Belhaven

Thursday October 1st, 2015
35 32.352 N
76 37.937 W

We are taking 2 days to travel a distance that we would normally take three days. The daylight hours are a bit less than 12 now, so we were up at 6:30 AM and underway at 7:15. The anchor took some extra time as the chain was quite dirty.

It had rained most of the night and conditions in the AM were a bit bleak - reminded us of Canada. Once we had crossed Albemarle Sound and entered the Alligator River I rigged up a long hose on the salt water pump and attempted to clean up the insect mess.As well as the bodies we were still carrying a few million "flyers" and I tried to knock them out of the air with the hose. When we are at the marina in New Bern I will finish the job with the "wet and dry" vacuum.

After the Albamarle we were in sheltered water all the way and made decent time.

Received confirmation today that we have a slip in IOP.

How the decks looked

The door sill

Lutz Creek Anchorage

Wednesday September 30, 2015
36 14.459 N
75 55.538 W

We have a new variable to deal with - "Joaquin" is now a hurricane and aiming at North Carolina. Our plan this morning was to head south ASAP and hope that the storm stayed off shore so that we would get south of the storm before it made landfall. But the forecast track is now aimed at North Carolina. So we have made a reservation in New Bern where we "rode out" Sandy. New Bern is 3 long days away but we can arrive Friday night, 24 - 48 hours ahead of Jaoquin. Will be an interesting week.

This morning we took on 497 gallons of diesel at $1.92 a gallon! This delayed our departure until 10 AM, and we were delayed more at the Great Bridge lock and then at the Centerville lifting bridge. For the first few miles we had plenty of company, but they all "peeled off" along the way and we were on our own again.

There was a line at the lock - then a barge came out!

The line up of big guys at Coinjock. Too spoiled the anchor.

Ten miles past Great Bridge and we feel like we are back into the wilderness. The East Coast of the USA is really quite amazing - one minute in civilization, next minute in the Amazon. It is really beautiful and primitive country to travel through.

We pushed on until 5:30 PM but only made 43 NM in total. That leave two big days to get to New Bern. Anchored in the North Landing River for the night. Its calm now, a wind change is expected about midnight. The weather looks a bit spooky, lots of lightening around.

TV reception was pretty good. But when we muted the TV we started to hear noises. Looking out on the aft deck we discover millions - billions? - of bugs. Their combined wing beating noise is noticeable. They are too thick in the air to go out to close the aft cabin door. We made sure all the screens were in place and went to bed.

Top Rack - Marina

Tuesday September 29, 2015
36 44.374 N
76 17.773 W

The forecast is not great so we want to get out of the Chesapeake ASAP, so another long day today. After a very peaceful night we were underway soon after 7 AM. Target was the Top Rack marina where we can get fuel and stay overnight. Top Rack is 15 miles into the ICW in the Norfolk area,

The sea conditions started a bit lumpy and the wind started to build as the day progressed. Unlike Monday we seemed to have a current against us most of the day. Tide Hiker was making a lot of spray.  On a whim Deidre decided to check below, and found that I had left the forward head porthole open and the room was "swimming".

About lunch time we stumbled over a couple of US hovercraft doing their thing. I took lots of photos and a video that I will show below. You could hardly see them because of the rough weatther and consequent spray.

As we approached Norfolk the Coast Guard warned boaters that an aircraft carrier was underway - it was not really an aircraft carrier - just a large "Amphibious Landing Craft" called the "Wasp". We were into Hampton Roads by about 2 PM and started to benefit from the protection, although the scene was pretty bleak. - grey clouds, grey water and grey war ships. And it was raining on and off.

We had to pass two lifting bridges to make it to Top Rack - both N&S railway bridges. (There has been an enormous effort over the last 10 years to replace all the lifting and swinging road bridges over the ICW, which saves time and money for everyone. But not so with the railway bridges.) We made it thru N&W #5 OK but not N&W #7. We waited for two trains, but then it broke down. All in all we waited for an hour.

Top Rack has a great deal - if you spend your slip fee at their restaurant, dinner is on them. And its a nice restaurant. So after we settled in (we were so late that there was no-one there to help) we took a shower and headed in for dinner. This is a "proper restaurant" - no pub food here.

Back on Tide Hiker we had cranked up the AC and it was cool and dry on board when we returned. We even slept with a blanker.

Bob: "How does the captain see where he is going?"
Deidre: "Keep out of his way!"

The "WASP"

Another one.

Fishing Bay Anchorage

Monday September 28, 2015
37 32.084 N
76 20.145 W

Underway from Washburn's about 7:35 AM. Cavara delayed 30 minutes by a worn fan belt. Conditions were fine and we seemed to have some tide assistance most of the day. Dropped anchor in Fishing Bay at about 4 PM - 61 NM in 8 1/2 hours. Good going.

Solomons (Washburn's Boat Yard)

Saturday, September 19, 2015
38 19.958 N
76 21.526 W

Pleasant 44 NM run south to "The Solomons". This is a large boating center, nobody seems to know why. There are no big towns close by, the area is really quite isolated. There are several big marinas and several boat yards. We are here to get a few things investigated and fixed up that are "above my pay grade". My biggest issue is the #2 generator that bogs down way below its rated capacity. Other jobs:

1. I cannot get fuel to flow out of the stb-aft fuel tank. The three other tanks are down to about 1/4 full, but the stb-aft tank is chocker. As a result Tide Hiker has a weird list.
2. The stb exhaust hose in the ER is running too hot. I am thinking maybe the elbow is clogged somewhat?
3. The sport transmission control cable on the flybridge is out of adjustment. Leaving Boston we were running on one engine and did not realize for an hour or so that the port transmission had not engaged.
4. I have ordered a new control cable for the Glendenning. It needs to be installed. I could probably do it, but since there will be a mechanic in the ER......
5. The gasket behind the mechanical fuel pump on the Onan is leaking. These guys are Onan dealers so should have the part.

Sunday September 22, 2015

Just so happens that old friends John and Bonnie are in the Solomons. We met up with them for dinner last night and today they arranged for us to attend the Solomons Watermen's Festival. This is the fisherman's equivalent of a tractor pull or stock car racing. The main even was a 'docking competition" for fishing boats. I have included a video below.

Monday, September 23, 2015

We were up and dressed at 8 AM, ready for the workers to arrive. Eric the manager arrived after lunch for a planning meeting. Eric and Rich came back later to run some tests on the generator. Rich started working on the transmission controls and removed the port engine elbow.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

More happening today. More tests on the generator. The port engine elbow was replaced with my spare. Talked some more about the Onan. The transmission controls seem improved. The new Glendenning RPM cable was installed, and seems to work OK.

Don and Barb came over for drinks and cards. the boys and girls split 2 games of 500. They are leaving tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Jon and Bonnie picked us up in their rental. Bonnie had some doctor appointments in Baltimore so we came for the ride. We enjoyed lunch in Baltimore "Little Italy" and some shopping in Baltimore and the DC suburbs. Was a fun day, back on the boat by 5 PM.

Today the stb aft tank issue was diagnosed - a bad hose that had collapsed. We decided to have all 4 hoses replaced. Waiting on parts for the Onan and hoses.Still have electrical work re the generator.

Don and Barb did not leave this morning - I suspect they enjoy our "Last suppers" too much. I think we have had 3 or 4 by now. The other reason might be the weather.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

The yard is making steady progress on the remaining issues. Deidre and I took the yard car and replenished the larder. We invited a couple from another trawler in the yard over for drinks and then drove us into town for a casual dinner.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Cool overcast morning. The yard have had two guys on Tide Hiker most of the day. They have promised to wrap up the work by mid afternoon.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Lazy day, did some shopping and a few small jobs. Dinner out by ourselves.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Another lazy day. Out for breakfast with the Washington Post. Visited the Patuxant Navy Air museum.

Annapolis (Mooring Ball)

Friday September 18, 2015
38 58.581 N
76 28.982 W

Short run today so we slept in and did not pull the anchor until 7:30 AM. Another perfect day, lots of sun and light winds. Warm enough to run the boat from the fly bridge.

We entered the Annapolis inner harbor at about 1 PM and we pleased to see at least three "heavy" mooring balls available. We picked up one, Cavara was a few minutes behind us and picked up another. There was a cat flying the Australian red ensign beside us. They were from Brisbane.

Annapolis is just a great place, one of my all time favorites with lots of good memories. We dropped the dink in and headed ashore for a walk around and a bit of shopping. Big weekend in Annapolis - "Change of Command" day at the Naval Academy, and a home game for the Navy football team. Before we returned to Tide Hiker we made reservations for another farewell dinner with Don and Barb at the "oldest inn in Maryland" - 1750.

Sassafras River Anchorage

Thursday September 17, 2015
39 22.405 N
76 02.800 W

I really do not like the Delaware River. Not sure why, maybe its because we have to go North, which is the wrong direction, plus its just a boring run. Once again the tide is important, so we were up and underway at 6:30 AM. I hate getting out of bed at that hour, but I love running the boat in the calm and half light of an early morning. We were thru Cape May and out of the canal by 7:30 AM. Don had judged the tide perfectly, we average 8.5 knots up the river and hit the C&D canal right at slack. After an hour or so at slack the current had turned and we rode it thru the canal and into the northern Chesapeake. All in all, 85 miles in 10.5 hours, not bad.

We anchored in the Sassafras river against the southern shore, made up of cliffs and trees. There was not much wind but we were totally sheltered. There were no other boats, just the two of us. I felt good to be back in the Chesapeake, its a cruising paradise. It had been another long day so we were in bed by about 9 PM. I love sleeping in a safe anchorage.