Norfolk, VA
To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.
CA continues to work part-time.
We're saying goodbye to Blue Line II. We all thought their repairs were done and they'd be heading north to finish the Great Loop and return to Michigan. It's become more complicated than that, however. While we'll miss them, we're cruisers, and we'd like to …
CA continues to work.
I continue to do some tasks around the boat. I've graduated from small tasks to the significant summer-time chore: removing and inspecting all 16 chainplates. Some of this requires skilled carpentry: disassembling and reassembling fine teak furniture.
We were told by some old salts that the …
Beyond boat jobs, CA has a day job.
She's working at the marina part-time. Up early to work in the office, handle retail sales, pumping gas, fixing broken things, cleaning things, answering the phone and radio. Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it.
With Inspiration gone, the screen porch doesn't …
Back to boat jobs. And waiting for parts for pending boat jobs. We're not working at a blistering pace. During the years of refit, we had only the weekends, so we hustled to get jobs done and checked off in our 48 hours of boat time. Now, we're just easing …
We're back on Red Ranger; done vacationing in New York and Texas. No more blogging from my mother's basement.
How do we feel about leaving friends and family? How do we feel about returning to the boat?
It's mixed. We can talk about space and organization. We can talk about …
We're off Red Ranger, vacationing in New York and Texas.
I'm still blogging from my mother's basement.
The immediate purchases are done. Boxes should arrive at the marina over the next week or so.
I've been seeing friends and family. Running errands for mom. Mooching free dinners off dad.
And …
We're off Red Ranger, vacationing in New York and Texas.
I'm blogging from my mother's basement. How appropriate.
I've been left alone to tackle two major waves of purchasing: Solar Panels and Engine Parts. This is proving far, far more difficult than I would have thought.
I should also be …
We're off Red Ranger, vacationing in New York and Texas.
We're not working on the boat, but we can still put some time into planning our jobs: that means ordering solar panels and engine parts. Just an excuse for web surfing called "research." As a practical matter, we did none …
Each time we think we're getting more skilled at running up and down the Bay, we learn that the Chesapeake is a tough old bitch and doesn't suffer fools gladly.
The dodger is done. So we're headed south to Deltaville so we can turn around and make a trip up …
Currently, Red Ranger should stay anchored at 38°58.586′N 076°28.415′W, Severn River, Annapolis, MD. We're near the end of our wait for a dodger. After several weeks of essentially nothing, suddenly a lot of stuff is happening. All at once. Some good. Some bad.
Due …
Currently, Red Ranger should stay anchored at 38°58.586′N 076°28.415′W, Severn River, Annapolis, MD. So far, we have no reason to move. We're perfecting the art of hanging out.
Some other chores need to be done this week. Maybe I'll actually do them. But. We're …
Currently, Red Ranger should stay anchored at 38°58.586′N 076°28.415′W, Severn River, Annapolis, MD. So far, we have no reason to move. We're perfecting the art of hanging out.
A big question this week: "How do you hang out in one place for so long …
Currently, Red Ranger should stay anchored at 38°58.586′N 076°28.415′W, Severn River, Annapolis, MD. So far, we have no reason to move.
Once the dodger shows up, we'll move to the dock to get it installed.
Then. Well...
For the time being …
We're here for one purpose: replace Red Ranger's ratty old dodger.
Other jobs, like an oil change, are also important, but not the essential goal.
We're done with the big North-South voyaging for a while, so it makes sense to ease up on the play-by-play travel aspect of this blog …
Waiting for weather is a skill we're trying to learn.
In Pungo Creek, last fall, waiting for the end of hurricane Sandy was unpleasant: no place to go; nothing much to do.
In Norfolk, however, we have to be a little careful about waiting too long. There's lots to do …
Big Milestone: we've closed the loop on our home port of Norfolk, VA.
While we started this voyage in Deltaville, VA, Norfolk is our home port. I like to think that the first four weeks of living aboard—prior to Norfolk—are a kind of prologue.
Because of Hurricane Season …
Two tasks: Fix the propane. Get to Norfolk.
Note that we left the Bahamas due east of Ft. Lauderdale, ICW mile 1064. Norfolk is 283 ICW miles away. A hair over 25% left to go.
No trip is uneventful. In addition to propane weirdness, which cleared itself up, we had …
The goal was Annapolis in early April. Clearly, that objective is blown. Sky High.
Letting the big picture sort itself out, we've got a bunch of little steps to take.
Get to Charleston, SC. 125 miles rhumb-line mile, 25 hours. 208 ICW miles. We're hoping for sailing, but we'll settle …
Friends First.
We're going to rendezvous with some other Whitby folks here in St. Augustine.
Last winter we had five Whitby's in St. Augustine. This week, we're expecting to have four Whitby's in St. A.
Meanwhile, we'll do some chores and plan our big maintenance tasks for the summer:
Dodger …
Are we there yet?
Have we broken anything new recently?
Anchored at 27°09.252′N 080°11.748′W in Manatee Pocket, near Stuart, FL
Walkies and Wi-Fi at Sammies for breakfast.
Washup was showers at the marina "not-to-be-named".
Dinghy over to the Hinckley …