Push a little further south!

Saturday, Sept. 13^th – Some rain expected today, it’s been a while since we have had rain. The temperature has dropped, need a little more clothing.

Due to the wind and waves in a not so protected anchorage, we both had a bad night sleep with the rolling and splashing of waves against the hull. In the morning the sailboats all pick-up anchor and head out as the powerboats start coming in…it is the weekend, so increased traffic.

We time our departure for noon; right timing to make the most out of the currents. The bottom is mud and silt so it requires hosing down the chain as I pull it up with the windlass (motor that pulls up the chain and anchor for me at the press of a button). Our deck hose, accessed from the anchor locker, uses fresh water from our tank as opposed to using sea water. I switched it over to fresh water as we didn't want to be washing off the Caribbean salt water from the sea with salt water from the sea…didn't make sense to me. However, during this portion of the trip until we reach Miami, we won't be using our water-maker - requiring water conservation so that we won't have to stop for fresh water too often. Therefore, I am switching the deck hose back so I can freely wash off the anchor rode with sea water.

Just as we pull up anchor and start heading out of Still Pond, the rain starts and it stays with us for the next 4 hours. Along the way we received an email from our new friends Steve and Linda, who we met in Chesapeake City, wondering what we were doing today; they wanted to come for a visit. I'm not sure if it just worked out or whether they planned around it, but we accepted their invitation to join them and their friends for dinner at Waterman's Crab Shack in Rock Hall.

For a time, we were able to sail which had me gaining on the boat in front of us. I went out on deck to adjust a line and when I returned, Julie initiated discussions about what action was required if I did fall overboard for her own level of confidence…aside from rubbing her hands together and laughing. If this was ever to happen, there are many factors that will determine the course of action. The wind, current, wave height, winds speed and direction, how much sail is up, is the motor running, how many people are on board…one must digest all factors and make a split second decision…that’s one reason we don’t drink while underway. Not 5 minutes later, the jib sheet (a rope (line) that is used for adjusting the forward sail in and out) caught our boat hook, that is usually stored on deck for quick access, and flung it over board…my thought was ‘too bad, we’ll buy another’, while Julie said, "Let's practice our MOB (Man Over Board) drill"…great idea, we put the engine in neutral, turned into the wind, brought in our sails and I followed our track (the chartplotter draws a line of our route so we can always trace back). We spotted the boat hook and Julie hooked it with our second boat hook and lifted it aboard…the boat hook survived! From the time it went over, it took us 2-3 minutes to get the poor boat hook back aboard.

As we pulled into Swan Creek, Steve and Linda were on the dock watching us secure to a mooring ball. I dinghy over to bring them to the boat and they have two bottles of Champagne in hand. At dinner, we broke bread (crab) with their friends (Steve & Carrie, Rod & Cindy, Beth & Dave, John, and Scott) and had some good laughs at a great place on the water. After dinner, Steve and Linda droves us back to Swan Creek Marina where our dinghy was and Steve sincerely offered his help if there is anything we ever need to just call…more good people!

At Waterman's with Steve, Linda & friends