Annapolis, MD - 9/29/02 thru 10/14/02
We don't often hunker down in one location for a long time but when we get a free mooring and have lots of other cruisers around we can get downright settled. We weren't really planning on staying in the Annapolis area for the boat show this year. Last years experience in Spa Creek was not a comfortable one with boats anchored way to close to each other for our liking. This year we planned to anchor somewhere within an hour or two, rent a car and drive to the show.

Since we were passing through the area two weeks before the show we decide to stop for a day or two. We decided to try Weems Creek where there are free mooring that the Navy maintains. If a hurricane comes through they put their boats on the moorings, otherwise they are free. Well the locals have picked up on this a decided to put their boats on permanently so we didn't have any luck getting one. We tried to anchor several times but the pure muck bottom did not hold our anchor. After several attemps we noticed a private mooring ball with a name on it we recocognized. Since there was very little wind or current we put down the anchor and hoped for the best while we checked out the possibilities. After we got settled, Fred took the dinghy ashore and found the house where the people lived that owned the mooring. Much to his suprise, Pat was home and said she would be delighted if we used their mooring since their boat was up in New England. We took her to dinner several days later and had a great time hearing about her and her husbands sailing adventures (he was out of town).

Now that we had a secure spot we were staying, we could look into some things like getting a new dinghy. Our current one worked fine but it interferred with the staysail when it was on deck. So we wanted to get a shorter dinghy.  But while we were at it, a hard bottom would be a nice upgrade. After lots of research and figuring out the trade-in value of our dinghy, we figure it would only cost a couple hundred dollars to swap so we did.

Our new family car - a hard bottom Caribe 9' light dingy

The weather during our two week stay was pretty crappy. We had lots of rain and cool weather which really stinks when you're two miles from town. One Sunday morning we almost skipped church because of this weather but we persevered and walked two miles in the pouring rain. Our prayers were probably a little soggy, but I'm sure God heard them.

Staying in one place for a while did give us time to catch up on projects.  And being so close to marine and hardware stores made things easier as well.  We have a long list of things we need to do to get ready for the Caribbean 1500 rally end of the month.  So that alone kept us quite busy.  We enjoyed get togethers with other cruisers and met some new friends.  Every Wednesday the cruisers would meet for breakfast in town at Chick-n-Ruths.  Very quaint restaurant - good deal for breakfast and does the pledge of allegience every morning.  We tried to attend most of the Wednesday get togethers as did a lot of other people.  Seemed to average around 30 people there.  Great place to catch up with everyone.   While anchored in Weems Creek we met another folks on another Caliber -  Our Dream - Harry, Barbara & Wolven.  We had fun sharing several cocktail hours with them.  Also while in Annapolis we got together with friends, Gene & Lorna who also own a Caliber.  Hadn't seen them in almost a year so it was great catching up with them in person.  Lorna made us a terrific dinner....Thanks!

One could tell when it was getting closer to the boat show.  New boats were coming in daily looking for an anchor spot and downtown Annapolis was filling up with people.  Our friends - Greg, Carol & Steve - arrived for the show on Friday.  It was great seeing them again.  We had lots of fun checking out the new boats by day and enjoying evening get togethers with them.

We ended up staying for the boat show breakdown party because friends of ours from the NE600 rally we went on a year ago were planning on being there - Jim & Marjie who run the rallies as well as Georgeann & Garrett aboard Entre Nous.  Had so much fun.  These parties get a little crazy and I certainly feel sorry for the people driving the boats out of the show.  Basically everyone gathers at Pussers which is right on the water.  Grabs a few Painkillers and cheers as the boats are leaving.  Some people get boos from the crowds, while others get cheers.  If they've left their fenders down, people yell - nice fenders buddy - just to point out their fashion fopa.  Some people even drive the boats out backwards, quickly, just to get a good reaction from the crowd.  I'm glad we stayed the extra day.

Heading South to Hampton, VA where the Caribbean 1500 Rally starts - 10/15/02 - 10/21/02
Now you could tell when the boat show was over - there was a sea of sailboats heading out the next morning.  We were amoungst them as well as friends from Turning Point (Denny  & Sharon) and new friends aboard Non-Linear (Jon & Marcia).  The three of us decided to head to Solomon's Island, VA together.   It was a nice down wind sail most of the way and we had another opportunity to get the spinnaker out.   With all the boats heading south we wondered how much room would be left at Solomons - but our favorite spot off the beaten path was available so we all three anchored there.  Fred and I took off in our new dingy for the laundry.  As we turned the corner and headed closer to the dingy dock, I mentioned to Fred that he might want to slow down.  But he was enjoying planeing in his new dingy too much.  Unfortunately the sheriff parked on a nearby dock shared my feelings as soon we were being waved over to see him.  The officer was very nice and luckily we got off with only a warning.  We made it ashore, walked to the laundry, got a few loads done and were almost back to the boat before the rain came.  Luckily we had thought ahead and put everything in garbage bags so things stayed dry.  Later we had everyone over to our boat for cocktails.

On the suggestion of Turning Point, we decided to head out to Pitman's Cove - off the Rappahonnock River in VA.  It was a beautiful secluded, well protected anchorage surrounded by trees.  What a nice stop.  That evening we all got together for one last cocktail hour aboard another boat in the anchorage - Jet Stream (Ken & Elisabeth) who wwere friends of Denny & Sharons's.  Tomorrow the group would be going separate ways.

An early morning start and we were headed for Sarah's Creek off the York River in VA.  This is where we had left the boat earlier this summer - at the York River Yacht Haven Marina.  We had met lots of nice folks here and wanted to stop by and pay everyone a visit.  This time we anchored out instead of staying at the marina though.  We saw our friends from Options - Jerry & Carolyn who are working onn their boat in the yard.  Also caught up with people from the dock and marina.  We then hooked up with another boat that was renting a car to go to Williamsburg - Fred & Cindy on Brass Tacks.  We went in half with them on the car and while they were at Williamsburg, we used the car to go to Walmart and start doing some provisioning for our trip south.  It worked out great for both of us.

We hear from our buddies, Mike & Jan on Significant Other that they were in Hampton and that we could raft off of them until we moved over to the marina.  So we headed to Hampton, VA on the 22nd.  It had been several months since we've seen Mike & Jan - we had so much to catch up on.

Early Out & Significant Other - rafted together before the rally

Fred and I moved the boat to the marina the next day as we needed to get a lot of things done before heading home.  (I can say all this now because its after the fact as you'll see why later.)  We had a day and a half to get most of our provisioning done before heading back to Cincinnati for a couple days.  My sister was turning 40 in November - but with a lot of help from my dad, wee were able to plan a suprise birthday party for her on the 27th so that I could be there as well.  We were at the marina by 7:30am, fueled up, and in our slip shortly after 8am.  Then made arrangements to get a rental car and off to Walmart and Sams we went.  I honestly can't tell you how many trips we made.  But I will tell you it wasn't long and I had the route there memorized.

This was only the start of our provisioning.

After a very tiring day of shopping, the real fun of finding out where to put everything began.  The above is only a small picture of what needed to be stowed.  Our entire forward berth was also filled with food and beverages.  But before things could be stowed, I wrote the date and a description on each item incase the label was to come off. Then I entered the item in the food inventory program that my sister was so kind to write for me so I can keep track of what I have on board.   My steam ran out around 2am and what wasn't stowed, waited til our return from Cincinnati.   The morning before our departure to Cincy, we lucked out and ran into the doctor giving one of the lectures at the passagemaker seminar.  He was kind enough to come aboard our boat and he went thru all the medicines we had aboard then what he thought we should have and what their uses were for.  He really simplified things which helped us understand when to take what medicine.  We called our family doctored and reviewed everything with him.  He agreed with what the information and called in prescriptions.

We finally took off for Cincinnati shortly after 10am on the 24th and after about 10 hours, arrived at dad's where we stayed instead of opening up our home.  Thanks Dad!  The next day we were back on the road again and headed for Wapak to see my Grandma & Grandpa.  After a really nice visit, we headed home.  Stopped by my friend Lisa's to catch up with her briefly, then off to check on our house.  Our house looked just like we had left it which was nice to see.  We had such a short amount of time, but managed to take care of what we needed to at the house and catch up with some of our neighbors - Joyce & Susan before taking off aggain.  Our next stop was Steve & Luann's who graciously made us dinner that evening.  What a nice treat!   Saturday found Fred heading to Indy to see his brother and family while Dad and I spent the day going shopping to take care of things for Diane's suprise 40th party.   I personally had lots of fun, but I think Dad would rather of not been subjected to Fields Ertel traffic on a Saturday.  What he doesn't do for his kids.   Then back to Dad's to start decorating, etc.  After Fred returned home, he and I took off for Sam's to stock up on meats needed for our trip south.   Dad has a vacuum sealer so we borrowed that and put everything in his deep freeze.  By the time we left Monday morning, everything was frozen rock solid.  Sunday came and we still weren't sure if Diane was actually going to show up for her own party.  Its a long story, but Phillip had a concert that day that she didn't want to miss.  Dad had been trying any excuse to get her over to his house, but nothing was working.  Finally I called her, on my cell phone of course, so she didn't know where I was calling from and laid a guilt trip on her.  After multiple times of telling her that Dad hardly asks us for anything and if he wants her over there, I really think she should go, she agreed and said she would call Dad to discuss.  Whew!   The guests started arriving and shortly thereafter, so did Diane.

The suprise 40th party - amazing all those candles fit on the cake!!  :-)

Diane and I

The party was great - I think everyone had a great time...especially Diane.  Unfortunately after all the fun was over it came time to say good-bye to everyone once again as I won't being seeing them again til next June.   That's a long time in my book!   Monday, the 28th, we drove back to Hampton, VA.