Long Day

Day 5          May 15

As morning broke and overtook the glow of Annie's anchor light, I looked up and out the screen draped companionway. The hum of a hundred mosquitoes trying to get into the cabin said it was time to head out. I looked over toward Steve and he was moving quickly to stow and go. We headed out the 'harbor' and grabbed the SW breeze around Pamlico Point. Continued through the day on broad and close reaches. Nice 10-15 knot breeze.

Far up the Pamlico River I decided to tuck in Blount's Bay and visit my friends Bones and Lu. Bones was on his dock as I approached. We talked, at a COVID distance, about my past visit and the new - to him- fishing boat he picked up this year. Strong Northwest design with lots of canvas for weather protection. He was quite stoked, but held back by the virus from trailering up to Maine for the summer. He and Lu talked without much of a breath until I said I needed to be heading back upstream. We said our goodbyes and I pressed on.

I arrived at Washington right at 1800 and anchored near Steve across from the city dock. Sweet potato with chicken & rice for dinner.    28.3 nautical miles

Steve and Spartina meet the sunrise over the Pamlico Sound

Reaching up the Pamlico River

Sculling oar on the rail

Quick sketch of Spartina

Sun protection engaged

Dinner prep

A Favorite Place and the Wind Returns

Wednesday May 13       Day 3

I woke up to a peaceful morning. Had slept well thanks to cool temps overnight and glassy water. With little to no wind for the day we shipped anchors, cleared the creek and motored SW to the entrance to Oriental. Reaching the inner harbor we tie our boats to the quay in front of the Bean Coffeehouse. They open soon after our landing and we grabbed a couple of breakfast bevs and muffins. Steve and I had sailed in several times separately in the past trips, but the "Sailing Center of North Carolina" is always a welcoming layover. We talk with many folks interested in our boats, walk the streets, have some nice take-out meals and get interviewed by TownDock.net. Overnight on the docks.

Steve shares more here, and an earlier visit here.



Thursday May 14       Day 4

Up at 0700, later than usual. Waited for coffee and finish of interview with Allison and Keith of TownDock.net   Windless motor SE to South River. Keith had mentioned the ghosttown of Lukins on the river's east shore. He also mentioned an interesting graveyard there. As we enter the river I continued alone, Steve opts to sort out Spartina. Reaching the Lukins area I spotted the graveyard on a knoll overlooking the river and decided to leave it be. On return I find Steve napping and spend a half and hour sculling along the shore.  

Opting for a Mouse Harbor anchorage, catch a nice F2 east wind and reach north somewhat retracing our run down, pass the Bay River and the bombing range. Anchor in Southward Bay of Mouse Harbor and have tuna mixed in with Tai Noodles for dinner and play guitar down below.   29.4 nautical miles

Tandem

Tuesday May 12

Woke to a cold 44 degree first light, sun still below the horizon. I grabbed a breakfast bar and an apple and started retracing my entry from the night before. Reaching the far east buoy I received a 6:19 message from Steve. He was headed south, down the Pungo and east toward my area, traveling along the south shore of the Pamlico River. Being about 12 nm away I tacked north into the river, scanning the horizon for his sails. After a couple hours and a number of up-close dolphin sightings we spotted each other and I fell off to broad reach for Pamlico Point and the vast Pamlico Sound.

I kept further offshore until we came in close to slip inside the bombing range. Running downwind we passed the Bay River and continued SW into the mouth of the Neuse River. The wind had clocked around to the SW funneling down the Neuse and making for numerous short-chop tacks. As the afternoon bore on Steve opted to turn in at Whittaker Creek, just shy of Oriental, to anchor in the light. I readily agreed having been out over 12 hours. Sweet potato Chicken Rice dinner, a bit of reading and lights out.    43.2 nautical miles

Skirting the bombing range

Steve in his Welsford Pathfinder Spartina

Annie running downwind (photo S. Earley)

A welcome anchorage

South to the Pamlico

I have been back from North Carolina for several days and have been busy throwing pots, working in the gardens, getting design quotes for the Deltaville Maritime Museum and modifying the rigging issues that came to light during a week long trip in the Pamlico River and Sound. I am getting ready to head east to sail the Mobjack Bay for a few days, but first I'll start log entries from the NC trip.

Monday May 11, 2020

I hooked up Annie, loaded, and headed south on I95 at 0900. With the Covid 19 virus in full force I took the old porta-pottie so as not to use the rest areas. Uneventful trip arriving at Potters Marine near Bath, NC at 1330. Steve had launched in Spartina a few hours earlier and headed down the Pamlico River. I messaged him for his plan and it was either the Pungo River or on to Caffee Bay further east with south to Oriental as a later destination. I set out as the afternoon wind picked up from the NW and the temperature started to dip. Getting late I opted to head south in the ditch toward Hobucken but had too much sail up to tack back to the entrance. I then chose to reach east along the south shore. Around 1700 I tacked west inside entrance buoy to beat back into the entrance to Clark Creek. I found while looking for anchorage that Steve had messaged earlier that he had worked north up the Pungo. Oh well... had my hands full and the anchorage was inviting.  15.3 nautical miles

Break from the trucks on I95

Quiet anchorage and beautiful sunset

Annie running with stiff breeze by S. Earley

Wondering

As winter is reaching toward its end this year I am again contemplating my moves. We are planning a month long visit to England and Portugal to spend time with our daughter who is in grad school in London. All good... but now there is the new virus travel concern. I turned 70 this year and El is not far behind. We are both in good shape but we are trying to be prudent. Will see what the next couple of weeks bring.

Annie has been resting over the winter and is due to return to the water. If plans change that would make earlier sailing probable. The prior plan to return to the NC sounds is still a go for mid-May.

Recently made new parrel beads and their rigs for the main. They were needed but I, having waited too long to access a lathe, opted to fashion six sets of them by hand. With a chop saw, drill press and a stationary belt sander, I found that with a bit of patience the work was pretty simple. Now it is done and I'm wondering why I waited so long.

Sunrise

October 10, 2019

Cast off 0500 with lights set. Motored flashing buoys out the South River. It was our last day and I wanted to see it dawn. It turned out to be a good idea.

Returned to Backyard Boat at Shady Side at 1100. The sun was out and I leisurely pulled out, washed off and readied for the trip back south. It was a short but memorable trip. I got to sail with Steve and Spartina, and explore the Chester River. Annie never lets me down. Thanks Annie for another great run.

14.9 miles   181.6 trip miles

Annapolis Excess

October 9

After a quick breakfast I set sail to travel back east down the Magothey River and into the Bay. Wind somewhat lighter but again out of the NE making for a broad reach toward the Bay bridge that connects the western and eastern shores of Maryland. Leaving the Sandy Point to starboard Annie approached and easily made under the bridge. Hooking west again into the Severn River we approached Annapolis. I had been there often by land but this would be the first by water.

Sandy Point Light

Bay Bridge looking east

With the US Naval Academy and their No Tie Up bulkhead to starboard I looked for a welcoming dock. That was not to be found for every possible foot was packed with large, shiny, fiberglass yachts being readied by hopeful salespeople... rushing toward the annual boat show starting the upcoming weekend. I putted around, got a couple of nods but no success. 

I was quickly ready to high tail out. Retracing, I anchored with a group of cruising boats back up river and made lunch and had a short nap in the sun. At around 1300 started out the river and south again to the South River that flows parallel to the Severn a few miles south. Passed close to the Thomas Point Light. One of the last screwpile lighthouses, it was nice to see it close up.

Thomas Point Light

Made the river early afternoon and continued to Harness Creek on the north shore. A beautiful anchorage that was inhabited by a couple of cruising boats. In for an early night on a quiet hook. 29.8 miles

Harness Creek

Hot Dog

October 8

A cold front came through in the night as I slept in Ditches Cove. I felt the tight-hauled mizzen flap a bit as it worked to keep Annie into the wind, but the protected spot let me sleep. It was cooler as I made coffee and the wind, now out of the NE bent the top of the trees above us. Set out at 0730 heading west with wind on the beam, double reefed tucked.

I saw Steve and Spartina running downwind far ahead toward Kent Narrows presumably on the way to St. Michaels. I found out later that he had not seen me. With the short chop building I set Annie north close-hauled to beat toward Love Point where we could clear to cross back over the Bay. Still behind a spit of land I was able to shoot a short video before meeting the Chesapeake's fetch.

With the Magothey River entrance as a target, I furled more of the jib and took two rolls in on the mizzen. She sails with just jib and mizzen but I prefer the driving power of all sails, albeit minimal, together. Now on a broad reach Annie shot west. The steep chop of 2-3 feet height with only a little more length, was running perfectly parallel to the course. To be less vulnerable I found myself alternating direction. Heading up to quarter the wave and turning down to quarter as the wave passed underneath. Somewhat like a surfer 'hotdogging' on a short board. Speed was up with a consistent 7 knots and more. The rig and rudder vibrated and groaned but I never felt in trouble.

Nearing the shipping channel the tide starting flowing north and the seas became confused. A wave broke over the cockpit coaming but the seas started subsiding as we made the river entrance at noon. Continuing on the Magothey I anchored in the lee of Dobbins Island to rest and eat. After a nice nap I explored the upper reaches of the river, watched dinghy racers and grabbed a crab cake at The Point restarant. Anchored up Mill Creek turning in at 2100.  25.1 miles

Baltimore arbor Light, mouth of the Magothy

Young sailors practicing

Hard to beat a Maryland crab cake

Mystery- when I checked the trip computer that had been reset the day before I noticed this reading. I doubt it but...

Down River Close-Hauled

October 7

Left the Chestertown dock at 0700. Steve stayed behind to leave later after meeting with a friend. Steady southeast wind with many tacks down river. I was pleasantly suprised how close to the shore with full rudder we could make before each tack. 52 of them down to Queenstown. Negligible tide effect. Reached Queenstowne Creek 1830 anchoring in Ditches Cove. Quiet spot. 48.3 miles

Pound net

Canadian geese heading south

Buy-boat Thomas J passing in the distance

Peaceful tacks

Tandem

Sunday October 6

Steve came over as I was finishing breakfast, we rafted up for a bit and then sailed down the creek to start working up the Chester River. Reaching on the west wind we made good time... nearly matched in speed. We made the marina in Chestertown in early afternoon. Steve planned to take a slip and I agreed to do the same. He showed me around town and we ate lunch at Play It Again Sam's and later a crab cake dinner at the dock restaurant. A quiet night spent at the marina.  17.5 miles

Spartina heading up river

Buy-out AnnieD on the Chester

Across and Up

October 5, 2019

I decided for a fall cruise I would head north to Maryland's Chesapeake western shore, cross over and explore the eastern shore north of my previous trips. Having Annie in Richmond made it easy to get away early, so I left out at 5am and trailed to Shady Side. I arrived at Backyard Boats and took my time to rig and ready Annie. The trailer repairs had held well and I was satisfied with the preparations. There was even a hose to rinse the trailer after launch.

We headed out the cove around 10 am and across the bay. Wind 8-10 NE overcast. Long reach ESE around Kent Point and long tacks up the Eastern Bay to Kent Narrows. Entering the Chester River in the late afternoon my friend Steve, who had been out for a week, communicated about the possibility of a rendezvous in the East Fork of Langford Creek. I had decided to tuck in earlier but with the sky clearing and a nice ENE breeze I forged on. It was almost dark as Annie approached Steve's Spartina, buttoned up for the night. I dropped anchor down the way and turned in after a long day.  46.0 miles

Spartina in for the night

Morning on the Chesapeake Bay

Overdo

Annie's trailer came with her when I took delivery 12 years ago. It has hauled her a couple thousand miles and has been a good one for sure. But as you probably know galvanized steel fittings don't last forever.

The roller pins were shot and the bunk supports were rusting through. I deduced that the front rollers were taking the brunt and that by repositioning her a foot aft, the load would be better balanced. So a lot of metal grinding, sawzalling (there's a word for you) and online and store shopping commenced.

John England, who is in my opinion the best for just about anything 'boat', lifted and chocked Annie. I was then able to pull out the trailer and start disassembling. I have another day in Urbanna to finish but it has turned out to be an enjoyable, albeit dirty, job that is going to make a lot of difference and open up another adventure later this fall.

Trailer extraction

Crunched

The bunk came off to easy

Left: old, right: new

Hope everyone is enjoying the northern summer!

Storied Drascombe Hermès

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=-1mIHX53GRA&fbclid=IwAR12fXiqa5m1rIwV0_zywjTiXBmC67o2i4eKPU6G5k2oN0dZVI7H8882hJU

Sent from my iPhone

A favorite pic...