Check out, Marinetraffic.com
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
We went
Woke the crew and quickly made preparations to get underway.
The fellow on 'Blue Grotto' was correct and the seas have been relatively smooth.
Got a pic of Cove Point Lighthouse on the way around the bend and into the Bay.
This one's for Broulee.
Now as we're happily settling into our routine of staring out the window and cutting corners on our planned route, I get a text from a friend in Annapolis. He's got us spotted on Marine Traffic.com. Tells us our speed, bearing, and all the traffic around us.
You can run but you can't hide.
Another cool thing about boats and technology.... I'm posting this from the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.
Right here.... Click link to see the location. http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=DHupI/38.65279N/76.44356W I'm such a gear head.
The marina in Annapolis just called to tell us they've made room and we haven't found a place at St. Michaels... so off to Annapolis we go.
We've never been to Annapolis.
Finally we're going places we haven't been before. We're excited.
Cheers,
Istaboa
The fellow on 'Blue Grotto' was correct and the seas have been relatively smooth.
Got a pic of Cove Point Lighthouse on the way around the bend and into the Bay.
This one's for Broulee.
Now as we're happily settling into our routine of staring out the window and cutting corners on our planned route, I get a text from a friend in Annapolis. He's got us spotted on Marine Traffic.com. Tells us our speed, bearing, and all the traffic around us.
You can run but you can't hide.
Another cool thing about boats and technology.... I'm posting this from the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.
Right here.... Click link to see the location. http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=DHupI/38.65279N/76.44356W I'm such a gear head.
The marina in Annapolis just called to tell us they've made room and we haven't found a place at St. Michaels... so off to Annapolis we go.
We've never been to Annapolis.
Finally we're going places we haven't been before. We're excited.
Cheers,
Istaboa
Today's Pic
Like the old tune by the Clash... Should I Stay or Should I go.
A fellow just passed by in a Selene so I radioed him for a report. He said his run yesterday was pretty nasty so I guess we made the right call after all.
It's so smooth up in the Pax River, but you don't know till your about 5 miles out what the Bay is actually doing.
Low tide is around 9AM so our thoughts are to meet that slack tide and ride the flow north. Still not sure where yet. Got calls into a couple of places, but it seems everyone is full. I'm sure we'll find something. Anchoring out in the Severn is probably not a good idea with all the storms that are predicted, but we shall see.
Just got a call from 'Blue Grotto', the Selene Trawler. He reports that it's not bad at all... so off to wake the crew.
Cheers,
Istaboa
A fellow just passed by in a Selene so I radioed him for a report. He said his run yesterday was pretty nasty so I guess we made the right call after all.
Pretty sedate morning in Solomons Harbor.
No red skies make for a boring picture, but an omen of good seas.
No red skies make for a boring picture, but an omen of good seas.
It's so smooth up in the Pax River, but you don't know till your about 5 miles out what the Bay is actually doing.
Low tide is around 9AM so our thoughts are to meet that slack tide and ride the flow north. Still not sure where yet. Got calls into a couple of places, but it seems everyone is full. I'm sure we'll find something. Anchoring out in the Severn is probably not a good idea with all the storms that are predicted, but we shall see.
Just got a call from 'Blue Grotto', the Selene Trawler. He reports that it's not bad at all... so off to wake the crew.
Cheers,
Istaboa
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Solomons Ospreys
These guys were playing across the harbor all the day. Fishing must be good.
And there were quite of few of these flying around also.
Weather's improving... maybe a run to Annapolis or St Michaels tomorrow.
Today's Pic
Well, as I said yesterday, the weather's the determining factor in our planning decisons. Last night we looked at forecasts and conditions appeared to be on the border between good-enough and no-fun. My thoughts were to wake early and look at the latest forecast, factor in the tides, wind direction, then decide if we're gonna run or stay put.
What we learned last week after being man-handled by the Chesapeake Bay was: 15 to 20 knot southerly winds pushing against an ebb tide equals those snarling, mean ass following seas. Not gonna kill ya, but they'll certainly take the pleasure out of boating. For you boater types, think 4/5' at 2 seconds. Hell, last week those seas actually knocked ol' Don Quixote off his perch. That's never happened.
As I expected, conditions crossed over to the no-fun zone. Looks like we'll stay at Solomons a little longer. Could think of worse things...
We may move to a different marina just for new scenery, but it's raining right now — I'm going back to bed.
Adios,
Istaboa
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sittin' at Solomons
We've enjoyed Solomons a lot. It's a quiet little place, even on a summer weekend. Remember the 70's rock band, Bad Company? The town put on an outdoor concert Friday and even that was peaceful. We could hear the music well and the crowd really enjoyed the show. Lots of applause.
Our Nephew Neil, stationed at Pax River NAS, and his friend Maria came by for dinner.
Neil's such a nice fellow. He loaned us his car for our stay and pitched in and helped me repair a faulty bilge pump switch. (I held the flashlight) He's very talented that way.
I figure if he can keep this (pic below) working, my bilge pump shouldn't be too difficult.
We think Neil's adjusting well to Navy life ...
It was fun catching up with Neil... been a couple of years since we've seen each other.
His friends are very nice and they all seemed to have enjoyed their tour of the boat.
We're happy we had a planned stop so close to Neil's job; 2 weeks ago we had no idea he was here. Sometimes... things just work out.
Next visit we're promised a tour of the base.
Not sure what the next few days will bring... weather is a factor and we'll know more in the morning.
Cheers,
Istaboa
Our Nephew Neil, stationed at Pax River NAS, and his friend Maria came by for dinner.
Neil's such a nice fellow. He loaned us his car for our stay and pitched in and helped me repair a faulty bilge pump switch. (I held the flashlight) He's very talented that way.
I figure if he can keep this (pic below) working, my bilge pump shouldn't be too difficult.
P-8 Poseidon flying over Pax River NAS
Interesting link here http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/the-p-8a-poseidon-adventure-flying-and-fighting-the-poseidon/
We think Neil's adjusting well to Navy life ...
It was fun catching up with Neil... been a couple of years since we've seen each other.
His friends are very nice and they all seemed to have enjoyed their tour of the boat.
We're happy we had a planned stop so close to Neil's job; 2 weeks ago we had no idea he was here. Sometimes... things just work out.
Next visit we're promised a tour of the base.
Not sure what the next few days will bring... weather is a factor and we'll know more in the morning.
Cheers,
Istaboa
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Today's Pics
Our nasty day on the Bay ended well in Deltaville... that's what matters.
There was that red sky thing going on and the water was nice and flat. The thunderstorms that passed through weren't bad at all and provided some very cool visuals.
This morning we rose early and made the run to Solomons Island, MD.
You can see from this pic of the light at Point No Point, (great name) the seas were pretty kind today. All the snarly, wind lashed chop from the day before had flattened out giving us a smooth sail across the Potomac to the Patuxent River and into Solomons.
This was a Yachtista day.
Muy Bueno Mares!
Have a good weekend.
Adios,
Istaboa
There was that red sky thing going on and the water was nice and flat. The thunderstorms that passed through weren't bad at all and provided some very cool visuals.
This morning we rose early and made the run to Solomons Island, MD.
You can see from this pic of the light at Point No Point, (great name) the seas were pretty kind today. All the snarly, wind lashed chop from the day before had flattened out giving us a smooth sail across the Potomac to the Patuxent River and into Solomons.
This was a Yachtista day.
Muy Bueno Mares!
Have a good weekend.
Adios,
Istaboa
Friday, August 2, 2013
Today's Pic
Deltaville in the rain.
Seems so peaceful, who would have thought that just a quarter mile around the bend were 25 knot winds and 4 to 5' wind rollers. Certainly not the dock manager at Regatta Point.
When I visited the office to sign us in, I asked about the weather. He pointed to a printed NOAA forecast that stated the seas were 1' or less. I scoffed at the report.
"Maybe inside Broad Creek where the marina is located, certainly not in the bay.", I laughed. I don't think he believed me.
He said that two small sailboats had just left.
As we were approaching the Rappahannock River, we saw the only other pleasure boats on the bay... those two sailboats. They were having their asses handed to them and at one point I thought they were headed back. I guess they thought it best to take it on the nose vs turn around in that mess and deal with the following seas. It appeared that they were scurrying to a marina around the point. They were having an exciting day, for sure.
Ah, the life of leisure we Yachtista's enjoy.
Cocktails, sunshine, and Jimmy Buffet singing in the background. All the time.
Cheers,
Istaboa
Seems so peaceful, who would have thought that just a quarter mile around the bend were 25 knot winds and 4 to 5' wind rollers. Certainly not the dock manager at Regatta Point.
When I visited the office to sign us in, I asked about the weather. He pointed to a printed NOAA forecast that stated the seas were 1' or less. I scoffed at the report.
"Maybe inside Broad Creek where the marina is located, certainly not in the bay.", I laughed. I don't think he believed me.
He said that two small sailboats had just left.
As we were approaching the Rappahannock River, we saw the only other pleasure boats on the bay... those two sailboats. They were having their asses handed to them and at one point I thought they were headed back. I guess they thought it best to take it on the nose vs turn around in that mess and deal with the following seas. It appeared that they were scurrying to a marina around the point. They were having an exciting day, for sure.
Ah, the life of leisure we Yachtista's enjoy.
Cocktails, sunshine, and Jimmy Buffet singing in the background. All the time.
Cheers,
Istaboa
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