What and Where of Late....

After the Admiral’s visit, both Tess and I spent a week or so back in New Hampshire for some housekeeping; both work related and personal planning.  Then back to Baltimore on September 29 for another charter cruise. 

This one with Charlie and his buddies Jeremy (from Minneapolis) and Stefanos (from D.C.).  A great weekend of weather promised an Admiral’s Cruise Redux.  But, being young professionals (rather than, ______; well, you can fill that in), this crew was sensible, if not serious.  Two arrivals on Thursday night via BWI and an early Friday morning train from Penn Station, allowed the crew to shove off by 10ish and hit the Bay.  While some attempt at sailing failed at the Key Bridge, we had a pleasant motor sail into Annapolis in time to pick up a mooring (all of which were to be removed or obliterated on Sunday morning to accommodate the set up of the Annapolis Boat Show.  Cruiser’s Tip:  The City Moorings marked “Keep Off” are actually reserved for boats over 46 feet.  An Island Packet 45, with dinghy on davits, certainly measures 50 feet, so we grabbed a Keep Off Mooring since they were the only ones available.

Our first stop was our newest “Best Place”; McGarvey’s Back Bar for raw oysters and clams.  While the youngsters couldn’t go mollusk-for-mollusk with the Admiral, they made a credible dent in the Chesapeake shellfish inventory.  Even the Minnesotan slurped some down.

A 2 and 2 dinner at The Federal House and then back to the boat for liquor, cigars and listening to young up-and-comers talk about work, work, work, iOS 7, work, more money please, and missing their young wives.  Generations come and go, but nothing seems to change.

A rather late morning start (I could hear from my training as a compassionate father: “If you don’t let those boys get some rest…” from 0600 to 0900).  Needless to say, I let them rest.  As the day progressed, that turned out to be prescient.  They would need it.

Being Annapolis, where everyone is watching, the sails were up immediately and we sailed out of the Harbor and into the Bay.  With Stephanos on the helm, Jeremy manning the lazy sheet and Charlie and I giving contradicting instructions, we somehow managed (after a mere 6? 10? 20? 100? tacks) to make it under the Bay Bridge.  At that point, knowing the most damaging structure in all of Chesapeake Bay was behind us, I went down for my nap with firm instructions to the Sailing Master: “Either get us back to Baltimore, or get us to an anchorage before nightfall”.  Under the tutelage of this Wind Whisperer, the crew took their turns at the wheel, on the sheets and in their bunks until our not untimely arrival back in Baltimore. 

The Crew.  Back in Baltimore.

Having been forewarned of our arrival, Tess had planned and prepared a sumptuous welcome home feast at the end of the dock for sunset.  Joined by Katie & Kyle, we had a nice end to two great days of being on the Bay.  Stephanos, off to the train for a much anticipated return to his beloved, was foiled by the fact that Mussolini does not run the MARC trains.  He came back to the boat to enjoy a two-plus hour delay in his travel plans.

Ahhh…., since those halcyon days, life aboard ENDURANCE have been filled with nothing but work.  Apart for real work, boat work had initially focused on tracking down that elusive water seepage.  The water pump coming on, or trying to, at odd times.  The mysterious appearance of water in the bilge each morning.  Living on the water is great.  Tracking down the source of water internal to the place you live; not so good. 

In a process that started in Maine, continued with Paul Casey’s years of sleuthing out boat problems and Charlie’s professional expertise aboard yachts of many descriptions (most better described than our own), I was certain that I was narrowing down the problem.  “It’s the water pump!”, I exclaimed one morning.  Aided and abetted by a waterlogged Accumulator Tank.  

The Old Accumulator Tank.  A bit rusty; inside and out.

The space to be filled.

The one gallon tank, to be replaced by one twice the size, I ordered.  Matching the water pump, not possible.  Convinced after talking to many vendors that I could fix the errant pump, I took it apart, cleaned out the debris and reinstalled it.  It ran.  It ran.  And it ran.  It did not pump water.  

Never to Pump again.

Rather than go without (water, that is), I broke down, purchased and installed the West Marine, Always Available, Loud As A Jet Plane Water Pump, Model # We Know You Are Desperate At This Point.  It was loud.  “I’ll replace it when the Accumulator Tank comes in”, I said.

Two days later, Tess is off to Chicago for the weekend (Jake’s Navy Training Graduation), and I have my Accumulator Tank.  Oh.  I forgot to mention.  After the Admiral’s visit, I made that quick return to New Hampshire.  Not previously planned.  Not well thought through.  As I’m leaving the boat to head to my 9:50 PM flight, I sit at the electrical panel and think, “What do I need to keep on?  Surely, just the Refrigerator”.  All other switches off.  Good power management?  No.  No.  Really no.  Without thinking things through, it seems I also turned off the Shore Power.  That means that the Refrigerator was running only on the House Batteries for over a week.  Not really though.  Sometime during this period, there were no more House Batteries.  Fully discharged.  Kaput.  Uh, oh.

It doesn’t take an expert to know that when you have a dead battery (or two), you recharge it.  That’s what I did.  Wow!  The Charger is pumping in over 100 Amps into a 240 Amp Hour Battery.  This will take no time at all.  A couple hours later, the Charger stops.  What?  I fear that I have blown both the Batteries and the Charger.  The next morning, some useful dockside advice: “Read the Manual”.  I did.  It says that the Thermal Fuse in the Charger caused its shutdown.  Too many amps.  The Batteries get to hot.  The Charger shuts off.  I gain access to the Charger.  Hit the Reset Button.  Back in business.  Charlie’s Cruise to Annapolis goes off without a hitch.  On our return, Tess notes that a storage locker next to the Battery Locker is really hot.  So, it seems, are the Batteries.  Busy for several days thereafter, just before Tess’ departure to Chicago, I get out another manual.  On the Batteries, this time.  Have you ever heard of Thermal Runaway?  The next sentence in the manual says something about Explosions.  And then, just, “Run Away!”

It seems that if you try to recharge a fully discharged battery with more than 50 Amps, you will likely warp the plates in these AGM Batteries.  They will short out.  The remaining cells, if any, will still take a charge.  All of it.  And overheat.  At a certain yet to be determined temperature, even these AGM High Tech Batteries will dry out.  Then, merely explode.  Again, dockside discussion recalls the Swiss boat he saw in Gibraltar.  No foredeck.  Batteries had exploded.

The decision is made to replace them today (the day that I had planned to install my new Accumulator Tank).  

Many calls were made.  These Batteries are expensive.  Few people keep them in stock.  Except… you guessed it.  West Marine, two stores over, has the two I need.  Twice as expensive.  But, the cost versus risk analysis was already done.  I put them on hold for an afternoon pick up.  Then a return call from Stevens Battery Warehouse in Pasadena, Maryland.  Joe says he can have exact replacements on Tuesday.  “Not good””, I say.  “Today’s the day.”  Joe says, “Let me send a Tech over to assess your problem”.  “Okay”.  Any advice is better than the voices in my head.  At 2:00, the Tech confirms. “You fried them my friend”.  And, “they are not the high-priced, brand name Batteries you thought you had.  They are the West Marine higher-priced batteries that we sell (at half the cost) without the WM label”.  By 6:00 my new friends have returned and installed (at 128 pounds each) two new Batteries and a significant cost savings.  

In the meantime, I have installed the Accumulator Tank.

Shiny new Accumulator Tank.

The new plumbing installation.

A busy day.

So all is well aboard?  Until 0400 the next day.  The water pump goes on.  Okay, no big deal.  At 0420, the water pump goes on again.  This means we have lost two gallons of water in twenty minutes.  Uh, oh.  Again.  Big deal.

There is clearly an extra two gallons of water in the Bilge.  I pump it out.  I then, for the umpteenth time, since I have already scrutinized every other source of water at least a million and umpteenth times, open the access panel to the Hot Water Heater.

Did you guess it this time?  Let me give you a hint.  Spraying water.  Lots of it.  From the Hot Water Heater.  The nylon hose fitting on the “hot” water side, dried up, shrunken, and leaking.  Again.  I replaced it in Deltaville, Virginia in September 2010.  Should have learned then.  

What an irritating pain in the neck you have been!

At 0800, when Ace Hardware opened, I replaced it with a brass fitting.  $4.89.  Plus tax.  No more leaks.  So far.  No more rampant water pump cycling.  So far.

As Katie would say:  “You’re a Cruiser?  What did you repair today?”

September 12, 13, 14 & 15 with Admiral Hugs & Kisses

We've been back in New Hampshire lately.  Tess since about the 8th and due to work commitments.  Me since the evening of the 15th.  Mostly for purposes of recuperation and rehabilitation.

Does this mean anything?

Yes.  A visit to Baltimore by Admiral Hugs & Kisses.  Only allowed aboard ENDURANCE with tag team adult supervision, George Nostrand came to visit his old haunts in Baltimore and Annapolis.  This time, Paul Casey was recruited as co-Captain.  Paul is level-headed and a consummate Island Packet sailor (late of IP37 IMAGINE).  Paul took the Port Watch and I took to the Starboard Watch in order to keep the Admiral in the boat, the boat in the water, the barmaids safe (relatively) and our sanity in tact (barely).

After en route detours to Norfolk for Paul and Dulles for George (finally arriving by bus), due to a lightning strike to the BWI tower (windows blown out and, sadly, one fatality), Thursday was a late dinner and berthing.  Friday though, saw a 1000 departure for Annapolis and real sailing.  A great Northwesterly breeze took us all the way down the Bay once we turned South out of the Patapsco.

A great day of sailing!

With a mooring in Annapolis by 1600, the Water Taxi delivered us to Town for the necessary rounds of oysters and libations.  Middletown Tavern was followed by The Federal House and then the Back Bar at McGarveys.  

Loaded up with shellfish innards we headed back to the the boat where the Port Watch went below for some respite, while the Starboard Watch maintained the cockpit with the Admiral.  Luckily, a Dog Watch (allowing a short time before relief), and all crew were rested well before dinner (how the Admiral maintains this pace is amazing!).

Dinner at Maria's Sicilian Ristaurante had us all eating stuffed veal chops, drinking an odd assortment of wines, and ready to head back for the Admiral's Mast (or, in this case, his nightcap - or two - or ...).

But a good morning wind saw us off to Baltimore on Saturday.  The same Northwesterly - sometimes over 25 knots - could have been a struggle, but rather than taking the Rhumb Line, we crossed the Bay on a beat to Rock Hall on the Eastern Shore.  Once there, we had wind abeam toward the Patapsco.  Good to have real sailors aboard.

Well, one real sailor, at least.

Safely arriving in Baltimore, we were joined by Katie & Kyle for the Admiral's Birthday Dinner at the swanky and extraordinary Chighiale (where, to our relief, the sommelier picked the wines for us) across the street from the Charleston (two of the very best restaurants in all of Baltimore).

All Spiffed up for the Admiral's Birthday Dinner.

Tucked in by just after Midnight each evening.  A rather sedate visit with the Admiral (in comparison).  Great sailing and great fun.  A week plus later, as recovered as possible at this age, I am now ready to return to the boat.  

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - The Schoolmaster Lift

Busy day today.

Bill and Jane Exner are in town to see the Yankees.  Now, that would be big news to anyone who knew the Exners.  They are not known to like the Yankees.  But, here they are in Baltimore.  And, wonder of wonders.  In the deep recesses of their psyches they are struggling.  The Exner name is synonymous with the Red Sox.  They are not here to watch the Baltimore Orioles beat the Yankees.  They are here to support Jane’s brother-in-law John Schoolmaster who wants to watch the Yankees win one “for a change”.

It seems that John has been a life-long Yankees fan (you can’t pick your in-laws, can you?).  John has seen them play dozens of times.  Hundreds of times?  Too many times, for sure.  But John has never seen the Yankees win (a Red Sox dream come true?).  But sad for John.  So John is here in Baltimore, surrounded by family.  For one purpose.  And one purpose only.  To see the Yankees win.  A win against Baltimore will suffice.  The risk that the dreaded Yankees surpass Baltimore in the Wild Card Race to the Playoffs results in much teeth grinding by the Exners.  But, family is family.  For John, even the Exners will risk a Yankees win.  But one only please.

So yesterday, Monday, the Schoolmaster/Exner contingent have box seats at Camden Yards.  The Yankees lose.  The box is located next door to the Baltimore Ravens corporate box.  A jinxed selection of locations.   Sorry John.  Better luck next time?

Consolation prize.  With the Exners, John, his wife Mary Jo, daughter Beth and college friends Bubba and Tina come to Canton for a Baltimore Harbor Cruise aboard Endurance. 

John, as is obvious from the above, suffers from an affliction which those of us from New England would identify from the John Henry/Yawkey Way Book of Psychiatry as a misplaced love for the Yankees.  A terrible affliction and, luckily, the worst of John’s problems.  But, John is also wheelchair-bound of late.  A minor sailing inconvenience overcome by our stalwart crew’s training in Man Overboard Recovery systems. 

Up...

and over,...

and down,...

and in, ...

and done!

With John and guests aboard, we motor-sailed through the Inner Harbor in order to give the tourists a chance to take our picture.  Then out the Patapsco River, past Ft. McHenry (“our flag was still there”), and under the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Chesapeake.  After much tacking to and fro from Ft. Carroll toward White Rocks, we headed home.  A great sailing day.  Much relief from the oppressive city temperatures.  And hopefully, a solace to John’s prior night’s loss.

Anna Bluhm's Girls at Sea!

Bill & Jane (hoping the Orioles are resting in this heat)

Bubba as Cheshire Cat

Girls on the Bow

Girls on the Deck

Bill "coming about"

The Schoolmasters

Group Photo

Oh.  One more thing.  Those damn Yankees?  Beat the Orioles 7 to 5 that night.  

The night the Yankees did it (for John, at least).

And John was there.  I guess if you are going to have a good day, you might as well make it a great day.  Congratulations, John!

Damn Yankees!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Who ever expected life in Baltimore is full of so many “ups and downs”?  I mean literally, Ups and Downs…as in, Katie ran the Rocky Gap Iron Girl 2013 Triathalon this weekend, and we went from the flat but gentle, long rolling hills of the Charm City to the mountains along the AT between West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the far western reaches of Maryland.  What a beautiful area of deep forests, sharp, striated peaks and crystal clear lakes. 

The race started at 7:00 am…the heavy morning mists were still clinging to the lowest levels of the trees, spectators all clad in sweatshirts and fleece with coffee cups and cameras.  The tri-athletes were in swimgear, barefeet and lycra color-coded swim caps identifying them by starting group.  Arms were painted with their entrant identification number, the women’s ages written in bold black marker on the back of their right calf!!! OMG!  All shapes, sizes, ages and outfits were present and accounted for, replete with delight in the anticipated shared experience and a little healthy competition!  Katie passed, (or was passed by?) a 72 year old lady in her first event ever…a little cheer from one to the other, and the race continued.  Despite hills, the start of the new school year and its demands taking a little time away from training hours, Katie made GREAT time.  Her friends, Katie Long, Hollie Young, Meagan and Poloma all finished strong and were a delight to meet and cheer on.  As this was a Women’s Only event, Kyle had to be satisfied to be best friend and camera man….next one, he’s back in the game!

Our other big event over the weekend was a delightful lunch with son Charlie at BWI airport!  Charlie and Tabby flew in separately to Pittsburgh for a friend’s wedding over the weekend, and Charlie had an hour and 15 minute layover at lunchtime.  With a lot of luck and the good-ol’ SouthWest Airline Luv, we were able to finagle an escort  pass through the security gate to meet him on his concourse for a fully civilized lunch date.  Woo Hoo!!

 

Before the Race...

Morning mist...

 

Heading in for the swim...

Out of the water...

Starting the bike race...

End of the bike race...

A hug after the run,... and

DONE!!!!

Baltimore Chores

September 6, 2013

Being at a dock - a real novelty since our life aboard has been mostly moorings and at anchor for quite some time - has led to more and more chores. But plenty of resources to get them done.

After our bow to stern interior and exterior cleaning, the heavy lifting was mostly done. Wednesday we had a nice drive over to Maryland's Eastern Shore to meet up with Ken & Sarah from s/v SKEEDADLE to pick up our car and kayak. 

With Ken & Sarah in Rockland, Maine for Car & Kayak drop-off 

Being a bit early, we crossed the Choptank River over to Cambridge to check out the Cambridge Lighthouse and Town Marina. Both very nice. The Marina seemed to have new floating docks around the perimeter and plenty of available space. Our last Chesapeake cruise did not get us too far up any of the many rivers here but clearly there are some great places to see.

The Eastern Shore itself was gorgeous on a beautiful September day. All fields and corn and soybeans. And marshes and streams.

We had a wonderful lunch with Ken & Sarah on their deck overlooking Trapp Creek on the Tred Avon River in Oxford (even more beautiful and sailor friendly than Cambridge, we're told). Another gorgeous Eastern Shore spot with an available mooring for us (until SKEEDADLE returns from Maine at least). We have added it to our itinerary as we head South from here.

More of a slog back to Baltimore in two cars since we ended up in commuter traffic. Definitely not used to that. Though we often lost sight of each other, we did manage to hook up to pass a phone charger between us just as my phone/GPS/lifeline ran out of power. This allowed us to drop Katie's car off to her at AFYA (so she could get home from the school's Family Night). We then headed to Hickory Avenue to unload the kayak in her basement.

Luckily, Kyle was there. Otherwise Tess or I would be writing this from the hospital. Or prison. Or the funeral home.

This is a nineteen foot tandem kayak. It easily weighs 100 plus pounds. Katie lives in a 1800s era town home. Three units. She's the middle. Think southern style shotgun house. Very narrow. No side yards. No back yard access from the street.

Here's what we have to do. Drive behind Katie's house to the alley upon which her rear neighbor's house fronts (houses on the alley have no street fronts). Unload the kayak off the car into the alley. We have a two wheel dolly for under the kayak so we can just roll it in, right? Wrong.

Katie's back yard access gate (every yard is surrounded by six foot stockade fencing) is in the exact middle of her rear neighbor's house. This means we have to roll the kayak along a two foot wide house and stockade fence sided sidewalk (of sorts) to the back of the  neighbor's house. Then make a ninety degree turn to the right into the two foot wide space between the rear of the neighbor's house and the stockade fence running along the back of the property Katie's house is a part of. Then a ninety degree left (within this two foot space) into Katie's yard.

The dolly proved useless. We decided to stand the kayak on end and carry it "like a ladder". That means the proper roofer's way to carry a ladder. But it's not a ladder. It's pointed on one end, wide in the middle, and pointed again on the other end. And gear inside seems to be shifting. And we can't lean it against the stockade fence (Baltimore brittle) or the neighbor' s house (easily destroyed gutters).  So...

One of us pins the front end to the ground. The other lifts  the stern and starts walking under it. Then as the stander has both arms flayed out to provide some stability, the low man quickly moves the pivot point inches at a time until the corner is made. Not a pretty sight. No witnesses (Tess was moving the car out of the alley).

Finally, in the back yard. Now, the easy part. Just slide the 19 foot kayak straight through the basement foot into the 16 foot space prepared for it (Katie- I will come back to fix the dent left in your basement wall). Clearly, this is not going to work. The house is not long enough or wide enough to accommodate this kayak. It is now held prisoner in the back yard. Safe and secure unless a couple of eight foot tall burglars decide to pace it over several fences to reach a sidewalk or alley.

We will have to come up with easier storage options.

Katie & Kyle in the 19' Kayak in Harpswell, Maine

All of which made today seem easy. Replaced the Macerator (the dirtiest, stinkiest job in boatdom). Replumbed and rewired the raw water pump.  Rewired the aft head toilet. Nothing to it.

Home, Sweet Baltimore!

Hey, Hon!  Feeling Crabby?  Welcome to Bawlmore!!!!

We arrived breathless and thrilled on Saturday evening, August 31.  Baltimore in August…What were we thinking?!?!  Hot, humid, Grand Prix in high gear filling the Inner Harbor with guests and mayhem, and folks from far and near celebrating the holiday weekend.  It was a thrill to come into our ‘home away from home’ port with the boat performing like a champ and the sense that we’d re-gained our lost mariner ways.  After a quick shower and change we met Katie and Kyle for a welcome back dinner and early to bed. 

Sunday, 100 degrees and only 98% humidity was Tony’s perfect day to wash and hand rub every inch of the deck and dinghy.  There is no point in even considering asking him to take a break mid-day or mid-way…he was Ahab’s crew, with Ahab solidly in his head.  My day was full but at a “Bawlmore pace”…laundry, floors bow to stern, bits here and there, and of course, the end of the Bananas.  Why wouldn’t I make a pie when it’s 100 outside?  Me thinks we’ve lost our marbles.

New Banana Storage System

Our Saturday sail in was great fun.  We left the quiet anchorage with a perfect wind to tack back and forth across the Elk River in quiet, un-motored delight.  (Not having been off the boat in days, I admit I even enjoyed working those lines and sheets!)  

Turkey Point, Top of the Chesapeake

As we approached the Bay, the traffic and wind stepped up and we dropped the head sail to motor with 18 knots on the nose…and then 25 knots on the nose…and then Holy Shit Batman where did that wind come from?!?  Tony was (insert “gasp”) Hand Steering!  Clearly, we’ve got some conditions!  For about the last two hours of the Bay we were working but knew we were almost done.  We turned into the approach to the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the wind dropped like a rock – 20, 15, 8…. And suddenly, it was HOT!  Welcome to Baltimore, Hon….

Outgoing Baltimore Harbor Traffic

Outgoing Baltimore Harbor Weather

So, we’re settled in, doing office and boat chores; having hot showers whenever we want them and lights on willy-nilly throughout the cabin.  It feels palatial and decadent after a summer on the mooring.  We miss the evening swim off the back to cool us off …that longing is counter-balanced by the ability to stay in the cockpit all night long with not a mosquito to be found.  We miss lobster and chowder…until we think of crabcakes and pubs galore within a moment’s walk.  We miss our friends…well, that’s not balanced out by anything, is it? 

Fort McHenry, Entrance to Baltimore's Inner Harbor

We will see Katie and Kyle often and in the glorious freedom of “regular time”.  We hope Alison comes down from NYC every minute she can steal away.  Charlie comes down for a weekend in September while Tabby is in Boston.  We are eager to see some dear friends here soon.  Life, it’s a good thing!

Made it to Baltimore - Details to follow

Birds on watch stands; real color of water. At home, if it were this shallow we'd be sketchy about anchoring from rock and tide concerns. Here, we might as well be in 100' of water if we have 12...Chesapeake mustache being applied as we move into the Bay.

Anchored at 8:50 PM off the Governor Thomas Veasey Farm in Veasey Cove on the Bohemia River. The Farm is for sale. 400 acres. Original farmhouse dating back to the 1700's. No subdivision allowed. $3.5 Million. As the broker's ad says: It's not just real estate, it's a lifestyle.

Though we arrived and anchored in the dark, it was a good decision to press on through the C&D Canal. The anchorage at Reedy Point on the East side of the C&D had four boats in it as we passed, but looked uncomfortable. Literally, stuck in the Bay. 

Anchoring at night.

We started the C&D at 6.4 knots but within half and hour we were doing 8 and then 9.4 as the current shifted in our favor.

C&D Canal

Overall it was a great day that just flew by. I twice checked to be sure the clocks weren't broken since I couldn't believe how fast the day went. Delaware Bay dead flat. The current was favorable. And we had enough wind to motorsail a good part if the way.

Our first Chesapeake bay sunset.

It's now hard to leave Veasey Cove for Baltimore. It's a pretty spot. 

Veasey Cove in the morning.

But the call of the Patapsco has been heard.

Block Island to Cape May

With a 3:00 PM departure from Block Island on Wednesday, we arrived and anchored at Cape May on Thursday at 7:30 PM. Beating the sunset by at least two minutes. A total of 28.5 hours. Not bad considering we had wind from all directions at unusable speeds and lumpy, lumpy seas the whole way (mostly from behind, thankfully). We did some 8.5 knot surfing for awhile and from Atlantic City to Cape May, with mainsail, staysail and iron genny all going, we did the last bit at a good 8 knot clip. Nothing like 5 to 10 foot New Jersey shore waves to give you a boost.

What we saw? Porpoises in the phosphorescent nighttime sea. A sea turtle (species not known). An irate old sailor complaining to the Coast Guard about a container ship in his way (it wouldn't be New Jersey if someone wasn't bitchin'). Plenty of clouds and fog and threatening weather. But no rain. No problems. And no pictures.

The jelly fish in our sea strainer (picture included) came from Rhode Island Sound.

One neat thing (after the initial panic) occurred at 0500 on Thursday as Tess replaced me on watch. A yellow light came on at the cockpit control panel, followed by a loud alarm buzzer. It seems that our new FilterBoss Fuel System works. And, wonder of wonders, it was properly installed. I quickly (and confidently) switched  a lever from Filter No. 1 to Filter No. 2. The buzzer stopped. The yellow light disappeared. The engine did not stop. We did not get soaked with diesel fuel trying to change filters in a confused sea before day break. Nice!

And, for you technical types. Filter No. 1 was used to "polish" our 18 month old fuel prior to our June launch and never changed afterwards. Thus it's likely premature failure. I changed it this morning at Cape May Literally a two minute job (or at least it will be the second time).  Nice!

Otherwise, and luckily, as all you passage makers know, it was pretty boring. Tedious work. Glad to see the coast again at Atlantic City. Frustrated that our destination was still five hours away at that point.

We made it. Now headed up Delaware Bay in a dead calm. Hot. And 30 plus miles to the C&D Canal. But the tides with us.  All's well.

Miah Maull Shoal Light on Delaware Bay (Banana Storage System still working - though we had a bee visitation earlier today).

An Auspicious Day

Yesterday was truly an auspicious day.  Thus, we try to re-start our Blog for our travels South.

We arrived at Block Island around 5:00 PM and after a bit of work and chores took the Launch onto shore for a short walk.  Instead of turning left toward Town as we and most others have done, we turned right.  And around the bend is an old cemetery climbing the hill.  As we approached, a large healthy buck bounded out of the brush and up the hill ahead of us, stopping at the crest before disappearing on the other side.  After a nice hike up the hill and around the cemetery - many Captains lie here, Dodges, Allans, Willises and other true Yankee stock - we headed back down toward the Docks.  No sooner had we reached the bottom than another large healthy buck bounded through a driveway gate not 10 paces ahead of us and turned toward us racing back up the cemetery hill.  Again, stopping to look back at us (very majestic) and over the other side.  Wow!  Amazing!  Not being in a place where a Trader Joe's sells Two Buck Chuck Wine, we decided to tip the launch driver an extra Two Bucks.

We did see the old (very old) Narragansett Inn before taking the Launch back to the boat.  Left some outgoing mail with them and felt we had a great visit to Block.

Our plan to head out at 0600 this morning for the 210 nm trip to Cape May (30 to 35 hours) was thwarted at 0300 when I decided to recalculate our fuel usage since leaving Quahog Bay and decided that worst case (absolutely worst case) was that we had 24 hours worth of fuel.  Since we are Cruisers and not necessarily Sailors, and we don't expect more than 5 or 10 knots of wind for the next two days, we decided we could not shove off without refueling.  At 0830 we were at Payne's Fuel Dock fully topped off.  Fuel and Water.  A fat and happy Island Packet built for comfort on the open ocean.

The Plan now is to leave between 3:00 and 6:00 this afternoon arriving Cape May 35 hours plus or minus later.  Since this should give us a morning arrival, it also leaves open the options of just heading up Delaware Bay without a stop or stopping off to anchor and rest at Lewes, Delaware inside the mouth of Delaware Bay.  We hope these options will provide less stress than trying to hit a night time anchorage at Cape May.

So, with an August 23 start from Harpswell, we have made anchorage at Pepperell Cove, a mooring at Situate (MA) Harbor north of the Cape Cod Canal, two nights on a mooring at West Island, Fairhaven, MA in Buzzards Bay (including dinner with Paul & Debbie Casey at their West Island Cottage), and now Great Salt Pond on Block Island.  We will make Baltimore.  We plan on the Florida Keys.  We hope for Florida's West Coast.  And we continue to negotiate a possible Bahamian return.  Check in often for updates.

Adjusting a Gilguy before entering the Cape Cod Canal.  Note the new Banana Storage System.