Trip Diary for September, 2006: Chesapeake Bay Based

Sept. 1-4; W. Lafayette, IN: We spent Friday finishing home business and packing the car.  Saturday was devoted to activities around Purdue's successful football opener against Indiana State.  We departed W. Lafayette Sunday at 8:15 AM for St. Joseph, MI.  Fortunately, we arrived in time to see the hundreds of sailboats that participate in and/or come out to observe the annual Tri-state Race. It was great to be reminded just how beautiful the blue waters of Lake Michigan are.  Following services at our membership church, we drove back to New Buffalo for lunch at our favorite hamburger place, Redamak's before heading toward the Chesapeake, stopping overnight in Youngstown, OH.  Monday, Labor Day, was devoted to driving back to the boat, arriving about 4 PM.  Tropical storm Ernesto had passed while we were gone, dumping 5.5 inches of rain.  Tides had been 2-3 ft. above normal; high enough to completely flood our fixed dock.  Fortunately, our dock neighbor, Bill Lewis on Elizabeth K II, had confirmed via a phone call that he adjusted our lines and protected one that was chaffing, so everything was fine upon our return.  Total land travel: 2,200 mi.

Sept. 5-24; Solomons, MD: We spent Tuesday-Thursday doing extensive internal boatkeeping: cleaning, washing mini-blinds and replacing AC generator electrical breakers that had failed in July.  We received another 2.5 in. of rain Tuesday, so it was a good day for interior work.  Friday and Saturday were days of recuperation from traveling and cleaning; we stayed aboard reading, working a puzzle and relaxing.  After Sunday church at Solomon's UMC, we drove across the Patuxent to California, MD for shopping.  Fall was in the air and temperatures had cooled into the 70s.  It was wonderful to enjoy life without air conditioning.  Monday we had to relocate to a different Calvert slip because the owner of the one we had rented for 2.5 months was returning from his/her summer boating in Maine.  We took advantage of the move to fully refuel both main tanks ($2.58 per gal.) and the dinghy and to pumpout before going out for an excellent Mexican dinner at Montery's in California.  Tuesday's weather was perfect: sunny, low humidity, a very light breeze with a high of 75.  In the afternoon we took a 5 mi., 2.5 hr. dinghy ride around every nook in Back Creek where Calvert Marina is situated.  We then departed for dinner in Prince Fredrick and on to Annapolis to return merchandise.  Wednesday was a full day aboard reading books, leaving only to shower.  A light rain fell all day Thursday so we again remained onboard, reading and working another puzzle.  At 5 PM we drove to California to the newly opened Cheeseburger in Paradise for a tasty meal (any place serving chocolate nachos can't be bad!).  Friday was still overcast, but had only a few drizzles of rain.  A good day for staying aboard to annotate photographs and organize recipes.  Saturday was another day of rain and reading aboard.  Finally, the sun broke through, bringing near perfect weather for both Sunday and Monday.  We spent 4 hours cleaning 6 year's grime from the boat's power cords with SOS pads!   Tuesday was spent recuperating: reading, dealing with Purdue e-mail and working with computers.  A cold front with 15-20 mph winds arrived Wednesday.  We drove to California in the afternoon to have Lola's nails reworked.  Thursday, the first official day of fall, was an ideal fall day.  The previous night's low was 54 and the sunny, bright high was only 73 with light breezes.  After power shampooing carpets in the afternoon, we made e-mail contact with looper's on their 4th circuit, Gary and Danee Halford aboard Sandpiper, their 46' Grand Banks.  They were departing Solomons to go up the Patuxent about 6 mi. to a beautiful anchorage 3 mi. into St. Leonard Creek (which has many delightful anchorage areas).  They invited us to meet at beautiful Vera's White Sands Beach Club & Marina on St. Leonard's for dinner; the food was outstanding and the evening's conversation delightful. We took advantage of Friday being a perfect day to sleep in.  The afternoon was devoted to annotating photographs and working on a new puzzle.  Saturday was another day of reading and relaxing aboard.  After services at Solomons UMC Sunday, we returned to pack for next week's travel and then took a short dinghy ride before it began raining.

Sept. 25-29; Land travel in VA: We departed at 9:30 AM on Monday for Richmond, VA to visit KC and Daya Das.  KC was Larry's first PhD advisee at Purdue.  We arrived for lunch and then visited the fine Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Tuesday, KC drove to Charlottesville, checking in at the Boar's Head Inn in time for a truly outstanding lunch in its Old Mill Room. After lunch we traveled 100 mi. along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, south to Otter Peaks before returning to the Boar's Head Inn.  Wednesday we toured Thomas Jefferson's nearby beautiful Monticello estate before returning to Richmond.  After breakfast Thursday we departed Das' to drive to Williamsburg.  While planning to spend only the remainder of the day, the Visitors' Center convinced us we would need a second day with an overnight in one of the original taverns.  We chose Market Square Tavern. We especially enjoyed the afternoon outdoor recreation of key Parliament actions that ultimately lead colonists to declare independence, e.g. this scene when the crown's governor arrived to dissolve the Virginia House of Burgesses. Friday morning afforded visits to restored sites such as the governor's palace. However, the highlight was listening to Patrick Henry expound for an hour. We got back to the boat about 8 PM.

Sept. 30: A day to rest from our land travels and to attend a bit of the local Trawler Fest.

Water miles traveled to date: this month: 0; total, 5,540.

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