Hi everyone! We are in currently in Pasadena, MD, living 15 feet off the ground while Ritual is hauled out for some maintenance. No hurricanes so far, but we have had some pretty good thunderstorms and lightening shows.
Since our last update, we completed the ICW to Norfolk, where we were so busy watching the fair in the downtown park that we found ourselves smack in the middle of the Gay Pride boat parade! Our only regret was that we didn’t have any decorations. We spent some time with fellow Slocum owners Tom and Ilse in Hampton, VA. It was nice to see them again, and this time we stayed in Salt Pond, near their home. We also took advantage of the marina pool, which has become a great amenity now that it is hot! Continuing our trek back north, we stopped again in Jackson Creek/Deltaville, and this time the Fishing Bay Yacht Club was open so we were able to use their showers – and pool! Too bad they do not have regular bar/food hours because the building is lovely and beautifully situated between Fishing Bay and the creek. Then it was on to Reedville, VA. We had ducked into this area on our way south and this time we went further up the creek to the actual town. We tried to be strategic about our anchoring spot, to stay out of the wafting smell from the fish processing plant, and were mostly lucky! There is a really interesting Fisherman’s Museum here, tracing the history of the menhaden fishing industry (think alewives for you Great Lakers) and crab/oyster/clam watermen. They also have a boat building shop and run skipjack sailing tours from their dock. The Omega Protein Corp. operates the last processing plant in an area that once boasted 18 plants in the early 20th century. At that time Reedville was one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. Today the village (pop. 2100) consists of some large Victorian homes, the museum, a couple restaurants and an ice cream shop, and lovely homes on a couple very well-protected creeks.
Continuing to trace our old tracks, we crossed the mouth of the Potomac River, fighting the current across this 6-mile stretch, which seems even longer! We spent more time in Solomon’s Island, MD, where we visited the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, which had been closed due to Covid when we were southbound. The visitors center showcased the immense watershed of this bay and many of the research programs and university students’ projects, but the actual lab tours were still closed to the public. We used the marina bikes to get around, which are full-sized compared to our folding bikes with their 16-inch wheels. Lisa took a header with a clumsy dismount, and was grateful that the center had a well-stocked first aid kit to stem her bleeding palm and knees! Unfortunately, they had nothing for her pride. Later a Painkiller at the tiki bar helped sooth all.
We were pushing to get to Annapolis, MD for the 4th of July. It is a 40-mile passage (isn’t every passage?!) so we left early, and were delighted to pass several schools of rays feeding off Drum Point. Their little wing tips pop up above the water like mini shark fins to give them away.
What started as a calm morning gave way to a blustering squall, which stirred up some 3-4 foot seas. Chesapeake Bay can be quite reminiscent of the Great Lakes with very choppy water at times. We were happy to finally enter the Severn River, with its multitude of boats coming from every direction and squeezing into the river entry to Annapolis. We headed up Spa Creek and took a city mooring in the waaay back, off large Truxton park. Heavily wooded on the park side, and neighborhood homes on the other made for a very quiet anchorage, other than the small boat traffic from the park’s boat launch. The city has provided dinghy docks at each street end on the creek, so it is a very easy walk to downtown.
This Navy town did not disappoint for the 4th. A late afternoon parade was followed by the Navy Band playing at the waterfront until it was time for fireworks at 9 pm (much earlier than Traverse City fireworks that never started until well after 10!).
We had made plans to haul the boat out for maintenance on July 11th in Pasadena, MD, north of Annapolis, so we hung out in Spa Creek for a few days, and then moved to Weems Creek, just north of town, for a change of view. We anchored in front of Cal Ripkin Jr’s house, which, like the other large homes on this creek, sits high above the water with lots of foliage. There were several other boats anchored here since it is free and well protected, and the city pump-out boat (it sucks out the septic holding tank) services this creek. We dropped the hook in between the Navy’s mooring balls, which are only used during bad storms. From the little neighborhood boat ramp we could walk or Uber to stores and restaurants, including Bacon’s, our favorite boat consignment shop.
With thunderstorms predicted for the weekend, on Friday we headed back out into the bay and under the huge Bay Bridge, heading towards Baltimore up the Patapsco River. Rock Creek and Oak Harbor Marina would become our “home” for the next month. We spent the weekend anchored off the marina, and were lifted out and placed on jack stands on schedule.
It was fun meeting up with Rob and Liz on True Love, one of our “sister ships” that is based here. (In our minds it is pronounced Twu Wuv – most of you know the reference!) Back in the 80’s this yard commissioned Slocums imported to the east coast. We are also next to Calypso and Mischief, two Bristol Channel Cutters owned by Nica Waters of The Boat Galley and Fit-2-Sail websites/podcasts. We have enjoyed chatting with her and husband Jeremy about our various projects. We also had a nice visit with friends Jeanne and Sheldon, aboard Shank’s Mare, who caught up with us last week on their way to Baltimore.
We did take a break for 10 days and drove to Michigan. There was a family gathering for an aunt who passed away last fall, and it was wonderful to see so many cousins and old friends. Then it was off to Traverse City for a whirlwind of appointments (vet for the cats; glasses and physicals for the humans; consolidation of storage units). We managed to squeeze in visits with friends but missed several who were out of town. Thanks for the house Deb and Steve, so sorry we missed you! Traverse City seemed crazy busy to us. Before we returned the rental car we also took a run over to Mount Vernon just south of D.C.. George Washington’s home is only an hour from the boatyard, and well worth the trip. We especially enjoyed the working gristmill and distillery, but they were out of their signature rye whiskey. That’s okay, it is $98.00 bottle and is un-aged, so more like moonshine!
Now we are wrapping up our version of “yard work”. We had a new data instrument installed (depth/speed/water temp) and an old thru-hull removed and sealed up. We sent our binnacle compass off for repair only to be told it was caput. Fred found an exact replacement on eBay that is actually nicer than the old one! We bought a wood boarding ladder from True Love, and Lisa has been refinishing it. Ritual and the dinghy are both sporting new coats of bottom paint. Mail and packages have been received, and Lisa is waiting on new glasses. We have tried to adjust to early morning work schedules, since it has been 90+ by noon most days. We do not have AC, but really appreciate the six Hella fans on board!
We hope to be back in the water sometime this week, pending return of the yard manager, who is out with Covid right now. Then hopefully off to a few places further north, with plans written in the sand of course!
Fair winds, Fred and Lisa
Sailing Ritual 