Friends in Annapolis & Playing Tourist in Washington DC

Bad news: England lost the Rugby World Cup.

Good news: We had a cracking sail to Annapolis. Made it in less than 9 hours. Cold, brisk, sunny, and beautiful.

Annapolis is the first place we have sailed to where we know people who are current live-aboards. So nice to get here and just be told where all the amenities are. No need to ask or investigate. We have friends who already know! Such a comfort.

Yesterday was schoolwork, groceries and boat jobs.

Then in the evening we hosted friends onboard for a potluck dinner. 16 people in total, such a blast!

Thanks Emily Grace Whebbe and Kai Curry and Rev for your amazing bread and cupcakes... And saving my butt with the pasta!

So great to have Caryn Davis and Carl Davis, Benjamin Eriksen Carey and Teresa onboard too.

Plus all their kids too! Sorry for those crazy sticky plastic balls that just seem to naturally attract long blond hair.... Who would've thunk?

Today we hired a car to do an airport run later to pick up our special visitor. It was cheaper than a two-way Uber or the airport shuttle.

So with our own wheels for the day, we made a trip into Washington DC and rented bikes for a couple of hours.

Glorious sunny fall day to cycle around the National Mall, see the Washington monument, the White House, etc. The kids have been asking to rent bikes for a while now and we were thrilled to find a place that had kid bikes too.

Washington is a great place and we will certainly be back to visit the insane number of museums someday. The Spy Museum being top of our list!

Excitement is building at an exponential rate right now as Gramps Guy Thornington touches down in 3 hours!!!

We're currently at a Wendy's using their fast free WiFi and waiting until it's time to drive to the airport.

More sailing and adventures await. It's gonna be a fun week!!

Frosty morning!

Motoring out of the Chesapeake canal. I LOVE the feeling of moving on and the
anticipation of new things we will experience, unexpected and unscripted.

Goodbye Chesapeake City!

Daddy teaching Aila what a scrum is in rugby.

Daddy's homeschooling contribution of the day: Rugby 101

Watching the rugby game at the Chesapeake Inn.

Tai's Nov 2nd journal.

Sailing under the Annapolis bridge! 

On passage. Tai spent the entire time down below. He found it too cold in the cockpit.

No such thing as cold weather. Just inappropriate clothing. Not for this girl!

Captain Matty

Good morning Annapolis. One month late, but we're here on our own boat!

Tai's Nov 3rd journal.

The new LED light bulb didn't match the 1985 fitting for our stern light but some creative
(but safe) wiring/hacking fixed it. Now more light at a fraction of the watts.

Some of the guests at our get together. 

Patiently waiting for our rental car.

Tai's Nov 4th journal

"Can we bike over and check out the giant pencil?" Aila.

Walking our rental bikes through some gardens in Washington DC.

Rare family photo!

The 'Pencil' up close and personal.