Onward to Annapolis!

The Chesapeake Boat Basin Marina in Kilmarnock was nice.  The loaner car was the best we've seen! If a marina in fact HAS a loaner car they are usually not the cream of the crop.... We went to pick up outboard engine parts and groceries.

The next morning (5/30) there was a light drizzle and still chilly, so we bundled up in our foul weather gear and set off for Tangier Island, one of our chosen destinations as we make our way north.  The Waterway Guide describes Tangier Island, VA as follows:  "Nosing through the channel leading to Tangier Island is a rare experience.  There is no other way to put it. Contrasted against blue sky are small white crab shanties, each with their own dock, lining the way on both sides like a welcoming committee for those arriving on Virginia's working waterman's island."  Parks Marina was mentioned as having 25 slips for visiting boats and Active Captain (an internet based interactive cruising guide) reviews from fellow boaters said that this was a very laid back marina and that Mr. Parks will come out and see you - eventually. We picked our own slip (out of two available), tied up and walked to town. There are approximately 800 residents on this dry island and no cell service or WiFi.  It's like stepping back in time.

Jeff was fascinated by the lines and the forward wheel house of the Chesapeake Bay crab boats. Notice the big rusty steel gantry for installing and removing the diesel engines.

Mr. Milton Parks came down the dock to collect the $30 dock fee that evening and shared local stories with us.  He's 83 years old and still running his marina - the kind of guy you 'd invite in for dinner. There was one other cruising boat there for the night until dusk, when another sailboat arrived needing a slip. We all helped them get into the only available space - AFTER we moved our boat to make room, essentially blocking in our neighbors.  This sailing couple was grateful for our assistance and brought a bottle of French wine to our boat where we shared stories of our journeys.  

We were first off the dock the next morning and headed to Spring Cove Marina in Solomons, MD. Once secure there on a T-dock, we set out to wash the salt off the boat.  Unfortunately, I forgot that my month old Oakley sunglasses were resting comfortably on the brim of my hat, and when I leaned over to spray the hull, down into the water they went.  Jeff tried to fish them out with a pool net to no avail. One of the locals on the dock had a number of a diver in town. I called and left a message...  It was the weekend, and doubtful that someone would be available to come to us until Monday, so I decided to order another pair.  Only issue there was that the Oakley Vault doesn't ship.  Someone had to physically go to the store and buy them.  Dean Haskell to the rescue! There was a store in Hilton Head that had one pair - so I asked Dean if he would be so kind as to purchase & ship the new pair to me, which he did almost immediately.  Thanks again Dean!

That evening I received a call from Diver Ron.  He would come to the boat first thing in the morning (we would be leaving early) and assured me he'd find the glasses.  At 7:30 am he was suited up and ready to jump in. It was a dark mucky bottom and 13' deep.

Less than a half hour later, he came up with the glasses. They don't look too bad on Ron....

Now I have a spare pair and a sunglass lanyard to go with them.

Next stop, St. Michaels.  We have some friends there who we met in St. Augustine while they were there this past winter.  They came to see the boat and have a cocktail, then treated us to a homemade dinner at their house!  We didn't have time to spend another day there to explore, but promised we'd be back on our way south in the fall.  What a fun time we had together. Thanks Jim & Linda!

We managed to get two loads of laundry done before we went to dinner, then settled in for the evening at The St. Michaels Marina. The next morning we would head to Annapolis.

Bridges, Bridges everywhere!

Our friends Bruce and Jenny drove in from Alexandria to have dinner with us on Monday night.  It's always such a pleasure to share time with them.  There's never a lack of things to chat about - and lots of giggles!!

There's a pool here at the Annapolis Landing Marina, where we've been since Monday and will be through Friday although we haven't tried it out yet...

Our good friend Ellen stopped in last night after work and we enjoyed dinner together.  Thanks for your company and the goodies! Check out the sails in the background.

This morning, Jeff was installing a flag halyard among many other things.  His "project" list never gets shorter. Good thing I have something to do, like keeping up with this blog!

Tonight he'll leave for a short business trip in DC and return on Friday when we'll get together with my cousin Gail and her husband Wayne for dinner.  They have been a "mail drop" for us and have been collecting online orders and our mail which has been forwarded to them for pickup.  Thanks for that! It's so nice to get to visit with friends during our trip. Tomorrow I'll take the dinghy to a hair salon for a much needed cut & color. Today, Jeff gets a cut from his onboard stylist..... me. We'll leave Saturday morning and beeline it to Old Saybrook, CT for my nephew Chris's wedding. It'll be a treat to see everyone. Our granddaughter Brooke will meet her great grandmother (my mom) for the first time! We love it when the family is all together!!

These families are pretty cute too...