Back to the important stuff - Boat Work 11/15/2010

But first a word on the BVI trip.


Leaving Annapolis in anticipation of sailing to the BVI.

 As most of you know by now. The Annapolis to BVI trip was cancelled due to Hurricane Tomas (press 1 for English) and other weather factors the was going to make the trip rather unpleasant. Waiting out the weather was an option but everyone on board had schedules to keep. The remaining crew - Dave, Nick and I made the decision to trade off the BVI trip for a few days on the Chesapeake.


Dave and Nick in the rain.

 So off we went from Norfolk over the Bay bridge (yes, it goes from bridge to tunnel to bridge to tunnel to bridge for the marine traffic) and out almost into the Atlantic. Nick had never done any ocean sailing so this was as close as he was going to get this trip. For the next four days we wondered our way back through the Chesapeake, dodging crap pots. Weather was a mix of cold, wind and rain with brief glimpses at the sun. Dave has a great diesel heater on Auspicious so the anchorages were warm and pleasant and the food was great.

I have only been on the Chesapeake twice but now have sailed the entire length from the D & C canal in the north through the Bay bridge in the south. Over 200 miles of dodging crap pots and commercial ships. It is an incredible body of water unlike any other place.

Tug towing barge.



Evening on the Chesapeake






Commercial crab boat

I'm somewhat disappointed that we didn't make it to the BVI but hopefully it will happen sometime in the near future. All in all it was a great trip. Spending a week on a boat in the Chesapeake is good for the soul.

Now it's time to get back to the boat work and get Scout in the water.

Peace, love and be safe.



Little Creek Marina - Norfolk,VA 11-3-2010

When you sail on the ocean you are 'at sea'. So if you sail on a bay are you 'at bay'? One of the many things I pondered last night on watch from 4:00AM to 8:00AM.
We left Annapolis yesterday morning under spinnaker for Little Creek Marina in Norfolk. We bobbed along in 3-4 knots of wind before dropping the sail and starting the engine. We motored through the night arriving in Norfolk this morning around 9AM.
After a shower and a BIG greasy cheeseburger and fries, Chip feels like a new boy. Hunkered down in a warm boat waiting for the arrival of crew member #4.
The weather is not cooperating! Tomas (push 1 for English) is still raising havoc in the Caribbean. A low pressure system in moving into the Norfolk area bringing rain and nasty weather here.
Plans are to push off tomorrow morning ahead of the nasty weather here and head along the coast. Destination still unknown.
More tomorrow on the plans....maybe.
Peace, love and be safe - chip

On Hold in Annapolis- Monday 11/1

I never did like the name Tomas!
I arrived in Annapolis yesterday and Dave picked me up at the airport without a hitch. Flying out of Columbia through Memphis not a bad as it may sound but arriving at the end of Concourse A and lugging my 40# duffel to Gate 43 on Concourse B to catch the flight to Baltimore tested my knee big time.
Spent much of the remaining day getting the boat ready. Weather was looking like go with Hurricane Tomas dieing a slow death somewhere west of our destination. Plans were to depart mid-day today.
Well...you can't count on the weather and as the morning progressed, more and more of the weather models began to forecast Thomas to track north directly over our planned route.
Anyone want to sail a 40' sailboat into a Cat 3 hurricane? Being wise and old the decision was made to hold up till morning and get another look at the forecast. The weather services are still not is sync as to where Tomas is headed. Everyone does agree that he's raising havoc in the Caribbean at the moment.
Having some time to kill, I wandered downtown (Annapolis) and took a stroll through the Naval Academy. If you ever want to truly feel proud of the youth in this Country you should visit the Academy. The cadets are a class act. Makes me proud to be an American.
Hanging out at Janet and Dave's tonight munching on pizza. Tomorrow will be another day.
Peace, love and be safe - chip

The Day After the Beginning of the End - Saturday 10/30/10

Another beautiful fall day here in Missourah. I'm all packed and ready to catch the plane to Annapolis at 6:30 in the morning. Great connections out of Columbia and Dave will pick me up at the airport.
I've spent the last few days winterizing the house,well house, boat dock, boat house, etc. as I'm sure winter will be here when I get back. Got to spend an hour or so on Scout today cleaning up and putting things away. Hooked the battery up and turned the engine over for bit. Always nice to hear the sound of the 4-cylinder Kubota rolling over.

Just after noon I was summoned to the patio for champagne. Julie had started a fire in the patio fireplace where we set outside in the sun and enjoyed each others company. I'm a lucky guy.
More tomorrow when I arrive in Annapolis.
Peace, love and be safe -chip

The Beginning of the End

Welcome!! With only two days left before flying out to Annapolis to begin my offshore sail to the BVI, I decided to start a Blog to which I will post a daily log of the trip. Postings will be sporadic and dependent on internet connections.  I will play catch up when WIFI or my super duper Verizon aircard allows. 
My son Austin was gracious enough to mail my SPOT back from Germany so I could use it on this trip. The link at the top of the page will provide my location when SPOT was last activated. I will try to do that a couple of times a day. More if I'm bored. The first two locations you'll see are at the ranch here in Missouri. (We were sitting on the patio drinking wine - different than bored).
Sunday 10/31 you'll get Annapolis (hopefully) and we'll cast off Monday 11/1 mid day and head down the Chesapeake. Then headed off shore some 1400 miles to the BVI. Weather permitting 10-12 days.
I used the 'Simple Design' template for the BLOG as it seemed appropriate for the brain cells I have available for it at the moment. Hopefully I can expand on the site when I get home and plans are to use it to further document our boat project on our Sundowner 30 Tug - M/V Scout. Then our travels down the Mississippi to more adventures.
I see a place on the right side for 'Followers'. I have no idea how that works but if I have 'Followers' that would make me a 'Leader'. If your personality traits allow you to be a follower by all means get on the list.  We'll just see where that takes us.
I've eliminated the comments section for the time being but will resurrect it when I get back. No explanations necessary.
Peace, love and be safe. chip