USA - Maryland, St Michael’s to Virginia, Norfolk

We left St Michael’s mid-day and with a good NW wind blowing, so the first hour was beating with the motor running, directly into the wind. After rounding the north point into Eastern Bay we were able to head south and then had a fabulous sail the rest of the day and night, anchoring in the Piankatank River at 2am.

Holding the boom out for our stunning light wind downwind sail

Next day at 9am it was sails up and again we headed south. We were surprised at the number of yachts also heading south, both that we could see on AIS before and aft of us, and whose sails we could see.

As we closed Virginia in the south, and dropped our sails to motor into the inlet to Hampton, Norfolk and Portsmouth we had a surprising and interesting encounter to see a Submarine come past us.

As we came to the Tunnel crossing we had a Tow with a Huge barge of Rocks abeam us

We slowed down and passed behind him…

Crossing the Tunnel we headed into Willoughby Bay for the night as it was an Ebb Tide to head down the Elizabeth River to Norfolk.

As we headed into Willoughby Bay, we saw a Humungous Aircraft Carrier. The photo does not do justice to how immensely large this ship is.

USA - Maryland, St Michael’s, Visiting Judge John North & Comber McHugh

We sailed from Annapolis across the Chesapeake to St Michael’s on the Eastern shore to visit our wonderful friends Judge John North and Comber McHugh, and anchored directly opposite their home.

For those that follow my Blog, will remember that we spent the whole of Hurricane season 2020 on this exact anchorage and spent many wonderful occasions with the Judge and Comber.

After going ashore to say ‘Hello’, we joined them at their home for a Cookout Dinner.

Nicholas helping Comber getting the BBQ light which was being temperamental i.e.: Operator Error…

Looking at Meshugga on anchor, the light was sublime, with the American Flag flying, and the Moon Rising

John with our Home Club, the Royal Cape Yacht Club, Burgee hanging in pride of place in front of the FirePlace.

A new addition to the North home, a beautiful Cheatie. She’s about 4 months old with beautiful Green Tawny eyes. 

John, Comber, me and Nicholas

Thank you John and Comber for a wonderful evening !

We look forward to catching up again…..somewhere, sometime.

Love and Hugs

USA - Maryland, Annapolis Naval Academy Museum

Saturday, we decided to visit the Annapolis Naval Academy Museum, which was also closed in 2020 when we were here last year.

Immediately after going thru security we saw this superb statue of a Billy Goat.

We were able to walk all around and thru the Academy, we however followed the signage to the Museum. I was enthralled at the quantity of Squirrels that made their home in the gardens.

An interesting Bronze statue of a Submarine on waves depicting dolphins and faces, which I thought a bit weird.

Beautiful Residences, not sure if the Cadets or Staff live in these Mansions

Preble Hall, the building which houses the Annapolis Naval Academy Museum

Nicholas outside Preble Hall

I loved the 17th Century Swords, Scabbards and Dirks

These are Dirks, short swords or long dagger…

A beautiful set of Decanters

I found these shots of interest

The second floor of the Museum is filled with Models of Ships, this is just one example of the fine work and exacting likeness of all the models.

And finally Space Ships

After 3 hours of reading the exhibits our brains were a bit fried, and we left stopping for coffee on our way out.

Later Saturday afternoon the weather prediction of a NW wind and Rain arrived with quite heavy grey skies.

We swung 180 degrees, with a 35 knot buster coming thru. We checked that our anchor turned and held, and sat inside as the rain pelted down.

USA - Maryland, Annapolis Boat Show

Last year the Boat Show 2020 was cancelled due to Covid. This year, we timed our visit to Annapolis to visit the Boat Show which is hailed to be one of the Largest in the World.

Tourist boat taking Visitors on Sailing Trips, very beautiful sails.

We dinghied to the City Dock, and found the Dinghy Dock packed, however not so bad that we couldn’t raft up behind and clamber over other dinghies to get to the dock

The Boat Show had a Lot of Yachts for visitors to tour. However only 3 tents with Vendors of Supplies. I went with a long list of items we wanted to buy, and all I was able to get was a new pair of Sperry Flip Flops…..

We both thought that the Cape Town Boat show was better and bigger for Vendors, however the Annapolis  Boat Show had more yachts to tour.

 A fun day out nevertheless!

USA - Maryland, Annapolis, A new Suzuki Outboard

Last look at ALL that Hair. Nicholas hasn’t had a haircut in 8 months and it’s now driving him mad. I haven’t been able to convince him to have a salon haircut, he insists it’s back to his Buzz Cut short hair. 

We arrived in Annapolis, anchoring in the Severn River as we’ve only 1 motor working.

Going ashore in the dinghy

Our Honda 4 stroke Outboard is giving us repeated problems and costing a lot to maintain, so we decided to buy a new outboard. This is us collecting the new Suzuki 60Hp motor from Fawcett Marine in Annapolis. Travis was most helpful in removing the outboard from it huge crate and forklifting it into the back of our Avis SUV.

You might recall the problems I had with my MacBook Air. Well we were unable to get it sorted out, so I made an appointment at the Genius Bar at Apple in the Annapolis Mall. Doug, one of the Genius’s tried, to no avail, and my MacBook Air had to be booked in overnight for it to be wiped clean and the operating system installed from scratch. (Although this is what we unsuccessfully had also done).

Next day, success, we collected it and I have a wonderfully working MacBook Air.

The Spa Creek Bridge, on our way back to Meshugga with our Loot

Nicholas used the Halyard and hauled the new Suzuki motor aboard. Next step is to take off the Honda, and fit the Suzuki, but that’s a job for another day

USA - New York, Catskills to Maryland, Annapolis

We left Catskill Marina at 6am on Friday 8 October. It was Dark, Foggy and Very Cold.

Slipping out of our berth and gliding down the Catskill Creek was eery and ghostlike. We picked up the creek channel markers by their illuminated stripes with our mast lights. Gliding out into the Hudson we could not see much beyond Meshugga. Thank goodness for AIS, for who else would be out here if there we could not see them on Radar or AIS.

Later in the morning, ghostlike ships emerged, either at anchor or going past us.

Nicholas cold, and legs wrapped in a blankie

As the day wore on the Fog lifted and we could see some of the foliage reds and greens. The Coast Guard powering past us.

We went under numerous bridges, all of which, we’d been under coming up the river so there was no ‘angst’ in going under them down river

Cold Cruising

Fall colors

The Iconic Bannerman Castle on an island just north of the famous West Point Academy. An anchorage is available south of Bannerman Castle island, but we chose to continue south….

Commercial traffic on the river, Barge with their attendant Tows (or as I would rather say ‘Pushers’)

We arrived and anchored at in the mooring field just north of the TapenZee Bridge about 8pm and had a quick, hot dinner, shower and bed. Nicholas woke me at 4am with the motors starting. We needed to get going to use the Ebb Tide south to New York City. 

The TapenZee Bridge did however look amazing with all it’s lights. And Yes, it was Cold! But, at least NO FOG.

The loom of NYC was amazing and lit an otherwise dark river with brilliance. The City that Never Sleeps!

What we think is the original Ellis Island arrival building for immigrants, now in disrepair

The New Ellis Island ….

Kierans’ yacht clubhouse when he lived in NY. I would have to check the name of it

Liberty Island

and the most Worlds most recognizable statue, Our Lady of Liberty !!!!

We anchored north of Coney Island at 10am, and spent a couple of hours resting and prepping Meshugga for going to Sea. We left at noon, and headed out into an awful NE tight reach of 30m knots with swells breaking over the bows. I was not happy, but there was nothing to do except grit and keep going. Once we’d cleared Sandy Point we could ease up and head more south and then the NE wind became a blessing and sped us along at a good 10 knots with swell on the beam, but not breaking.

A fast afternoon and night and we made Cape May, the northern point of Delaware Bay, and anchored just inward in the bay behind a breakwater of the Canal at 2am. Another long tiring day.

Sunday, we were up again and going by 7am to catch the Flood Tide going north into Delaware Bay for 50 miles to the CDC (Chesapeake Delaware Canal).

We made Salem by 12h30 and headed into the Canal with a flood current of half knot which steadily rose to 2 knots with us.

CDC straight and clear, we sailed the whole way through the Canal

ConRail Lifting Bridge whom we had to call to check the Lift was high enough for Meshugga

Beautiful Bridges

Some sights along the Canal towards the Chesapeake end

My incredibly handsome wonderful husband and partner in adventures

.

Last bridge of the Chesapeake Delaware Canal

After eleven bridges and power lines, we exited the Canal and headed south for another few hours before tiredness started to take it’s effect and we sought anchorage in the Saffaras River at about 5pm. An early dinner and I was showered and in bed by 8pm

Next day, Monday 11th , Columbus Day, we upped anchor at 8am and sailed with the Ebb Tide 30 miles south to Annapolis. A nice light sail. Arriving in Annapolis we anchored in the Severn River along with many other largish yachts both sail and power.

Our next week will be varied with both maintenance arrangements, and fun visiting the Annapolis Boat Show and seeing friends.