A Chilly Day of Sailing

 

We expected the weekend would be chilly but also a potentially great sailing day, so we grabbed some heavier coats and headed south.  Weather reports had warned of coastal flooding - supposedly the highest tides of the past several years - and as we drove into Rock Hall, there were signs of high water everywhere.  

We even had a new "lake" that greeted us as we pulled into Osprey Point.

A lady from A-dock told us the water level had reached the top boards in the bridge a few hours earlier

The water level was clearly about 2 feet deeper than normal.  All our normal landmarks show much less of the docks and daymarks sticking out of the water.  That meant we would not likely run aground... but if we did, we would be hopelessly stuck.

It was a nice cool and brisk day out on the bay.  As usual, we motored south and the set sail for a tour around the northern bay.  Photos can tell the story.

The water has that end of the season gray cast to it, and the clouds were quite dramatic.  This was my first time out with my new iPhone 13 Pro Max, so I put the camera through its paces.

The water was very high

After we returned and tied up, we watched TV and napped until dinner.  Walking back to the Osprey Point Inn and back, I had a chance to put the new iPhone through its paces for night photography as well.

After dinner, we relaxed and watched the remaining part of the movie we had been watching.

Using the Boat as a Condo

We went down to Seas The Day on Friday night, but decided it was too cold to sail.  

We had a couple of nice walks, watched some movies and cooked some meals… a nice relaxing weekend. 

A Short Break This Weekend

 

We didn't go down to Rock Hall this weekend.  Since my birthday sailing trip, Vicky has been working nonstop providing consultations with her old colleagues on a proposal and I have been busy as well.  The wind forecast is also a bit strong for our comfort.  Given all that we decided to stay home and just relax for one weekend.

We had considered going to the Sailboat Show at Annapolis this weekend.  But the more we thought about it, we realized these shows only exist to get us to want something more, instead of being satisfied with the essentially perfect life we currently have.

A Birthday Sail with John, Jess and Luna

Saturday was my birthday (note the greeting from my Subaru, below).  John came down to help me celebrate bringing his girlfriend, Jess, and their puppy (my grandpuppy), Luna.

After a very long drive down (we were halfway there when I realized I forgot my meds and we had to cycle back for them), we had some of Vicky's dumplings while Luna explored Seas The Day.  She was kind of skittish for her first explorations and didn't quite know what to make of this strange place and the loud engine.  We departed a little after lunch for what was going to be a brisk (winds in the 12 to 15 kt range) day of sailing.

Exploring the deck

The companionway steps are STEEP!

The first part of the trip was finding a way for Luna to get comfortable... we knew it would be all new for her so I selected a route that just had us sailing south from the #3 buoy and ready to turn around at any moment.  John tried to set her next to me on the helm seat, but neither Luna nor I were very comfortable with that arrangement.

She did, however, find comfort in Vicky's arms... you'll see lots of photos of the two of them together.

With Vicky paying attention to Luna, John and Jess headed up to the bow for some time together.

We did get the sails up and had a nice sail down into the mouth of the Chester River and back.  The wind was from the east making for a nice beam reach down and then up along the Rock Hall and Eastern Neck shore.

Everything was kind of gray... especially the clouds and water, but there were some significant holes in the clouds that let some light come through.  I'll let the photos and captions tell most of the story.

Getting sleepy

Still Calvin at heart.

Luna did NOT like the pushpit seat!

As we entered Swan Creek at Gratitude, we noticed this HUGE (and gorgeous) kite flying.

Once back at the dock, John and Jess unloaded their car (notice the grandpuppy hitching a ride), and settled Luna in for the evening.  

I happened to capture American Dream (a sister 425) on her return.

We then had my birthday dinner extravaganza at Osprey Point Inn.

After dinner, we sat in the cockpit with the blue lights and talked for a while before we retired down below and 3 of us watched Sleepless in Seattle....

... well, let's say that Sleepless in Seattle was playing on the TV in front of us.  (According to one person, it was not so sleepless aboard Seas The Day while the movie was playing.)

We woke up at 6:00 and waited for the sunrise and the restaurants to open.  Breakfast was at Muskrat Alley Cafe (the breakfast restaurant associated with the Carriage House B&B).

There are a few videos of the grandpuppy below.

Waking up Vicky

The companionway steps are STEEP!

Success on the steps

I win and you win

At Muskrat Alley Cafe

Before leaving, John replaced the solenoid in the aft head.  I'd been putting off this job due to the boat yoga involved and we had been reduced to flushing with the sink faucet hose.  So THANK YOU JOHN!  (I could have never done this with my knees and back intact.)

John demonstrating his boat yoga abilities

After the young folks left, we cleaned Seas The Day and then headed home.  

Vick trying in vain to chase away all the dog hairs.

The three "right side up" orchids have opened!