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Published: October 24th 2009
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Church Creek
Indian Siummer as we leave Annapolis It was the perfect trawler day-- not a puff of wind on the Chesapeake, turning the Bay into a luminous pool that looks like oil as you slip through it. Your bow makes a vee shaped slice in the water that reminds me of the flight of geese and ducks as they migrate South. There is not a cloud to be seen in the cerulean sky which fades to pink, lavender and peach at the horizons. I Wanda is not a trawler, of course, and we would prefer a nice 15 knots abaft the beam... but it sure beats wind on the nose! After days of freezing cold rain in Annapolis, Indian summer seemed to have arrived. As we eased our way out of Church Creek towards the South River the fall foliage gave us a magnificent panorama. Peaceful, quiet, WARM and brilliant with color. Though no match for New England, Northern New York or Canadian fall foliage splendor, it is still lovely and makes our hearts smile.
As if all this were not enough to make a perfect day on the move we carried a favorable tide for much longer than we expected and reached Solomon's Island sooner than
Cuttyhunk Market
This is just a neighborhood house that serves year round as the market. planned. We have been "on the move" a lot since last we wrote as we prepared to leave Maine. Like those geese and ducks I remember in the Central Flyway of my youth, we too were ready to migrate! We left Maine as the weather began to fail. A quick jump to Gloucester and then to Onset beyond Cape Cod put us in what we believe to be a different climate. The water and air temperatures are USUALLY a good bit higher south and west of the Cape. Bob and Chesley our friends on Cygnet had left for their fall trip south and we agreed to meet up in Cuttyhunk where we have never stopped before. This turned out to be a charming and remote spot in the Elizabeth Islands of Cape Cod. We hiked around the small town with its "house tuned grocery" and its "house turned post office" which reminded us of the remote family islands in the Bahamas. The views from the island's high spot were stunning and we were glad to have come.
Still, we now had a schedule (to be avoided on a cruising boat!!) and needed to get to Annapolis as we had
Cuttyhunk Post Office
Like the Market the Post Office is in what appears to be a neighborhood house. purchased plane tickets departing BWI on October 1st. We didn't want to be stuck in New England with weather and had missed by ONE DAY a window to go non stop from Buzzard's Bay and Block Island straight to Cape May. So instead we stayed inside, in Long Island Sound, but moved swiftly from Cuttyhunk to Port Jefferson and then Port Washington where we wait for the proper tide to traverse New York City. The weather was overcast but we motored and sailed with good speed to Atlantic Highlands where we rested a bit before launching off in a fast sail and motor-sail along the New Jersey coast and up the Delaware Bay. We lost the current in Delaware Bay before we could exit so we anchored for the night behind Reedy Island having moved nearly 350 nautical miles from Cuttyhunk in 5 days. As we lifted the anchor the next morning to head into the Chesapeake Bay we noted another sailboat gazing with what seemed to be perplexity over their bow. We came along side and they said they couldn't raise the anchor. Sure enough, they had snagged a cable. Christian hopped in our dinghy to offer assistance. By
The Road to No Where
This elaborate road was built to property that was not developed. Now it is the walk to the highpoint on Cuttyhunk. putting a sturdy line UNDER the cable and securing it to their boat they could then lower their anchor and free it without damaging their gear or the cable. It took some work but cheers went up when it was accomplished!
We love hanging out in the Sassafras River which has almost fresh water that is very warm in September. In fact all notion of fall weather had departed as we were greeted by 80 degree temperatures. We took a swim and then donned shorts and tee shirts to get the boat ready and to make arrangements for Miss Bisous while we were to be away. We were able to catch up with Jay & Ildy of Gypsie before they put her to bed in Georgetown and saw David and Juilia of Daq Attack that we have been seeing since Manhasset Bay last June. Before heading off for Europe we needed to make a quick car trip to Charleston with ship's kitty Bisous. Daughter Andrea lives there and is already caring for Mr. Carter. Kitty reunion went well and we were soon back in Annapolis with I Wanda tucked securely into a hurricane hole in Church Creek off the
View from Cuttyhunk
Looking towards Buzzard's Bay South River. Friends David & Lois on Aquavit (Annapolis) kindly offered their mooring for us! Anaother Aquavit, Joe & Margie of Aquavit (Riva) helped with trips to the airport, provisioning and scads of other things. Couldn't have made it off with out them all! We had just enough time to make a stop at the cruisers' breakfast at Chick & Ruth's in downtown Annapolis (where in addition to breakfast of all kinds there is the Pledge of Allegiance each morning at 0830). Hugs and good byes followed the carbo loading and it was next stop London!
British airways is very civilized in offering free layovers in London on the way to your destination and we took advantage of that to stop for three days and see old friends and practice being grandparents with baby Cecelia. The weather was pleasantly fall-like after the heat in Annapolis and we enjoyed daily walks in the various royal gardens and parks in the neighborhood as well as fish & chips and "bangers & mash" with a cool brew at the pub. We could get used to this... We especially enjoyed Kew Gardens and Syon Park. Soon though we were on the move again,
Another View
Looking towards Cape Cod this time to the south of France where we once again found unseasonably HOT weather. Family visits were lovely and all the doctor and dentist visits satisfactory so we had time for walks on the Port where I Wanda spent a few winters while we cruised the Med. Old friends are still there and we saw a few-- though not everyone we wanted to. We did some "Russian shopping", which is what I call it when you stock up on something you know you will need when you find it-- never being sure if you will find it at the next stop. Our suitcases were groaning with Italian coffee, French and Belgian chocolate, oil cured black olives, foo foo undies, lavender soap and other "essentials" we were able to find in our short visit. We even located a nifty 12 volt neon light that lights up our cockpit area with a distinctive blue light. We can find I Wanda in a snap in a large anchorage at night or in the fog with this gismo that takes almost no energy.
Now back from France the fall weather is making serious encroachments. We had nearly a week of freezing weather
Anchor hooked
On a Cable, that is. Chirstian helped loop a sturdy rope under the cable so the anchor could be free'd and pouring rain before the sun returned. After our sublime day coming to Solomon's it has been "wait for weather" for three days. Moving down the Bay where the Potomac River enters can be extremely unpleasant in contrary winds and currents so we are waiting for "wind abaft the beam". Looks like it could be tomorrow so we want to get this on its way. We have enjoyed Solomon's where we met up with cruiser friends from the old days (Bob & Charlotte formerly Avatar and now Foreign Exchange and Dave & Gena formerly of Nomad), friends from our days working the Annapolis Boat Show (Chuck & Ali of Kairos and Dave & Debra of Ling Ling). We went out to breakfast with Seth & Judy of Steadfast and they took us to a wonderful farmers' market for fresh veggies and flowers. We are ready now to keep on moving!!
Hope you are having a wonderful fall where you are.
More soon... Mary & Christian / I Wanda
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Pam L.
non-member comment
Fall is Fun
Hi I Wanda, Great to hear your traveling news and the pictures are superb. We took two short fall trips and enjoyed being on the go. It is peak fall colors on the hill across from us and all around in the valleys and hills. Yea, fall!