Saturday, May 19, 2007
From Deltaville, VA, to Solomons, MD – Quite a Ride!
Saturday, May 19. The most important thing is that tonight we are all safely docked in Solomons, MD. Getting here was a harrowing experience. Although the weather forecast was right on the margin of “go”/“no go,” four of the Deltaville Looper boats opted to head north in the Chesapeake Bay bright and early this morning. At first the water was merely choppy, but by the time we needed to cross the wide mouth of the Potomac River, we were all getting pounded by large, unrelenting waves. The abuse continued for an hour and a half until we had crossed the Potomac and were back into more manageable chop, with only crabpots to dodge.
During the worst of the pounding, Bob insisted that we go below to the quieter downstairs pilot station. We literally had to crawl on hands and knees, one at a time, across the flybridge to keep from getting slammed. Everything that hadn’t been secured was all over the floor. It could have been worse. Happy Destiny almost lost their dinghy, but they were able to secure it with lines when the straps failed. Our radar mast started wobbling, but Bob was able to stabilize it until we got to the marina.
We were happy to meet old friends Bill and Vickie Hicks from Birmingham at Calvert Marina, and the four of us joined Larry and Lola (Lola Marie) for an excellent crab cake dinner at Stoney’s on Solomons Pier. The weather isn’t expected to improve for a few days, so we will hang around here until it does. The exception is Bob and Anne on Sandpiper, who may try to continue their journey north tomorrow to make a plane flight. Crowded as it is on the weekend, Solomons Island is a good place to be.
During the worst of the pounding, Bob insisted that we go below to the quieter downstairs pilot station. We literally had to crawl on hands and knees, one at a time, across the flybridge to keep from getting slammed. Everything that hadn’t been secured was all over the floor. It could have been worse. Happy Destiny almost lost their dinghy, but they were able to secure it with lines when the straps failed. Our radar mast started wobbling, but Bob was able to stabilize it until we got to the marina.
We were happy to meet old friends Bill and Vickie Hicks from Birmingham at Calvert Marina, and the four of us joined Larry and Lola (Lola Marie) for an excellent crab cake dinner at Stoney’s on Solomons Pier. The weather isn’t expected to improve for a few days, so we will hang around here until it does. The exception is Bob and Anne on Sandpiper, who may try to continue their journey north tomorrow to make a plane flight. Crowded as it is on the weekend, Solomons Island is a good place to be.
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Hello! My name is Merin Troutman, and my husband's family and I are currently staying at Celtic Breeze. It is fantastic-the house is a great setup for us, the beach access is so close, and fortunately the weather has been and is going to continue being amazing. This is my first time to Emerald Isle, the Troutman's second-they haven't been here in about 15 years, and as you know it has changed quite a bit! The houses across the street are definitely big, but we are so happy that you can still hear and see the ocean from every part of the house. I especially love the outdoor shower!
I was compelled to write to you after reading your journal entries. My parents, Dick and Char Boehm, recently purchased a 40 ft Mainship trawler (the Ellen Leigh) and are planning on spending the next few years cruising the ICW and possibly a few inland waterways (they currently reside very close to Lake Erie in Buffalo, NY, but will be departing from Portland, Maine next week). We don't personally know a lot of people who have done this, so I was so pleasantly surprised to read about your adventures! They are just starting a blog of their own. I hope you don't mind, but I am going to send on your blog to them. I think it will be reassuring and they will really enjoy learning about your experiences!
Wishing you the best of luck during your travels, and thank you so much for creating a wonderful vacation spot. We are having a great time and again, we love the house. With warm regards, Merin Troutman
I was compelled to write to you after reading your journal entries. My parents, Dick and Char Boehm, recently purchased a 40 ft Mainship trawler (the Ellen Leigh) and are planning on spending the next few years cruising the ICW and possibly a few inland waterways (they currently reside very close to Lake Erie in Buffalo, NY, but will be departing from Portland, Maine next week). We don't personally know a lot of people who have done this, so I was so pleasantly surprised to read about your adventures! They are just starting a blog of their own. I hope you don't mind, but I am going to send on your blog to them. I think it will be reassuring and they will really enjoy learning about your experiences!
Wishing you the best of luck during your travels, and thank you so much for creating a wonderful vacation spot. We are having a great time and again, we love the house. With warm regards, Merin Troutman
What a small world! We are delighted that you are enjoying Celtic Breeze. As you know, we always have to tear ourselves away from there. Glad the weather is good. Hope you have a fabulous week.
How neat that your folks are starting to cruise the ICW on a Mainship trawler. That was one of the boats we looked at seriously before we bought Second Wind. Sure, feel free to send them our blog, and ask them to send us theirs when it is set up. I want to encourage them to join America's Great Loop Cruising Association (AGLCA) too, because it is a tremendous source of information as well as comraderie. Our email address is stagg10@knology.net. Please feel free to email us directly!
Liz and Bob
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How neat that your folks are starting to cruise the ICW on a Mainship trawler. That was one of the boats we looked at seriously before we bought Second Wind. Sure, feel free to send them our blog, and ask them to send us theirs when it is set up. I want to encourage them to join America's Great Loop Cruising Association (AGLCA) too, because it is a tremendous source of information as well as comraderie. Our email address is stagg10@knology.net. Please feel free to email us directly!
Liz and Bob
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