Annapolis to Middle River

I departed for the easy 25 nM ride to Mark's dock on Middle River to leave BELLUM there for my return home for a break until the NY Canals open on May 16.

The departure from Annapolis anchorage was very messy, with the rode sitting in real sticky mud.  This was one of the deepest anchorage at 30 feet.  Most of the time, there were no winds.

I put up the headsail after leaving the anchorage and before crossing the bridge.  Eventually, I turned off the motor and had a pleasant beam / broad reach in very open waters.  

The autoroute led me into Millers Island Cut, which looked deep enough, but it was not.  I kept getting bumped and stopped, so I had to roll up the sail and exited back out.  The manual route had not selected this path.

I sailed past Hart-Miller Island before turning into Middle River.  I texted Chase that I would be there for 3PM and he said he should make it there soon.  I told him I would slow down.

Then the sky became cloudy, and a Gale warning was issued, followed by a small squall that came in, but it was uneventful.  I refurled the sail and motored towards Mark's house.

The approach, as Mark explained, was to show how to avoid the sandbar.  Chase was there to help me tie up.  We had to reconfigure Mark's dock lines.  

After docking, I started tidying up the boat and updated my agenda and plans for the following week on my Maximizer.

I had leftover pork tenderloin and updated my blog

The next day I tidy the boat for the next leg, secured solar panels and other stuff for the ten days of storage at Mark's place.

I checked the aft anode on the Yanmar, and it was fine.  Just some surface corrosion.

Chase drove me to refill the empty propane tank and to the bus terminal for my return via Greyhound via NYC.  Had a great supper at an African Halal buffet.

Arrived at 6am in Montreal

Annapolis

A long day with no winds and an easy departure from Reedville.

In the channel, two MSC ships (a convoy) were behind me, and they made a slight turn to starboard, passed me, and then turned back into the channel.  A large wave hit me.

I motored into Annapolis and picked an anchorage before the Easton Bridge.  I was just after 5, and the bridge did not open during rush hour. 

The general depth of the anchorage was 30 feet, and I roamed around to find some shallow water. I came in close to shore, and it became shallower very fast. I ended up anchoring in 30 feet of water near the shallows. The forecast was for very light winds. I watched their huge Wednesday night race, or attempted race.  

Thursday, I toured the town, visiting Bacon Marina and Bay Marine to pick up my Yanmar anodes and seal. Bacon was a store with a large consignment section. 

I took the Brown bus to Bay Marina to pick up the Yanmar parts that I had ordered. The service was excellent.

Next, I walked to Facett and then had a bite at McDonald's.  I walked 19 miles.  It was easy.  I inspected the anode on the Yanmar side and replaced it.  I will check the aft anode later.  I checked it in Middle River, and it was fine.  Just some surface corrosion.

Friday, I visited the Spring Boar show.  The show was much smaller than the October show.  I did three seminars and visited booths and boats.

The winds started to pick up, and I decided to return to the boat.  I let out some more scope.

Solomon Island

It was a long ride to Solomon Island from 8 AM to 4 PM.  I got fuel and water at the Marina and then anchored and dinghied to town, visited West Marine, and had a crappy beer-battered cod at Roy Rogers.

I hung around outside the West Marine to update my phone on their wifi. I picked up a BushMill.

Returned to the boat

Fleet Bay to Reedville

 I started early at 9AM to try to do the 45 nM trip to Solomon Islands.  The seas were very rolly and the chart plotter estimated my arrival to be 7 ish … which was the earliest that I could arrive… otherwise it would be dark.

I decided to divide the trip into two parts by pulling into Reedville about 10 miles closer (13 according to the chart plotter.  There were several curves.

I pulled into Reedville and tried to call several marinas to see if they had propane.  Nobody did.  I anchored near a Sabre named Valhalla.  The crew soon returned to their boat with a large black dog.  

I set up my dinghy to go into town and stopped by Valhalla to chat.  The were going down to the Bahamas but had lots of boat problems and spent the winter in Beaufort NC.  

I walked through town, everything was closed.  Nice little town.

I returned to Bellum when Bob and Lynne waved me over to Valhalla.  It turns out Valhalla was the 9th boat who were unable to catch up with the Sail to the Sun Rally!

I cleaned up the boat and tried to open the dinghy motor pad lock which is now rusted.

Back River to Fleet Bay

Started at 9:30, arriving at 5PM, motoring straight North about 2200 rpm continuously with a light. Wind is in my face.  

Biting flies all the way.  Some crab pods are at the start and approaching the destination. 

The temperature was in the mid-20s, and the water was 17 degrees. 

Fleets Island / Bay