On the Move Again!

Registering in Dowry Creek Marina

7am cast-off.

After hibernating at Dowry Creek Marina for the last 4 days to wait out the storm, we are on the move again. Hooray!

It was rocky and rolly with gusts up to 40 knots, but nothing a few extra lines and fenders couldn't handle. We deflated our dinghy, put the kettle on and just hunkered down.

So what do you do when it's very rainy, extremely windy and have VERY scatty WiFi?

Do laundry, play board games, dabble with schoolwork, play Minecraft and Scratch, talk to the other cruisers, read and bake, read and bake.

I've been in a bit of a funk lately, not sure why. Just tired. Not sleepy tired. Just energy tired.

My body is crying out for a good workout and stretch.

But SO GOOD to be on the move again today.

Today's passage may finish this evening at Beaufort, South Carolina.

Or if we are feeling good and the weather conditions are favourable, we'll continue offshore overnight to Charleston, South Carolina. Bailout at Wrightsville if necessary.

It's like a choose-your-own- adventure story. Kind of, sort of. With a dozen variables thrown in.

Fair winds!

Thanks to Gramps for bringing some precious squeezy milk bottles from Jersey!
North America has to get on this and stock this sweet goodness in a squeeze bottle already!

Careful on the docks at night!

Pumpkin pie goodness :)

Cheesy bread rolls!

Robo Rally fun again

Minecraft and Scratch programming

Kneading dough

Bleak, dreary, wet, windy

Tai's Swiss Eggs!

Still wet and rainy and very windy

Cinnamon and Chocolate Twists

Yathtzee in the clubhouse

The Great Migration South

The Great Dismal Swamp looking truly dismal in cold incessant rain. We did manage
to avoid getting stuck in the notorious duckweed ... by renting a car and driving
there while the boat stayed safely in the Virginia Cut. 

Grandparents bring so much joy and love. We were very sad to say goodbye to Gramps Guy Thornington yesterday after a week of fun and adventures. More to come on that....

But onwards we must go. This morning we said goodbye to Coinjock, North Carolina.

We have a long day of motoring the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) ahead of us. Not sure exactly where we'll stop, depends on how we feel, how the boat's doing and how the weather's behaving.

By tomorrow, Friday, we are trying to be tucked away in either Belhaven NC or Oriental NC.

There's another winter storm brewing over the weekend with gusts forecasted at 60 knots.

As I reluctantly climbed out of the warm bed this m

orning, I reminded myself to try and remember this frosty feeling because in a couple of months when we're in tropical temperatures we'll be longing for a cool cold day.

For now, we have joined the masses for the Southern Migration. Some sail offshore, others motor inland on the ICW. Some do a combination of both, which is what we're planning. But we are all pointing south.

The further south we go, the southern hospitality is evident. So is the southern drawl and the food we see on the menus.

We've had shrimp and grits, collard greens, fried chicken, biscuits with gravy and hush puppies.

Oh and applesauce!

At every cafe I'm asked, "Would ya like some applesauce with that Ma'am? It's real good and it's homemade and everythin'."

It really is so good and it really does come with everything. And I always say yes because life is that much better when we say yes.

Cool fall weather calls for warm drinks!
Who's joining me for some fresh homemade chai today?

The Great Boat Exodus

Good morning ICW!

Below freezing tonight at Coinjock Marina, North Carolina.
Huddling around the kerosene lamp for some warmth

Let's go!!!

Grandpa has landed!!!!

His plane was a couple of hours delayed so by the time we returned the rental car and got back to the boat it was almost midnight.

Quick look at the wind forecast and figured it was a perfect weather window to push south.

So at midnight, we released the bow lines and slipped away into the darkness.

It's now 2:39am and I'm (Matt) trying to keep my eyes open while we get gently pushed by a 10 knot breeze down the Chesapeake.

What our helm station is like during a night sail.

My first mate came up to relieve me at 4am then ...

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.