But we did. And yes, the Prime Rib is worth the stop.
Day 25, November 8, 2018
The reason not many boats spend two nights in Coinjock is there is nothing there but prime rib. Good prime rib, mind you, but that’s it.
We, however, expected to receive two overnight shipments at Coinjock — one of them yet another heater part — so we needed to be there the second night. All our buddies departed after the first night along with most everyone else. We were left by ourselves with one lone small sailboat and it’s solo captain. Continue reading Not Many Boats Spend Two Nights at Coinjock→
In reality, “it” is a seven-to-eight month adventure cruise down the eastern seaboard to Key West, and back up again, maybe including a side-trip to the Bahamas. But in many ways “it” is defined as a trip down (and up) the “AICW”, or Atlantic IntraCoastal Waterway. The official start of the “ICW” (for short) is mile zero at “R36” just near the Tidewater Yacht Marina we stayed in. Continue reading This Is “It”: The ICW, Day One→
The end of Cruise Phase I, the beginning of Cruise Phase II
Days 22 – 23, November 5-6
The clear skies from our run yesterday from Solomons Island, MD to Portsmouth, VA had blown offshore, and we woke to a rainy and blustery day in Portsmouth, across the river from Norfolk. Thanks to the weather, with winds forecast yet again to hit 30 knots, it was likely we were going to be here for a couple of days.
We were at Tidewater Yacht Marina. This would be the first place on our cruise where there was a real critical mass of boats headed into the ICW on the trip south. Some of them we had run into and/or communicated with in previous days and weeks as we all meandered our way down Long Island Sound, the Jersey Shore and the Chesapeake, fighting our own personal battles with the Weather Devil. It was a fun, diverse conglomerate of folks and boats and we took good advantage of the opportunity to get to know each other and compare notes and plans. Continue reading Portsmouth, VA: Norfolk’s Second Cousin→
With plans to spend more time on the Bay in the spring.
Day 20, November 4
We enjoyed our time in the Chesapeake, and leaving as we did, without spending more time and visiting more destinations, left us both feeling a bit let down. How did this happen?
In a word: weather.
This has been a tough first three weeks of our cruise. First, we were bashed to death by westerly gales in Long Island Sound. New Jersey gave us a surprise break with a fair window to get down the coast and up the Delaware, but the Weather Devil assaulted us again in the Chesapeake. The pattern of Small Craft Advisories and Gales called the shots with respect to where we went, and even if we went anywhere at all. It also kept us in protected marinas instead of remote coves. We couldn’t find any rhythm to our trip, and our expectations were tossed in the trash bin. Continue reading Leaving The Chesapeake – Prematurely→
Thanks to social media, Solomons Island wrapped us up in warm and happy hospitality.
Days 18 – 20, November 1 – 3, 2018
If Rock Hall, MD put southern hospitality on the map, Annapolis gave it a gold star and Solomons Island knocked it out of the park.
We have embraced the whole social media thing with a wee bit of skepticism, but embraced it none-the-less. In spite of the well-deserved reputation that Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat have for breaking down some of the essential fibers of true social interaction, this cruise has underscored what a wonderful accomplice social media can be in the world of friends and friendship. Continue reading Of New Friends and Old Friends — and KEY LIME PIE!→
Architecture, food, and lots of walking kept us properly entertained.
Days, 14-17, October 28-31, Halloween!
A Beautiful Flybridge Evening on Ego Alley is a spectacle in the making.
Our primary reason for heading to Annapolis so soon after reaching the Chesapeake was — once again — our heater. One more overnight parts delivery from the west coast, and hopefully that project would be DONE. Arriving on a sunny Sunday afternoon was a bonus. We had decided to take a slip right smack in downtown, at the City Docks, aka Ego Alley. Being in the center of things can be a lot of fun, and since Annapolis is a little more laid back in the fall, it seemed a good idea. Continue reading Annapolis Done Right: Ego Alley→
As well as a little bit of R&R from delivery pace, and making new friends.
Days 12 – 13 – 14, October 26-28, 2018
Early morning in the Cape May Canal.
When we left Cape May through the Cape May Canal and out into Delaware Bay, our goal was Chesapeake City on the C&D canal. We wanted to get there early to make sure we had a secure spot. We were under way in the Cape May Canal before sunrise, and passed the Lewes-Cape May Ferry Terminal at the west end of the canal as the ferries were getting ready to start their runs. Continue reading The Chesapeake is for Crabs: Rock Hall→
All things fun (and tasty) in the life of the Beards
