Heading North!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Taking a trip on the Deborah Lee can bring just about anything unexpected.   The canvas was finished yesterday, Monday, and we were very pleased. We not only have a nice new bimini and dodger, we also have two clear plastic pieces that will protect us from the side rain while we are sitting in the cockpit.

So, we get up early this morning to finally get going. Bill finds that the mouse quit working. We need the computer as our chart plotter. Therefore, we really need the mouse.  Ah, Wal-Mart is open 24 hours down here in Cambridge, Maryland.  Phew, we’re saved.  Bill runs to Wal-Mart and buys a new mouse.

Bill comes back and starts the engine. The batteries are not charging. FOR PETE’s SAKE!   Fortunately, the first place to look is the last place you worked. And a wire had broken near the area that Bill was replacing the starter. So, a splice, splice, here and a wire connecter, there.  It is good that the captain can also be an electrician.

Half hour later, at 0730, we left the dock!

Friday, June 22, 2012

We made it to Wharton’s Creek on the first day (6/19), traveling around 54 miles. It’s a long day of motoring when there is not wind to fill the sails.

The next day (6/20), we did a 26 mile run up to Chesapeake City on the C & D Canal. On the way to the canal, we were passed by one of the tall ships that were visiting Baltimore over the weekend. We were fortunate enough to get a space at the Town Dock in Chesapeake City for the night. This is a free tie-up.  It got incredibly hot that day. We were glad to be tied up. But, it would probably have been cooler out in the anchorage.  So, we just had to buy ice cream at the ice cream place 15 paces from our boat. For medicinal purposes, of course.

Thursday morning, June 21, we left Chesapeake City at  0425 hours. It’s really cool going down the C & D Canal in the dark. No one else is usually on the Canal except for a tug pushing a barge. The lights on the sides of the canal light the way. And it is very serene.  We headed out into the Delaware River and were greeted by the large green-headed flies.  We had to deal  with fly bites all day.  A couple of dolphins traveling in the Delaware River. No time for playing with a sail boat. They were apparently on a mission. Food is usually number one priority.  11 hours later we headed into the Cape May Canal and into the harbor. Cape May is not the most peaceful place to anchor. There are fishing boats going out to the ocean. The boat tends to rock a lot. Lots of boat traffic.

We will remain anchored today and tonight. The weather is calling for thundershowers. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring better weather and we can do our 2-day trek to Block Island!