that he is having fun learning how to operate (once the setup stress was over, thank you Harrie and Pati).  It has been warm for the past couple of days.  Hopefully, that continues until the front passes.  We are with other late boats going South - so not alone.  Thanks for reaching out to us as we travel along.  We love getting the texts and emails and pictures.

Saturday, November 16th

Harrie and Pati delivered us to the dock at Hampton Roads around 11 a.m.  We fired up WishBone and crossed Hampton Roads bay and headed up the Elizabeth River.  A destroyer came along past us headed for the Norfolk shipyard, joining the many other destroyers there.  We arrived at the Gilmanton bridge at 4:00 p.m. and found they were under security restrictions to open.  We were told they were scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m.  We dropped anchor along with three other boats and waited.  Around 5 p.m. the bridge radioed it was our lucky day, pull anchor and he would open.  Okay, anchors pulled and a train comes along under the bridge and we get the call from the bridge to forget it.  Anchors are dropped again.  What fun!  We finally did get under the bridge around 6:15 p.m. and made our way to the abandoned pier at the beginning of the Dismal Swamp where we tied up and stayed the night.

We were up and going Friday morning to get to the 8:30 a.m. lock opening into the Swamp.  The Swamp was interesting this time, but not as pretty as it was in the spring when we last traveled it.  April, on the other hand, was up and alert the whole way.  We and two other sailboats arrived at the Elizabeth City bascule bridge for the 4:30 p.m. opening five minutes too late and all the talking was not going to get the tender to open the bridge for us.  We decided to anchor for the night and searched around the area for a good place to anchor and get April off the boat.  We had a quiet night but not in Elizabeth City, N.C.

This morning the bridge tender was in a more generous mood and opened the bridge for us so we could get underway.  Our journey was smooth across the Albermarle and down the Alligator River.  We stopped for fuel and tied up in Columbia, NC just off the Alligator River.  Bill changed the oil in the engine, we filled up with water,  had showers and April had a good walk..

 

April bird watching from her boat along the Dismal Swamp

Boats following WishBone in the Swamp

 



 

Tied up at the locks

 

 

Playing with the big boys in Norfolk

 

 

We girls were cold too!

Sunday, November 10^th

 

Going South??

 

 

 

 

 

Never too many sunsets

 

 

We left Solomons Island on Saturday from Calverts Marina after spending two days provisioning and touring in Ken and Francie’s car that they leave at Francie’s sister home in Mill Creek.  It was cold and windy, so it was nice to be in a warm car, warm stores and warm restaurants.  Bill said it was fun to drive again.  It was wonderful to meet Susie and Frank, Francie’s sister and brother-in-law, whom we had heard so much about. 

While we were in Solomons Island, we met another boat from Ohio that was headed south.  They followed us out of the dock Saturday AM and into Reedville, Virginia.  We are in Fairport Marina in Reedsville.  What a wonderful place for us to be.  When I called for dockage, they said just pull up anywhere you want.  Once docked, Bill and April were greeted at the marina office by the friendliest residents who run the marina and a restaurant and who love animals.  April was invited to run free around the marina and was welcome into the restaurant.  She also was welcomed by a male puppy Golden Retriever.  They ran and played and just had the best time, something April really needed.  We ate dinner at the restaurant along with April and her new puppy friend Peanut.  I thought of Ken – we had steamed shrimp to die for, fresh, fresh.  This is a fishing village.  We met a couple of sailors from Annapolis headed to Marathon, FL who had been to Maine and on to Nova Scotia in the ‘70’s.  They had some wonderful stories to tell about sailing with their dog.  Of  course, April befriended them and their guests.  What a people dog she has turned out to be!

Sunday is a big wind day once again, 28 knts.  We decided to sit tight once again as much as we just want to move.  Being safe is sometimes hard.  Anyway, we did all the boat chores in the morning and showers aboard.  There is no wifi, phone coverage.  April discovered goats in the marina owner’s yard that had somehow broken out of their fenced in yard.  Yeah, that was a circus.  We indulged in the shrimp again for lunch plus crab bisque that was so yummy we purchase some for tomorrow’s dinner.  Then we took up the offer of use of the truck from Peanut’s owner, a server at the restaurant and kindergarten teacher who was just the best young person, and drove to the Dollar stores to purchase a couple of books.  Bill’s Kindle quit yesterday.  We filled the water tanks and are ready to head out to Hampton Roads tomorrow, we hope.

November 11^th, Veterans Day

Thank you military personnel for serving our country!

6:30 a.m. we left Reedsville under a beautiful sunrise.   It was around 45 degrees all day.  The wind blew around 12 knots and the tide was giving us a push in the morning.  The wind was at our stern so we had following seas and had to work at the helm – no auto pilot in the morning.  However, by mid afternoon the wind came around and died down but we kept our tide almost all the way to Hampton Roads.  We were met at the dock by a fellow cruiser, one we met in Solomons Island.  We knew the day would come when we would have to back into a slip in order to get April on and off the boat.  Well, this was the day.  We made it with some maneuvering, but it wasn’t pretty.  It was kind of like a Chinese fire drill.  We pull bow in, note we can’t get April off the boat, pull out swing around, redress the boat for a back in, run around with lines for cleats, lines for poles and spring lines,  Whew!  Anyway, we are here for a couple of days to visit with Harrie and Pati in Williamsburg.  It likes like our window to move on is Thursday – here we come Dismal Swamp!

 

Thursday, November 7th

After sitting our the big blow in Galeville with that mooring ball banging against the hull, we left yesterday for Solomons Island, Maryland.  The weather was partly cloudy, 56 was the high, and the wind built up so it was 18 to 20 knots on our nose.  All in all a bumpy cool ride.  We donned our long underwear and new foul weather gear, and April her Filson wool lined coat to stay snug.  We have been to Solomons twice before and knew not to anchor - poor bottom.  We also remembered that the Calverts Marina is inexpensive, so here we are.  We have met an interesting couple, two women, in the tie-up next to us.  They are Canadians who started their cruise in Sweden, have been to the Carribean and are now headed for the Bahamas so we will see them again.  It is raining now, supposed to blow up tonight as the front comes through and then be good weather again on Saturday.

WishBone was heading out of the Cape May Canal and up the Delaware Bay when fellow cruisers took these pictures.

Sunday, November 3rd

70 years later for me - how did that happen?

We were up before the rabbits on Saturday morning, uncovered the sail, unwrapped all the lines from the poles, fired up the engine, turned on the running lights and motored out of Harve de Grace.  Yeah!  The weatherman was wrong again, and the waters and wind stayed calm with only a few sprinkles here and there.  We were cautiously watching our charging system which ran the way it should and has never run before.   The Susquahanna River is shallow and staying in the channel is a must which takes you across the Chesapeake Bay, making our trip a little longer.  However, we caught the tide and managed to keep it our whole trip down the Chesapeake taking us to the West River and Galesville.  April slept the whole way, exhausted from her rabbit hunting.  The Hartge Yacht Harbor dock master met us at a mooring to attach our bridle (all the painters have been removed for the season).  I've never had such assistance.  Small craft warnings are flying today, so we'll sit here.  Unlike previous trips on the Chesapeake, we didn't see all the commercial ships, but the waters were full of sailboats all day long.  Really beautiful.  When we went under the Chesapeake Bay bridge I was thinking how long it must have taken to build it and what would people do without it. 

 

East End

The approach

The departure

West End