22 September 2015
Solomons Island, Maryland
“Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
Yesterday we began our second adventure to the Bahamas. This past weekend was a perfect culmination to the summer. Thursday we went to dinner in Little Italy with our good friends Randy and Leslie, Friday to Redeye Yacht Club for Robin’s favorite meal, sour beef and dumplings, with Marty, Marisol, Mary, Rich and Jan, and their grandson Brett. On Saturday Bill and Denise Mineo allowed us to share the reaffirmation of their love in a ceremony in recognition of their 30th anniversary. John and Nancy Platts came and stayed with us. Sunday was spent with well wishes from our many friends at Bowleys, beginning with Patron Cafe shooters brought to the boat by Marty. Robin’s Mom, brother Kevin and his wife Ruth Ann, came to watch the Ravens at the Chandlery.
“Together forever, never apart. Sometimes in distance, but never in heart.”
Monday morning we left Bowleys at 1030 and after a 10 minute motor out of the marina, sailed to the Rhode River for the night. We left the Rhode at 0830 and after sailing 7 hours dropped anchor in Mill Creek, Solomons Island. Monday and today were cloudy and cool with favorable northeast winds, tomorrow promises to be warmer and sunny. Northeast winds flatten the bay and allow us to sail with the wind on our quarter, the quartering seas were not excessive so it was fairly comfortable.
Robin reminds me we never completed the blog for the last trip.
We left Bimini and arrived in Fort Lauderdale after a 9 hour sail. We were surprised the water in Florida was not as clear as we remembered, perhaps we are spoiled by the “gin clear” waters of the Bahamas. While in Lauderdale, the engine overheated, our bank card was turned off by the bank (even though we called to tell them we were back in the States), we walked 4 miles to check in at Immigration. We traveled north quickly stopping only in St. Augustine to visit with Bob and Wendy at their lovely Florida home. The trip from the southern Exumas to Baltimore took 4 1/2 weeks. We averaged 60 to 80 miles per day.
Other highlights of the trip were a neat little marina in Georgia and dinner at a “Cop Shop” restaurant for my birthday, (no need for restrained political correct conversation there), woke up aground and leaning at 0100 at one anchorage due to an 8 foot tide, had to wait for the tide to get through Isle of Palms, another beautiful cruise through the Dismal Swamp, and Memorial Day in Portsmouth. Arriving back in Baltimore harbor on May 27th brought happy tears to Robin.
Coming back home was something of a shock, the drama in Baltimore City was disappointing, and the stress of “Bowleys World”……oh well……. You have to understand the previous nine months was stress free.
We returned to Bowleys on the 28th to learn the sun and salt water grew our boat so that the Board could not allow us back to our C-pier slip. So off to B-pier to acquire new friends until Robin got creeped out when we learned a camera was pointed into our cockpit and salon. The Board President’s best solution was to move those offended (us) to A-pier. A great view, privacy and more new friends. An interesting summer in “Bowleys World”.
We did some long trips enjoying Fells Point, Shaw Bay, St. Michaels, Kent Island, Annapolis, and Rock Hall. In Annapolis the Naval Academy tour was impressive, how proud the parents of the cadets must be. Pirates and Wenches weekend was our first such experience, arrrrrrr. A wonderful long weekend with John and Nancy.
Robin was able to spend quality time with her Mom and her Great niece, Summer. Only Robin would encourage a 20 month old to jump and swim in the deep end of the pool.
We’re both happy to be traveling south again!!!
 |
| Skip and Robin at Regi's |
 |
| John having fun |
 |
| A Wench at "Pirates and Wenches" |
 |
| Robin thinks this is fun |
 |
| Good friends having fun |
 |
| A Beautiful loving couple |
 |
| Farewell to Bowleys till next year |
