Clay shared some interesting facts with us last night....so I'm sharing them with you....

In a year...

35,000+ people run the Boston Marathon

25,000+ climb Mt Kilimanjaro 

3,000+ hike the Appalachian trail (we know one who finished it!!  Doug Nelson)

650+ climb Mt Everest

200+ swim the English Channel

However only about 150 boaters complete the Great Loop...

And then there's us...on the second time around....further proof, we are crazy!

Never made it to the cook out party...but enjoyed the band from our aft deck...weather is pleasantly cool and sunny! Quite unlike what our friends are getting in Kansas...rain, rain, more rain...we usually get it a couple of days later. So we'll be watching.

Sunday we did major walking...back to West Marine (Floyd's paradise), Ace Hardware, and Gucci Safeway ...took our trusty rolling cart to haul home the goodies...after lunch and a short nap rounded up Dakota and did major strolling through the Fell's Point area....bars and restaurants every where...and people! Economy is picking up!

Then out to supper with Clay and Sally (SaSea Sally)... Where we planned more mischief ...tonight is our little cookout...and Tuesday we have $10 tickets to the Orioles vs Astros game at Camden Yards...it's a complicated ride on the water taxi...but sounds like fun! Floyd wants to make a trip to Ft McHenry...and there's always laundry. Dakota has a date with a mobile groomer on Wednesday...and we plan to continue our trek north on Friday...next stop is Harve de Grace.  Til then we are just hanging out in Baltimore...watching the joggers, dog walkers and strollers from the shade on our aft deck. It's tough...but we are professionals!

Friday's ride into Baltimore was indeed bumpy...we were comfortable on the sofa while Floyd manned the lower helm....arrived Anchorage Marina around 10:30 as planned...and while we had hoped to beat the wind, that timing wasn't so great. They wanted us in slip E-18 close to shore...but with long rows of slips running north to south and wind blowing 19 MPH with gusts of 25...that wasn't gonna happen...took Captain Floyd just a nanosecond to locate the empty T head...we called it a controlled crash landing...but really we didn't crash...it was a moment of terror for us as we realized all those dock hands were too far to be of any help...thank goodness there were a couple of folks right there to assist...but I think we could have handled it...the wind blew us there ...

Spent a delightful day sorting through our mail...thank you, Muriel and Wilco guys,...walking a bit in Fells Point...found the Kilwin's ice cream store and a few other places of interest.

We stayed on the t head all day...8 AM Saturday morning we moved ...wind 2 MPH...Floyd is now attacking some outside cleaning chores...I just finished polishing up the inside...we're gonna clean up and head over to the Hardware store...our step ladder broke...now mommy has to have assistance getting on and off the boat...Captain is glad to oblige but really no one wants to see old people acting that way....hehehehe! Sally and Clay on SaSeaSally are due around noon...their slip assignment is D-18... And marina is hosting some sort of cook out/ party today into the night...always meet such interesting people at these things...wonder if they'll have moonshine?? Now that was a memorable dock party!!!

Thursday...and yes, cold has arrived...52 degrees...break out the long johns! Wind had turned and everything was exactly as predicted. It was a bumpy exit for Solomon's Island....then rounding Cove Point about an hour into our trip the waves smoothed a bit! Rain came and went...came and went....Dakota and I were nestled in on the sofa with a blanket...meanwhile Captain Floyd is using three chart plotters, AIS, and radar...grinning from ear to ear...loving every minute of the 7 hour journey into Bay Bridge Marina, Stevensville, MD.

Nice place...in fact, best grass Dakota has seen since we left Wichita...really well landscaped and the docks are top drawer....but no personality...and dock help is less than helpful. With his help, everything took longer...and , dang, it's cold out here.  We opted to go to the cool looking, on site restaurant...Hemingway's...nothing special but the view...it was delightful...in fact, we decided it was the best view of the bay we had all day....it was kinda hard to see through all that rain.

Tomorrow the sun should shine...but it will still be a cold bumpy ride into Baltimore....but for only three hours....we can handle it! Won't be calling the dock hand to help depart...we'd never make it!

Wednesday was definitely cooler...nice for staying at the dock...not good to be boating. We walked to see Calvert Marine Museum....managed to avoid the LARGE group of kindergarteners...interesting stuff. We especially enjoyed the Drum Point Lighthouse...completely moved to this location and restored...I took photos...I'll have to learn some new tricks to get those posted...but I will...you don't want to miss Floyd in the head!!

A few blocks farther to West Marine ( yes, we still need boat stuff) and a liquor store.  Spent most of the afternoon and evening analyzing weather and routes to Baltimore with FIELD TRIP and ALTAIR.  We plan to leave tomorrow morning, knowing that wind and rain will be an issue. But we have a lower helm and don't mind using it...wind should be on the bow...waves predicted to be 1-2... We can handle that. Though seven hours is a push...Captain is confident...First Mate and Activites Director are just skittish!

Tuesday was another warm one...AC cranked and we found inside chores to do...played boat bum mostly....I spent my time on the phone trying to locate and book a Baltimore groomer for sweet Dakota. Mission accomplished...a mobile truck will come to the marina next Wednesday ...stay tuned for that experience....and can I just take a moment to brag about this guy! He is a great activities director...making sure Captain and First Mate get some exercise daily...knows his spot when there is work to be done...and loves to just cuddle on those rough rides...we think he's perfect!

We had a most fun evening at CD Cafe with our friends Sally and Clay (SaSeaSally) and new friends Ron and Bev (Sea Venture).... Might have been over served...oh, and the food was delicious!

Bob and Martha (Field Trip) also pulled into our marina but declined our invitation for supper...we'll get with them tomorrow. Temps are suppose to cool off...we are planning to play tourist.

May 18... Captain calls at 6:40 AM... Let's leave a little earlier than planned ...so up and at 'em...off we go...for a very smooth ride to Solomon's Island... In fact, it was unbelievably smooth!! We hadn't gone far when we got a call from our friends on SaSea Sally...they too were headed to Solomon's...so plans were made. The trip was another great example of " pleasant hours of boredom".... But someone sure cranked up the heat! By the time we got gas-o-line(extra careful about that) and a pump out, we were dripping ...yes, our right guard had failed. Lucky us, the brand new heated pool had just passed inspection and the dock aster encouraged us to try it out..what a relief! Clay and Sally joined us... The Kansas weather will pass through here Tuesday night and again on Wednesday ...so we are here until Thursday....we should be in Baltimore on Friday.

Almost forgot the most interesting sight as we approached this village...we smelled and saw the smoke way before we saw this BIG lovely bay view house a blaze...fire crew working hard in the heat to control and put it out...

Looked to us like they were using bay water to fight the fire....everyone in town was talking about it...seems it is the second house this home owner has lost to fire...makes me suspicious, how 'bout you???

Tomorrow tomorrow...o' dark thirty start...crossing the bay again...7 hour run into Solomon MD...hoping for a smoother crossing...planning to be in Baltimore for Memorial Day weekend...Orioles are in town...and riots have subsided so thinking we'll be good! and until this happens...I'm caught up with laundry and blogging!!! taking the rest of today OFF!!!!

Special breakfast and then off to tour the town before the heat cranks up...it was a delightful self guided tour...we at least got to walk the grounds and see the gardens and some exhibits....window shopped and Dakota enjoyed the grassy parts!!! Back to find the restaurant at the marina is open for lunch...so had a small rock fish sandwich...and then into a small laundry mode...oh, and blogging...always the blogging!!!

  

By 9 AM on Friday we were headed out, making our way to Deltaville...Doizer's Marina. Dakota is still working on his sea legs...or maybe he has found the perfect excuse to cuddle with mommy...whichever...it was just about 5 hours from undocking to docking.

 In the marina around the bend we finally meet with Bob and Martha on FIELD TRIP. We spent a delightful evening at Cocomo's restaurant...then hanging out on board TUMBLEWEED swapping tales of woe. Boat troubles seemed to be our common theme...they too are headed to Lake Michigan so we are sure to meet again...they are staying on until Monday for repairs...we plan to head out on Saturday. Deltaville was just a stop off for us.

Saturday...we arranged to use the marina courtesy car for a quick trip to West Marine (can't believe we don't already own one of everything they sell) and the local grocery store...by 11 we are lines up and headed across the bay to the thriving town of Onancock....a rough and bumpy 4 hour trip. Whew! Don't know who was more relieved to see land, Dakota or Mate...at check in, we discovered that timing is everything. Seems the town closes at 4 on Saturday and doesn't have much going on again until Tuesday.  So much for touring the Ker Mansion.

It was Prom night here...so lots of young ones on the docks posing for parents...beautiful dresses and handsome color coordinating tux-clad young men....sure felt under dressed in our boat attire. We did walk to Bizzotto's Restaurant for an elegant supper...with left overs for Sunday...cute town...we picked up the walking tour brochure...so we'll do that and a dinghy ride Sunday. Free laundry...but weather permiting we'll be leaving on Monday.

Later Thursday afternoon, Floyd talked about getting anchor straightened...AGAIN...one of the dock guys helped him try with no success. Then offered to get him same anchor for cheap...and have it here 8ish on Friday morning. Since the chances looked good that we'd have to anchor out in Onancock, we opted to do just that....easy peasy!!! and its so shiny and clean!!! Not to mention straight!!! It just sticks out there...no wonder we manage to clip it exiting the slips....

in the middle of all that anchor straightening, here came a tow to collect the empty barge across the canal. I'll bet it didn't take them 10 minutes to whip in there, get attached and head out. You could tell they had done that before....it was just a little closer than we'd viewed that action ever before. Whew!

Delightful dinghy ride up the creek to the river and around the downtown area....then back to the BARKING DOG for a burger, fries and beer! Everyone slept ggoooooddd!

Today's chores included removing the blue stripe around the fly bridge and replacing it with a black one. Now we are almost matchy-matchy...still have blue and gold in the signage on dinghy and transom...could be our next purchase...but probably not. Temps took a decided turn toward cool today...high is suppose to be only 68... We are hoping the wind dies down on the bay so we can scoot to Deltaville tomorrow ....that's the plan, Sam! Then we're ready to explore places of interest on the Chesapeake Bay. Let the real fun begin!

Tuesday...and we arrived late last night at Sunset Creek Boatyard....stayed on the fuel dock so we could get a pump out before moving into a slip. Nice quiet place in Hampton, VA....John and Diane arrived around two...we dropped the boys off at the museum and went in search of pedicures...and haircut for me. Success!! Diane even managed a Party City for some supplies she needed for later this week. Back to the Old Town area...we managed to help support three establishments...Marker 20 for appetizers and drinks, Conch and Shell for dinner, and then the ice cream shop next door. We may have found a new favorite...Hersey's Ice Cream may have replaced our favorite Kwartha ...but we'll have to return to Canada just to be sure!! The pressure!!

Tropical Storm Anna is blowing up the Chesapeake Bay...so we'll be here for a least another day...could be our chance to visit the local Barking Dog establishment at the end of the creek....burgers and beer!! Dakota and I are hoping for a dinghy ride this afternoon...but first Captain needs a nap....wouldn't want him to get cranky!!!!!

Well, that wasn't nearly as painful as it could have been...remove 240 gallons of contaminated gas...replace fuel filters...reload with 240 gallons of gasoline...fire up and good to go...we couldn't get outta AYB fast enough...they towed us to the fuel dock at 1:20... By the time we re-fueled and ran engines...settled the account (no new charges for that fuel fiasco)... Inspite of pouring rain , we left. By the time we got through the bridge at 3 and into the lock, rain had stopped. We motored safely to Hampton VA....Definitely a character marina... Floyd has plans for the Mariners Muesum and we have plans to meet John and Diane (TUTTO BENNE) for the afternoon and evening. Once again, life is good on the TUMBLEWEED!

Lord almighty...8:15 AM And the pumping out of 240 gallons of fuel has begun...mechanic says that'll take a couple of hours, replace the fuel filters, re-fuel with GASOLINE....and we should be good to go! It's raining! So it all sounds good to us! Stay tuned to see how this works!

BTW, Dakota has been a trooper. We think he likes traveling to different places yet having his stuff around him always...Meeting and greeting everyone ...so friendly he's quickly adding to his fan club. We did bring about ten tennis balls with us this time...and so far only one has gone overboard! What a funny look we get on that!

MAY 10....another beautiful day...and no need to start at o'dark thirty....spent a short while cruising to re-set the auto pilot...alerted the dockhand that we were coming in for a pump out and GAS in hopes of making the 10AM bridge opening....well, no pump out (seems that broke yesterday)... And a man from Chicago asking us about a good marina with access to Virginia Beach kept everyone from noticing that we were being fueled with DEISEL ...instead of gas.  Oops!!! We took off....noticed blue smoke coming from side exhaust....under the bridge and into the lock, now both exhausts are smoking....hhhhmmm, fuel in the water.....open the gates we left but didn't get far when port side motor alarm let us know this was serious shit...alerted lock we were returning. They left gate open and assured us there was a place to dock on the other side. It didn't take Floyd a nano-second to figure out what the problem was. A call to TOWBOAT US...to arrange a tow back to the marina....which we never lost sight of....actually not really even a mile away. Because of bridge openings, it would be a little over two hours before he arrived. But once he did...slam bam thank you ma'am....we were under the bridge (lucky us, the bridge was having maintaince issues so police had blocked the road and the bridge was opened without any wait) and back in the spot we left. Less than an hour later heavy rain moved in! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY....Jack Daniels and wine flowed freely! As we contemplated the ramifications and scenarios for repair. We are more than tired of AYB...and we are positive they will not be happy to see us either.

MAY 9.....Another great Looper Rendezvous .....met some wonderful folks that we hope to play with as we make our way North...they mostly headed that direction and we returned to AYB for that empellor housing repair....serious laundry ...and re-stocking at the local grocery store.... All accomplished with minimal stress. There was a rather long moment of angst when the mechanic discovered that the part they ordered didn't fit....but, miracle of miracles, they located one at the West Marine store and had it installed a couple hours later. We walked a mile to the store and schelped that load back in our handy-dandy wheely cart. Thank goodness for rotisserie chicken and sides...early bedtime and we are outta here tomorrow....pump out, fuel, and auto pilot re-set in the morning.

Uneventful, pleasant ride up to Norfolk...Waterside Marina...close to the Sheraton where we will attend our sixth (and final) Looper Rendezvous. We will meet other loopers also headed north this summer..we hope to play hopscotch with them at marinas along the way. Dakota will make lots of friends...in fact, most will recognize him and completely forget they ever met us!

That little drip around the new raw water empellor is still dripping...but we understand they have ordered the part and will have us scheduled for first thing Saturday morning...sure hope they don't break something in the process. Oh, the joys of boating! We are starting to look at plans and places to visit...woo hoo...let the fun begin....but first a little Looper craziness!

Shoulda guessed that would happen....everything was going so well...according to plan .. We told them Monday early afternoon about that little drip around the impeller they had just replaced....we have also been saying since we arrived that we were leaving on the 3rd....why oh why would you wait until closing time on Friday to send the guy to check it out?? Well, because then you have to order the parts to fix it...and then people can't do the things they need to do.... Though, in  reality, Floyd says we'll be fine. We still plan to motor up the canal into Norfolk and attend the Looper Rendezvous.  Then on Friday when the crazies head North, we'll let them get out of the way and come back here for those repairs. Parts won't need that "overnight shipping"... And we'll be on the schedule first thing Saturday morning....we'll have laundry etc right here....so it could work.....then again???? It is our boating adventure!! At least today the sun is shining....now send some warmer temps!

Another great visit with the Jackson/Derby household....though they did appear a little startled at our  arrival (seems they were expecting us on Wednesday....oops, it's Tuesday). But once we got over the shock of that, things went very well....they fell in love with sweet Dakota....and Hilary fixed gourmet meals and , of course,  awesome desserts ( to hell with that diet).... And she presented us with an absolutely georgeous oil painting she'd done of the Hudson River Valley. ( cause, you may remember they traveled the Hudson River with us five years ago!) So blessed!! Their neighbors, Patrick, Betsy and son Tripp joined us for supper on Wednesday evening.....Dakota won more fans....his club is ever growing. We said goodbye Thursday morning, drove into cool rainy weather...arrived at Atlantic Yacht Basin in time to do major grocery shopping. Today the rain continues...we've just got one thing for the marina to finish...all other things are checked off the list. Weather is suppose to clear tonight and start warming up tomorrow. We are "all systems go" to head into Norfolk on Sunday...spring looper rendezvous begins on Monday.