Tied at the wall with a nice sunset.
OK, rewind a few days. So we finally got the Yamaha outboard running on Friday the 29th after five days....and in the end it ended up getting three new carburetors. I researched the internet and found many complaints about the old carbs and how even after rebuilding (yes we already did that in 2014) they fail again due to the very small passages that get fouled by our government's wonderful ethanol gas. We always try to buy non ethanol but many of the states we have visited only sell ethanol enhanced (or really degraded) fuel. It does run great now so hopefully the improved carbs last. But it is always something...we took it out for a rainy test drive and on the second acceleration test we spun the prop hub! Fortunately we carry a spare prop so we are good to good now....just need to order a new spare. Maybe it was all that new found power...
We knew it was time to leave when we saw this sign on our way to the Giant Supermarket.
So we left Annapolis on Saturday morning in a pretty good wind and wave situation (small craft advisories) and got a bit "beamy" at times. So we cranked up the speed for a bit and.....beep, beep, beep...."throttle sensor calibration code" and the RPMs drop back to 1200 or so on the stb side. Same throttle sensor that was replaced in Beaufort NC so hopefully a warranty claim. Engine runs fine up to our normal cruising speeds so we pressed on. Cold and rainy so used lower helm. I like it!
Arrived at Solomons and anchored right in the harbor by the Tiki Bar and around the corner from Tug LeeLoo. It rained a bit but it was a nice anchorage. Launched the dinghy to get fuel and to be able to pick up Carey and Nancy from their marina to go to the Tiki Bar. As Julie was finishing her shower the generator sputtered and quit. It is always something living on a boat. Read code on control panel..."code 36, see authorized technician" and a list of things to do way past my pay grade. It did include instructions to change fuel filter, prime engine and restart. But nothing, just cranks over. So one more item to fix on the list and a little more difficulty with anchoring out. But our inverter actually will recharge from running the engine alternator as we travel so as long as we do that each day its not too bad. All but air conditioning and hot water are fine without the generator and given it is cool, cool shower is the only hardship. But another repair on the list....
Note the docks barely out of the water due to all the rain and wind driven tide.
Had a good time travelling with Carey and Nancy the next couple days. As we left Solomons on Sunday morning our AIS showed a boat named Davali. And it said "sailing" and the dimensions of the vessel broadcast matched those of Chris and Gwen from Milwaukee who we met at Joliet on the rivers a year ago. I was looking through the binoculars and we were hailed on the VHF....Chris had seen us on AIS too. Another small world experience. It is just amazing how one runs across other cruisers with such regularity.
On Sunday we travelled to Mobjack Bay, specifically the East River and found a wonderful little anchorage for the evening. Here we are passing the Point No Point lighthouse. Yes that is really the name of the light! And note the outhouse that just hangs off the edge of the lighthouse...no need to empty or move the house!
Monday morning we were getting a little more concerned about the path of Hurricane Matthew.
We had arranged some repairs to be done the week of Oct 3 at Atlantic Yacht Basin on the Abermarle and Chesapeake canal which is a known hurricane hole marina. So I called them to say we would arrive on Wed and the dock master said sorry, we are full up for our paying hurricane slip customers. So I called the service manager and he said I'll get you in if you arrive on Tuesday....so that became the plan. We also reserved a car for Friday through Wednesday just in case we need to leave the boat due to the storm.
We travelled to Hampton City Piers on Monday after the above arrangements were done. On the way we encountered naval vessels enroute. Boy they move pretty quickly! We had to crank it up a bit to cross the channel in front of them. And many boats were reminded of the restricted areas as they were doing exercises on the bay.
Pelican sighting! And we had dolphins at the bow a little further toward Norfolk too.
Hampton has nice docks and location with lots of little restaurants, a Walgreens and a Food Lion within walking distance. And with the Boat US discount they offered some of the most reasonable prices we paid while on the Chesapeake. We may stop here again in the Spring on our way north to be able to see the old historic sites we did not have time to see.
Great pizza at the Venture Kitchen and Bar with Nancy and Carey. It's getting cooler....even needed a light jacket!
Tuesday morning we left for the 27 mile trip to Atlantic Yacht Basin which was looking like a godsend (which it was given the repair we had scheduled really got us in). A big naval area. There were armed launches with machine guns manned and later we heard a call that a war ship was leaving so we assume they were headed to escort them. No pictures as they were at the guns...we only waved and thanked them for their service.
Saw some of our friends on their boats in Norfolk (Corkscrew and Act III). Here are Jeff and Susan waving as we passed them at Top Rack Marina.
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We pray that the slips all of our friends have for the storm are good ones for each of them.
Had to wait for a slow moving train going over one bridge and a back up at the Gilmerton Bridge with barges and a large pleasure craft awaiting an opening. We could have cleared the closed bridge but the channel was effectively blocked with traffic....first traffic jam encountered in a long time!
A short video clip.
But we followed a beautiful 62' Nordhavn (or Norhavn like) vessel named Sea Bird from Vero Beach and entered the Great Bridge lock right behind them. Turns out they were headed to Atlantic Yacht Basin as well and they were escorted into a covered slip...obviously a paying customer as we were assigned the wall, which is fine by us, we are glad to be here. The wall is full here so we are thankful to be here.
So on Wednesday the hurricane track appears to be better for us here in Virginia but not for Florida and South Carolina. We got all signed up with repairs which will start early Thursday. We will still pick up our rental car and explore the area as repairs are finished up.
September statistics:
Miles travelled: Month: 292 / Trip to Date: 5112
Travel days: 8 / 108
Engine hours: 34 / 588
Locks: 0/37
Bridges opened: 3 /29
Days on hook or free wall: 5 /40
Gallons of diesel: 230 / 3892
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