This has been a whirlwind week of traveling to Norfolk for the AGLCA Rendezvous ~ which was as much fun the second time around as our first one back in the rivers. We had a great time seeing friends, meeting new Loopers, and getting information on the places we will visit on this Leg.
Next we drove the scenic Colonial Highway to Williamsburg. On the way, we saw jets practicing over Langley. No pix – they are just too dang fast.
We spoke to this man alone and he shared the story that while this exhibit was closed for Covid, they found a limb pit and it remains closed! Remains found in Colonial Williamsburg
On our drive north to the boat we happened to be in Mathew’s on their May Fest day. We drove past houses we had seen on Zillow in Urbanna, Deltaville and around the Northern Neck.
As we drove north and into Maryland, our thoughts shifted to the boat and all the things we needed to do. We arrived at the yard the day before the scheduled launch date and nothing was really ready so I jumped into boatyard mode and helped wax the hull and paint the bottom, then I hooked up all the batteries, so far so good.
We were not lifted the next day because the yard was too busy so we spend the night onboard in the shed. As promised we were lifted first thing the next day and the motor started on the first rotation.
I know I worry about stuff like that too much. I’m glad the pink anti freeze is non toxic because it was everywhere, in the bilge, the water system, and the head. It has taken two days to flush everything out. I changed the raw water impeller like a normal season start, the oil was changed before winter layup, so we’re pretty much ready to roll.
It is lovely to be sitting in Oxford on a beautiful afternoon. The Dickersons yard has a small marina about 10 miles from the hoist spot, that’s where they put boats after launching so we can continue to get the boat ready to go.
There’s an excellent ice cream spot nearby that is hard to pass up, and an Amish farmers market that has the best comfort food I have ever had. I lost 25 pounds this winter getting ready to boat again, I will try to keep it off but it’s so hard in these little seaside towns.
Tomorrow we will head north on the Chesapeake to Annapolis, then to the top of the bay and through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. From there we will travel down the length of Delaware Bay in one shot to Cape May. From Cape May to NYC is 110 miles of open ocean with a few inlets to tuck into if needed. The trip will take two days in good weather, if ocean conditions are not right there is also an inside passage that we can take but it is very shallow.
To “proceed as the way opens” will be our mantra for the next few weeks.
Amish ice cream? What a wonderful world we live in. Thank you for this window into yours!
So glad the launch went well! We are aboard Marrakesh, getting the winter gremlins taken care of so that it is ready for the Delta Ditch run. We will miss seeing you on Potato Slough, but your stories and pictures make up for it! Safe travels!