September 20th, 2019
BALTIMORE
This comes from Baltimore where we have just tied up in the marina so that Marvin can do some remedial work on our dodger. Marinas are unusual for us but its convenient as Marvins loft is located here and we have to leave the US to reboot our health insurance which comes in 89 day blocks. As such we are off to Toronto for a long weekend away which we are really looking forward too. I have been there before but it was for work so I just belted in and out. Its so nice to be sharing the travel with Tracey for being on your own is grim.
Our trip south from Newport went like clockwork with stops in Block Island, Shinnecock, Atlantic City and Cape May. The last leg from Cape May was epic with the tide carrying us 55NM up the Delaware River before turning to spit us through the canal to Chesapeake and then carry us down to Baltimore. We also had a great wind which saw us arrive into Baltimore in the early evening in darkness. Not perfect given the crab pots but we managed to miss them all.
September 15th, 2019
RAIN
On clearing the Canal we had torrential rain that was so heavy I got the washing up liquid out and scrubbed the deck. There was so much water about that it was better than using a hose. The wind then rose and we had great fun surfing down to Newport Rhode Island with 30knts up the chuff. A fun and varied day which blew away all the cobwebs from so much motoring in Maine. As ever Newport was lovely and all the more so for evening meals with Keith/Kathy and then the Magic family in their beautiful homes.
September 15th, 2019
INDUSTRIAL
The weather started to turn as we entered the Cape Cod Canal four hours after leaving Plymouth. After the beauty of Maine it all felt rather industrial.
September 15th, 2019
PLYMOUTH DAWN
We left at dawn from Plymouth and as you can see the lobstermen were heading out with us. These working boats go like the wind and are very very noisy - I love them.
September 10th, 2019
THANKYOU MAINE
Tomorrow we reenter the Cape Cod Canal and so close our Maine Chapter after six and a half action packed weeks. It has been such a good time and the amazing thing is that we have only scratched the surface. As you can see from the chart we had a pretty good crack at it though - Thankyou Maine
September 10th, 2019
BED
We love social history so one of our favorites was the last standing house that harks back to the Mayflower. It was built 47 years after they landed and was habited by pilgrims who sailed over in the Mayflower. It was full of interest including the little known fact that Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were distant cousins through a blood line that goes back to John and Elizabeth Howland, pilgrims from the Mayflower.
We also learnt that Night Night Sleep Tight comes from the days when you used a key to tighten up the bed ropes.
September 10th, 2019
PLYMOUTH STONE
We have been tourists and have had a great day with some wonderfully interesting museums. The Mayflower is a big deal round here and they have even preserved the stone that they first stepped ashore on.
September 10th, 2019
LAUNDRY
We have arrived in Plymouth and have spent the afternoon sorting out admin including the laundry. Laundry when sailing involves lobbing your washing into a machine and then popping into the bar for a beer while the machine does its business. Being in Plymouth there was only one beer I could order and very nice it was too.
