Return to Charleston

We left Beaufort NC Saturday morning at 8am, forecast was for benign weather. What we got was wind on our nose at 15 knots for 12 hrs, then a beam reach in 3-5 foot seas for 6 hrs, followed by wind from astern starting at 15 building to a steady 25 with guest to 35 and 8-12 foot seas! Wow! We managed and arrived in charleston channel at 530pm and then waited til 830pm to enter the marina at slack current! Went right to bed! Got up Monday morn to a gorgeous day! Spent the morning getting a mountain of salt off the boat, then Anita and I went down town to have lunch. Some pics below





Sunset offshore on way to Charleston







Discovery and Jubilee at the face dock at Charelston Harbour after the demanding passage!





Discovery with Ashley river bridge in background





Charleston Harbour from bridge






Anita at our fav eating spot in Charleston, pogans porch





-Anita in the post office downtown charleston.






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Back to River Dunes

Well we had two great passage days south on the ICW! The best part is that we cleared all the bridges plus the infamous 64 foot Wilkerson bridge! Weather was great temps in the mid 70s sunshine and gentle breeze. We stopped sun nite and anchored out just before the albemale sound , then monitored down to Belhaven and anchored out in the Harbour. We got up early and motor sailed to river dunes one of our favorite stops. Just about a hour out we were having a friendly race (yes sailing for a change) when the mainsail came sliding down the mast flaking itself nicely on the deck! We got it under control and then continued on to river dunes. We called a sailmaker (inner banks sails) and they met us at the dock and took the sail back to the loft and to our surprise returned it within 3 hrs! We then had a wonderful dinner of grilled salmon on our friends tommy and Kay Lyons boat and slept well that night. Tomorrow we will use the loaner car to explore oriental! Oh and did I mention it's a buck a foot and we have a two for one coupon so it's 50 cents a foot!!!!!!!!





-River dunes pool







Shot of docks from clubhouse







Cool outside seating area at clubhouse







Fireplace at clubhouse at river dunes





Billiards anyone!

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Leaving norfolk

Well we left Annapolis tues morning at 530 am and made a 80 mile run to Deltaville. Spent 3 days there and then sailed to Norfolk. Spent the night at tidewater marina due to high winds that night. We got a early start sat morning and managed to make it thru the bridges and locks that make Norfolk a tough chore. We anchored out sat night and got a early start Sun morning. Made good time and reached Belhaven Sun night and we anchored out in the Harbour. Plans are to reach river dunes Monday!




Big navy ship in Norfolk naval base





Aircraft carrier





One of the big major bridges on the way out of Norfolk. That's our travel companion Jubilee out in front







This is a shot from inside the lock south of Norfolk





-More great bridge shots








Great bridge, Norfolk VA






Thimble shoals light on approach to Norfolk from Chessapeake





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Annapolis wrap up

Well our two weeks here in Americas sailing capital has come to an end. The boat show was great, today was the final day, mother nature is telling us it's time for us to go also. Cold and rainy yesterday and today, improving tomorrow. Our plan is to shove off at 5 am tomorrow. We will be buddy boating with our friends on Jubilee, a gorgeous Passport 47 crewed by Tommy and Kay Lyons! Heading for Deltaville for a overbite and then to Norfolk and points south. Below are some more pics of our stay in Annapolis





-Man they have big crabs here in Maryland!






My favorite boat show girl!






View from our mooring looking over to the boat show! Can you say primo spot!






More shots from the show







Cool boats






There's that girl again!







Our last day ashore, went to Ruth and chicks for lunch one more time, that's the famous 6 pound milk shake(17 bucks) if you drink it in 30 min you get a t shirt and a tummy ache I bet!

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More pics from Annapolis

Discovery on her mooring in Annapolis Harbour.





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Middeltons is a famous tavern in historic district of Annapolis.






Super fast transpac 52 on the hard in boatyard in back creek.






Pic looking down spa creek from the spa creek bascule bridge in Annapolis.



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Awoke to another spectacular day here. Clear skies and a high of 75. Got dressed and took the dink to downtown. We headed to a deli we heard was a must stop chick and Ruth's. This place was featured on man vs food. It's a small crowded place that reaks of atmosphere. It has a huge menu but the feature is the crab items. Anita had a crab eggs benedict, and I had a crab and cheese omelet and wow we're they good! Pic below





Next stop was the Naval Academy, just a couple blocks from the center of the historic area of Annapolis. We went to the visitors center showed our ID and signed up for a walking tour. First we saw a 15 min movie on the academy and then formed up for our tour. Our Guide was great and we were able to see just about everything on the grounds. It's very impressive to see the nearly 200 year old campus and the 4400 midshipmen. Our tour started at 1130 and because of our timing we got to witness the entire student body forming up on the central yard for the pre lunch assembly. The formed up in battalions and the marched into the main hall for lunch accompanied by the marching band and color guard. It was very inspiring. We went into the building ( that is the worlds largest dorm, housing 4400 midshipmen) itself and saw the memorial Hall where all the names of navy graduates who have been lost in wars. Also has battle flags from our past wars etc. The tour took about 2 hrs and ended in the main chapel ( seems more like a cathedral. It's beautiful and has a crypt below that holds the body of John Paul Jones. It's very cool also. I took a bunch of photos. Tomorrow we plan to go to the museum.




Navy mascot is the goat, this is at the entrance to the Academy!





This is the pre lunch assembly!




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Another photo of the noon assembly in front of Bancroft Hall!





Memorial hall in Bancroft hall, this is the famous don't give up the ship comment that was made into a battle flag




Photo of interior of Bancroft hall




Chapel at the Naval Academy, under this building is the burial site of John Paul Jones







John Paul Jones crypt under Chapel







That's a boat suspended from the ceiling in the Chapel







Photo from the Naval Academy visitor center, our boat is over my right shoulder, Arkansas flag flying!














Examples of shots of downtown!





Near the dingy dock.


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Bob and Anita's excellent summer adventure

We arrived in Deltaville va June 21st. We rested up and then set to work securing the boat for its 2 month stay while we flew off to see or relatives and friends. Doziers marina is a very nice place to park the boat. They have 3 loaner cars, a pool and nice protected floating docks. The cater to cruisers as toy would expect from a marina owned by the people who put out the Waterway Guide and now skipper Bobs! We flew out July 5th for Houston!

We arrived at hobby and were picked up at the airport by our friends Pat and Barry Bolin. We spent our first night back at waterford with lorraine and Richard on their boat Loyalty! The second night down at the docks we spent on Daddy's Money with Joe and Dawna! They even hosted a impromptu party and we got a chance to see a bunch of our Texas sailing friends!

We then headed up the highway to the woodlands where we spent some time with my brother!

Next stop was Keller tx to see our daughter Alissa! My brother was nice and drove us up there!

We spent 3 great weeks with our daughter, one of the highlights was going to southfork ranch to see where the tv series Dallas is filmed!
Some photos below




-Pic of Anita at brother jays house in the woodlands






My girls at the southfork driveway!





Famous patio at southfork!





The kids in front of the sailing club they belong to!

After our stay at our daughters we flew to little rock to see friends and get some dental work done by our family dentist John Cloud.


View out the office window at Dr Clouds!








Took a walk over the new walking bridge over the arkansas river in little rock!





Next stop was st Louis to see my sister Debbie and her husband Bill. She spoiled me rotten with her great cooking!


After 3 days with my sis we flew to Chicago to spend 3 weeks with Anita's family! We spent a week in Galesburg work my father and mother in law Bruce and Joanne! Had a great time with them and got to brush up on my handyman skills for them.

Then it was back to Chicago to spend a couple of weeks with Anita's sister Marty and husband Chris, and kids Stephanie and Michale. Has a chance to see a bunch of their activities like band for Steph and Baseball for Michale. See photos below






Steph tooting her horn at the band display!





The girls at the family dinner before Stephs band program







More girls stuff at Marty's place in Chicago.



Above pic from a trip we took while we were in Galesburg, we drove down to Sullivan Illinois to see my 89 year old Aunt fran and her husband Elliot. My Aunt fran is the last of my moms side of the family and she had always been special to me.




We then flew to Pittsburg to spend time with our son John and his wife Katie and Daughter Edalie. We had a wonderful time with our kids and our grand daughter. Had another chance to break out the handy man stuff helping my son with the install of a new countertop and sink for the kitchen. He did a great job it looks super. See photos below




Our beautiful granddaughter!







Peek a boo I see you!







New kitchen !


August 28th saw us fly back to Baltimore and then caught a cab to Deltaville for our reunion with our floating home. Upon our arrival we arranged to have the boat hauled out and bottom painted, impeller changed etc. We rented a car and drove to DC and spent a busy day seeing all the sights. Next day we drove to Williamsburg and toured that area. Also on the way to DC we went to the John Stone national park. Anita is related to this signer of the Declaration of Independence. We got to see his home and his grave. Pics below






Pentagon on the way out of DC.




Hope diamond on display at national museum of history in DC






Photo from Williamsburg






More Williamsburg pics






More Williamsburg


This pretty much brings us up to date. We are currently anchored in Mills creek at the Solomon Islands in Maryland . We left Doziers yesterday at 10:30 am and had a great 8 hr run downwind. We will post again soon!


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