The clock is ticking
Yes, the clock is ticking. I have only about 57 minutes remaining on my free 1 hour internet connection so I had better type fast. Sorry I have not been quick to reply to all of the great feedback we have been getting here on the blog. The internet black hole has been conspiring against me. I do appreciate it though (a lot) and will reply when I can find a non-timed connection.
We’re currently anchored in Back Creek, Annapolis after a day (motor)sail from Solomans Island. We were very happy to meet up with Cindy and Zach, former PDQ 36 owners, now living aboard their St. Francis 44 (with husband and father Doug of course). Cindy has commented here on this blog multiple times and was kind enough to offer advice, and use of their vehicle while we’re in the area. Cindy is also very close to giving birth to a new little one and we’re extremely happy that she kept her promise and waited until we arrived. 🙂
We’re still not used to the Americans calling highly-developed waterways creeks. Back home a creek is a little brook that meanders through a field or some woods. Back Creek is anything but a creek in our eyes. It’s not even boat show time and we still had a challenge picking a spot to anchor. We’re also used to having a ton of room to swing. I’ll guess we’ll have to get over that.
A bit of excitement occurred while maneuvering into position to drop the hook. Just as I passed the helm control over to Rebecca she noticed that the starboard engine wasn’t working. At first we thought it stalled. When we couldn’t get it to start we adjusted the shifter to make sure it was in neutral (it won’t start unless it is). At this time, while we were coasting towards another boat, we noticed that the shifter wasn’t functioning at all! Using the remaining engine, we motored into position and quickly dropped the hook. The shifter issue was promptly fixed after this by tightening a set screw but Murphy showed up, as he always does, right at the worst possible time.
Today we will NOT be getting up before dawn to go sailing!
Enjoying the sun while sailing. We have had such great weather!
Mystery buoy, not on our charts.
This ship hailed us on the radio to ask us to move over a bit in the channel for him. We saw him prior to this of course and had every intention of getting out of his way!
Zach and I heading back to ZTC to close the hatches for the thunderstorm which was threatening.
St. Francis 44… beautiful!
Both navigation systems use yellow to indicate special zones, such as fishing areas, anchorages, dredging, pipelines, special operations, etc…….Danger bouys would be well marked on your charts and also have black (triangles/stripes) to mark danger……….I see black, but it looks like solar panels…..When in doubt, stay away 1/4 mile
We were much closer than that I think, but your advice sounds prudent. That’s why you’re the USCG Captain! 😉
Hey Mike, that’s one of the new weather bouys we have here on the Bay. They record temps,tide, wave action and maybe wind but not sure on that one. You can find them on the net at Cheasapeake interpretive buoy system…http://www.buoybay.org/site/public/.. Hope this helps your stay here and maybe we’ll run into you at the boat show. We’ll be over at the Sailawaycatamarans booth at various times during the show…Sid
Hi Sid
Thanks for the info. I think you’re right.
We’ll look for that booth. So that you can recognize us, we’ll be the couple walking around drooling at all the cool stuff. 🙂
The yellow marker may be associatied with one of the “restriced zones” in the Bay, though I am not certain. Yes, the military does occationally drop bombs and test howitsers in some of these areas. Yes, we have been chased out of the Aberdene restriced zone (wasn’t Jessica surprised, as she was on watch!) when firing was scheduled. Keep channel 16 on when transiting these zones. If the zone is active, there will be patrol boats out.
We have fortunately dodged all active exercises, although we have heard plenty of radio traffic about them! I have enough trouble without people shooting (large guns) at us.
Yeah, they are right, it is a weather station, which is why it is not on older charts.
But I wanted an excuse to tell the story of Jessica being run out of the test range; she was alarmed.
lol
You never need an excuse for telling a good story:)
Yellow buoy is a NOAA Smart Buoy along the Captain John Smith Trail.
http://www.buoybay.org/site/public/
Welcome to Back Creek, Annapolis. Try the Wet Dog Cafe, Patton’s Pub, The Back Porch Cafe.
And if you have a little transportation, this is the last hurrah for the Mexican Cafe ( before they move). Ask Cindy or Doug (and probably Zach)… I am sure that they can guide you.
And I am sure that there are plenty of riggers around to install your insulator. Chesapeake Rigging at Bert Jabin’s did ours.
Hey, and I hope last Sunday you guys celebrated international talk like a pirate day!
Keep in touch.
I think I saw that cafe today when we went shopping. It’s just up the street from here (if it’s the one I am thinking about). Thanks for the other suggestions too. You know, I forgot all about the pirate day, although I am sure I was playing that Jimmy Buffet song on that day. 🙂
We’ll be in Annapolis Friday evening (driving to SSCA GAM for dinner), then sailing there early Saturday from Thomas Point.
I “think” we may be sailing to Fairley Creek this weekend (another creek!) with our friends. We’re looking forward to your PDQ get together!
Sprint offers customers who can crack the code unlimited internet tether connections in most of the US for $15 for the first phone and $5 for each additional phone. Can’t beat the price. I have the service on my “regular” cell phone, a Sanyo 8200. About $10 extra for a charging USB cord and the software is free for the looking (or asking, if you need mine). It isn’t copy right. /Stu
Back in the day, all those creeks were the same as creeks in Canada. Then people got rich and wanted to live by the water, so they built up along the creeks, brooks, rivers, drudge cuts, and any other waterway they could find. If there is a glimpse of blue from a piece of land, it’s labeled “waterfront” and the price quadruples! You have to get pretty far up the creek, with or without a paddle, in order to enjoy solitude and natural surroundings. Sometimes “natural” just means covered by junk instead of houses. 🙂
That makes perfect sense, Helen.
Wish we had your weather!
Livia & Carol “Still up North”