May 21, 2008 (Thursday)

Okay agreed to be ready to go in for showers at 8am.  Made breakfast & started on my emails – took longer than I thought, but got my stuff together while sending them etc. (or so I thought).  Capt’n did help clean up, so that was good – took more time too & so he wasn’t ready at 8 am.  Good, can send just one more email… didn’t really like that – but I was ready & he wasn’t.  So anyway, went in around 8:10.  Beautiful morning but super cold again & windy.  Can honestly say the wind has gotten to me, always blowing the wrong direction or not at all when we are sailing, but we will be anchored and blowing like crazing.  So tired of having my hair tied back all the time, know I know why most women leave theirs short, but will never do that myself, don’t like short hair.  So into the showers only to find I forgot my soap, shampoo everything like that.  S!$# - okay I’ll just get some hand soap – no couldn’t find that either.  Hey, I have an idea – Capt’n has extra soap, know he does - so over to the men’s room & knock on the door.  No answer – well desperate for soap for that nice long hot shower – just opened the door & yelled for the Capt’n.  Knew no one else was in there, no one answered the door so hello, even if they were there wasn’t my problem, whatever.  So Capt’n gives me his men’s soap, that I bought him a while back.  Great – don’t you have anything else – now Capt’n getting ticked and  makes it known that he can’t believe I am being so picky ( uh, but I’m the one that fills those little soaps & know he has better) – so digs deeper & comes up with some decent shampoo – okay – thanks that’ll work.  So back to the ladies room – then realize – no razor… @$#$ -   hey, know the Capt’n has an extra one – so – back to the men’s room – open the door & yell do you have a razor too?  Capt’n actually took it pretty well & got an extra razor out & just handed it to me while grumbling something…   Okay great – thanks  – think that’s it Capt’n, won’t see me for quite awhile.  That is the one thing I really have a hard time with, showers.  Not bad in the islands when it’s warm, but has been tough lately with it being so cold.  If there is any hot water at all, have to wash my hair in the sink first – to let the water run through and get the warm water out, then can finally rinse off in the warmer water, only to then turn the water off, lather up, and then rinse off in warm water – takes about a max of 2 minutes for the shower and freezing the entire time.  So nice to just stand under the HOT running water, with soap too – oh not to mention the nice heated building either!!   Took the backpacks backpacks to Rats, then off to take a walk to the store & get more beer.  Yes, more beer – just never know when there w/b a store close & have to sock up when within walking distance.  Well ended up getting a decent amount of food & two cases of beer – good thing marina wasn’t far.  Then back to WS to put stuff away, make lunch and then back to Crisfield.  Really blowing now & cold, but still pushed it & had shorts on – can’t believe it is so could this time of year, this far south.  Went to the museum, then one of the guys that worked there showed us the shanty they had that was a replica of the ones the watermen still use.  Soft shell season is right now & it is very big here in Crisfield.  Got to see one molting the shell & another just starting – really interesting.  Now don’t know if I can’t ever eat soft shell sandwiches again (just kidding – something’s just won’t give up!).   Really glad he was there to show and explain everything – know a bit about the crabs (live with one – oh shoot – just kidding again – couldn’t pass that one up) from being on the bay for awhile, but was so interesting seeing them molt etc.  and I thought the museum was going to be boring…    After that, not much just a nice long walk in the blustery COLD wind – did stop at another store – needed buns for the brats – had bought fresh corn earlier (was wonderful too) & thought – humm  brats are Capt.’s favorite – so….beer, brats, corn, mac&cheese & even made home made coleslaw for the first time.  Well sorta home made, did have to buy the already shredded stuff that was on sale & just add mayo etc…  Turned out good too – think that was the Memorial Day dinner, just a few days early…  Well that’s about it, hopefully I’ll get wifi again someday & be able to post.  

May 20, 2008 (Wednesday)

Woke up and heard it raining around 6 am, not again.  Then it quit, so just laid in bed for awhile.  Not leaving until 8am so will just slowly get out of bed.  Managed to pull myself out at 6:15 and start to work out.  Then around 6:45 coffee is on & Capt’n gets up and says we are leaving at 7:30 am.  WHAT?  No, don’t want to leave then – that is extreme low tide.  Thought we would wait until 8 or 9, like we planned yesterday.  No, think we should leave at 7:00 – just really wonder about this, think he just likes to throw a wrench into things.   Just loves to change things at the last minute, which drives me nuts.  W/h gotten up at 5:45 when I first woke up then & worked out then etc., etc…  Really need more substantial plans than changing them every 10 minutes or an hour before.  Believe it or not, have a lot to do & plan my day on getting up early – need to know when WS is leaving, will plan around it…   Ended up leaving at 7:30 and not real thrilled about it.  Had wanted to wait for a rising tide and the sun to be up a bit so I could maybe somewhat make out the shoal.  Oh well, Capt’n took forever to get the anchor up, I crept out to the channel while Capt’n BS’d on the bow.   Hello – Capt’n – you’re supposed to be back here at the helm -  remember – you agreed to steer through this crap if we came in here.  Works better that way, I can watch the Navman, the channel marks, the water color etc. & freaked when I think the Capt’n goes too far off.  Oh well, just hate that crap.  Two boats aground yesterday one just going over to refuel hit the shoal on the southern side, another coming in was hard aground just after the second red.  Had his sail up trying to get off, but looked like it made it worse.  Then finally someone when out with a dinghy & helped push him off and into the deeper water.  Must not have much of an engine not to be able to back off.  Anyway, think my phobia goes back to when we hit that reef in Antigua – Capt’n BS-ing and not paying attention to the depth – ran hard onto the reef and took a lot to get off.  Couldn’t call anyone – c/h got fined for hitting it & sure wouldn’t have went over well with the charter company.  Luckily, got off with no damage to the boat, but think it left its mark on me.  Just can’t handle going aground… oh well.  So anyway, got out of Devilsville without seeing less than 9’ and still on low tide.  Channel is deep, but the trick is to find it – very narrow and not where it is supposed to be.  Winds not agreeing again, so motor sailed most of the way to Crisfield, MD (Capt’n said it was VA & believed him so posted it on the position report – too bad we both missed the HUGE Maryland flag that was flying beside the US flag at the marina).  Not sure about the anchorage, one of the cruising guides had said there was virtually no place to anchor, that the state run Somers Cove Marina had taken up all the space but, the other one said there was still a bit of room before the coast guard station.  So crept in and did find a spot before the coast guard station.  No one here except a sailboat anchored with the mast down, no one on board, but a dinghy attached and a pretty nice/clean motorcycle on board.  Skies getting darker and darker and didn’t look good,  Hurried up and got the sail covers on, then backed down on the anchor – held nice & just sat an waited for the storm.  Passed by with a good amount of hard rain & just a little bit of thunder & lightning, but nothing close.  Clouds were pretty wild looking but, storm really wasn’t bad – stayed up on deck and watched it.  After having the anchor drink – decided to go into the marina and see what was up.  Had heard they charge a fee just to land the dinghy, but can use their facilities.  So dinked in and sure enough $10 fee – which bites, but for a nice hot shower tomorrow morning – okay works for me…  Plus could get rid of the old diesel oil, garbage and use that nice beautiful pool in the 60 degree weather…   So since this is the Crab Capital of the world, had to stop for a bite to eat & get some Crabs… Stopped at the Side Street, which was recommended by the marina for their great steamed crabs & was pretty good.  Only ordered one medium myself & a backfin crab cake sandwich.  That way Capt’n could have my fries, I’d eat the coleslaw, the crab cake & one crab.  Crab was a very nice size for medium & even thought had very little old bay on them, was one of the best Crabs I’ve had in a long time.  Would have liked to order more, but get so tired of picking them usually am still hungry by the time I’m done – the crab cake & coleslaw was a better choice.  Well took forever for the Capt’n to finish 3 crabs, locals were in and out by the time Capt’n got though them – wasn’t good either since we had to order a second pitcher of Yuengling to go with the crabs.  Would have to say was a rough night picking crabs and drinking beer but, someone had to do it.    Thinking I made the better choice of just drinking beer, but Capt’n seemed to enjoy hitting those little crabs with that little wooden hammer…  m/b a power thing…. 

May 19, 2008 (Tuesday)

Got up to pouring down rain.  Plans were to leave around 8am, but with the rain no one wanted to…  So, discussed with the Capt’n what to do – don’t really want to go out in the rain – got beat up on such a rough sail yesterday, better just relax & stay for the day.  Sounds good – if it by chance stops raining can go to shore & walk to the “town” that we missed last time.  Need some stuff from West Marine & don’t think it is more than 2 miles or so.  Well fooled around all morning & finally quit raining around 10pm.  So after being glad to just sit for the day, Capt’n indecision says, well it’s clear do you want to head out.  HUH, no!  Well I thought that’s what we said – don’t think so, agreed to walk to town.  No I “THOUGHT” later we could leave if it got nice…  Well w/h been nice to discuss that with the rest of the crew, don’t you think?   Any why would we leave, thought we weren’t in a hurry and we have a couple days to get to Crisfield.   Drives me nuts – Capt’n just loves to change things at the last minute, but I need more concrete.  Capt’n ticked says everything must be written in stone then – no, but would like what was agreed upon 2 hours ago to hold for awhile…  Had no desire to go back out with Tstorms in the forecast and high winds.  So in the end, did stay and took a walk to west marine.  Got “rushed” by this UGLY bull dog a couple times on these two roads.   Hit us on the first road, then made the bend and the ugly sucker cut through the back yards & rushed us again.  Didn’t do anything, but wasn’t friendly at all – we’d just stop & try to talk to him then he’d take off back to his yard.  Owner has to be a real creep to let such an aggressive dog loose like that, but whatever.  Walk ended up being around 3 miles each way, but enjoyed it & stopped at the seafood market on the way back.  Picked up some cheap “already made” shrimp and some deviled crabs.  Looking really nasty again, so back to the boat – had thought about a dinghy ride, but not right now.  Instead had some early appetizers – shrimp and deviled crabs that were both great…  Thunder and dark clouds around, but never hit Deltaville.  Finally took the dinghy ride but, was cold & windy so not a ton of fun.  Got back to WS & heard from SD – they had passed up Mobjack too but, went all the way to Reedville instead.  Had thought they might have gone to Fisher’s Bay, but I guess not.  Susan agreed was a horrible sail even with their heavy Island Packet.  Didn’t say the buried the rail, but said the dinghy that is on davits on the back of SD was in the water.  Just a tad more wind than either boat likes then.  Then mentioned today too, they decided to go from Reedville to Solomon’s – same crap 30 knots, which wasn’t called for.  So glad WS stayed where she was, didn’t need another crappy day esp. being so cold right now.  After that just made Capt’n some soup & nachos for dinner – didn’t feel like much else after the earlier appetizers…  Tried to pick up some TV stations but, not much coming through.  Ended up putting on a DVD documentary of Iwo Jima that I had picked up cheap at Wal-mart before we left.  Was kinda fitting after just touring the battleship Wisconsin. 

May 18, 2008 (Monday)

So – what’s up for today – hey, back to the bay…. Boy, that is kinda outrageous – all the way to the Turks & Caico’s now WS is heading back into the Chesapeake Bay.  Well, SD surprised us and beat WS off the dock – seem the Capt’n on WS slept in this morning so, didn’t get the usual early start.  Cast off the lines not long after SD, ready to go around 7:25, but knew the ferry w/b steaming in “blind” soon so just waited until they got it there & hurried up and cast of the lines.  If you timed it bad would easily get creamed by the ferry – super blind exit & they just scream in there – don’t think they are too used to boats being in there.  Free dock that says “no overnight” but, everyone “in the know” does it & even the guest center said it was okay.  So, now meandered out of Portsmouth passed Norfolk – originally motor sailing with a reefed main, then threw out the Genny & were sailing nicely.  Capt’n wanted to take the reef out of the main, but after downloading the weather asked that he wouldn’t do that.   To my amazement he said OKAY… Wow….  So, got out into the bottom part of the bay & from I remember reading – can be super horrible sometimes.  Well it was today – pulled in the genny until it was tiny and still getting creamed.  Of course, we were super closed hauled and beating into it – along with a nice 1.5 knot current that slowed us to crap even with all the wind.  Weather had forecast 15-20 with up to 30 knot gusts, but that had been for the tidal Potomac & VA near Cape Henry & Cape Charles wasn’t supposed to be that bad.  Well handed the wheel over to the Capt’n when it showed 33 knots & I wasn’t a happy camper…  Boat had both rails buried and just hate that – super inefficient but, couldn’t get the sails set that we could go faster.  Finally decided to bring it what was left of the rolled up genny and put out the staysail  That worked nice – balanced the boat a ton better and was a much heavier sail to take the abuse of the higher winds.  So went on like that, go the course reset for Mobjack anchorage & now Capt’n doesn’t want to go there.  WHAT the…. why – well with the wind direction m/b we should head somewhere else?  No, don’t think so w/b in Mobjack by 1pm, nice & comfy in a protected anchorage.   Next closest anchorage is Deltaville, another 20 miles, bites to get into and just hate the place.  So, now Capt’n wants to go to Deltaville – great.  Then changes his mind – okay now reset the course for Mobjack, and no Deltaville -  reset the course, then okay Mobjack -  reset the course – can you just make up your mind.  So asks where do “I” want to go – Mobjack Bay as planned and agreed upon… We’ll Capt’n’ didn’t want to for who knows what reason – just wanted more salt water in the face I guess…  After 5 times of resetting the course, now on the way to Deltaville – which bites.   Super crappy entrance & just about guaranteed to run aground.  Okay, then still blowing 25 knots and that puts me at another 3 - 4 uncomfortable hours with the boat sailing on its ear – so okay Capt’n you stay at the helm the rest of the way.  Well Capt’n did steer most of the way, but sail went in & out - winds were between 28 – 34 and then would die to 20, WT? .  So full Genny w/b out and WS would get hit with 34 while hard on the wind – not nice & the first time I have seen her rail in the water.  Might be fun if you’re on a racing boat, but not a cruising boat loaded with everything you own.  Everything you think is secured isn’t!  Even had the liquor cabin that is latched open itself up and bottles flew out – good thing the glass ones were protected (so what else did you think we did with those socks we haven’t worn in almost a year???).    So finally made it to Deltaville & wanted to go to Fishers Bay on the other side instead – about two more miles & very protected – but, listed as not good holding & boats dragging in high winds… Crap, now we have to go into Deltaville.  Well, tried to take the same course as last time, but somehow must have got off a bit and ran aground btwn the first two reds – would have been fine if we drew 5’5”, but not with 6’3”.  So Capt’n tries to plow through – no such luck – back up then…  So thanks to WS’s nice motor, backed up off – just wanted to keep backing up at that point, but Capt’n refused – just one more try.  So again, this time closer to the green that the cruising guide says to give a wide berth.  Well obviously something has changed – gave it a wide berth last time & were fine, but ran aground this time & went back through closer and had no problems.  Had planned to anchor at the northern anchorage but, looked crowded and…. So did the southern one where WS had the whole place to herself last time.  So, just went up a little bit & just dropped the hook right there.  Little worried about swinging too close to shore, but turned out to be okay.  Well sure needed that anchor drink, so once set just sat back and relaxed a bit then made dinner…