Sunday, May 27, 2007

New York Yacht Club - Team Racing

I woke up this morning in Newport wondering how I was going to spend my day. Not a problem. Brian Comfort ended up calling and inviting me to sail with him in the NYYC Team Racing event. Two teams of 4 Sonars racing 6-7 races. It was great. Definitely different than any sailing I'd done before. Now, I'm thinking....how do I bring this home to Richmond Yacht Club?? Maybe the Junior Program???

Friday, May 25, 2007

American Yacht Club



After working our way through New York Harbor, Lyn and I arrived at American Yacht Club for the night. It was a great stop for us. Drake Sparkman and Gibb Kane met us for drinks at the Yacht Club and then we join Gibb and Tori Kane at their house for a fantastic dinner!!

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Cape May











At the very top of the Chesapeake is a canal that runs across to Delaware Bay. It was an interesting passage through the canal and some pictures are included here.

The other pictures are from Cape May itself. Cape May is a summer vacation town at the very southern end of "the Jersey Shore". Very nice, lots of older restored homes, etc. A couple pictures from our bike ride that afternoon are included.

Havre de Grace




Just left a great little town called Havre de Grace. The town sits right on the Old Post Road almost exactly half way between Baltimore and Philadelphia. In the past it seems it was a busy port town, today it is a little known secret get away spot for those working in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washinton,DC. If you visit you wouldn't want to miss the duck decoy museum...

Sorry about the lack of posts recently, we've been unable to pick up wireless internet. Annapolis was a great spot two nights ago. The town is full of excitement regarding the graduation of the senior class this friday, and a real highlight for us was watcing the Blue Angels perform as we left the harbor!! Only four plans though. I remembber five in previous shows?? Could be that they are still in the process of replacing the pilot that died in the recent crash??

More later....

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Upper chesapeake bay

Upper chesapeake bay

Annapolis




Timing is everything!!

We pulling in to Annapolis a few days prior to the Academy graduation. The town was full of vistors which wasn't all good, but the best part was the Blue Angels were in town. Attached are a few pictures from the show!!

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Oxford, Maryland

traveled 80 miles today to arrive here in Oxford, Maryland. The weather was up and down and really slowed us down for a bit as we crossed the mouth of the Potomac River. Bubbles was nice enough to arrange for a slip for us when we arrived. Unfortunately, we ran into some guy named Lee who seemed to think that he was responsible for the slips while the dock master was away. After giving us the 4th degree for 5 minutes he rode away on his bicycle apparantly to check out our "story". When he couldn't confirm all details he returned in a huff to tell us he was "sorry" but he was going to have to ask us to move down the dock to an official guest slip. He was all ready to do battle and I think we threw him when we said "sure thing, no problem". Every neighborhood has one....

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Hole in One!!!! (Almost...)


At the second hole of the golf course here at The Tides Inn, Lyn came this close to his first hole in one!!

May 17th - The Tides Inn



It was a little rough out there today, but we managed to get around the corner and up the Chesapeake Bay a bit. We've stopped now at a fantastic resort called The Tides Inn. Check it out at www.tidesinn.com

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Norfolk Harbor




Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean.
NS Norfolk, also known as the Norfolk Navy Base, occupies about 4,300 acres (17 km²) of Hampton Roads real estate in a peninsula known as Sewell's Point. It is the world's largest Naval Station; in fact, based on supported military population, it is the largest naval installation/base in the world. When the 75 ships and 134 aircraft homeported here are not at sea, they are along side one of the 13 piers or inside one of the 11 aircraft hangars for repair, refit, training and to provide the ship's or squadron's crew an opportunity to be with their families. NS Norfolk is homeport to aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, large amphibious ships, submarines, a variety of supply and logistics ships, C-2 Greyhound, C-9 Skytrain II, C-12 Huron and E-2 Hawkeye fixed wing aircraft, and H-3 Sea King, CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-53 Sea Stallion, and SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.

The lock!

Centerville Turnpike Swing Bridge

We have found ourselves in the middle of a yacht club cruise. It makes for some interesting boat handling challenges. Glad Lyn is driving....

Underway Again

Bound for Hampton, VA

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Intercoastal Waterway - Coinjock


We stopped here mid-afternoon and decided to spend the night. A pretty cool little place in the middle of nowhere with about 1000ft of dock along the waterway. A ships store, a restaurant/lounge (dinner was great!), and a house that someone that owns the place must live it.

The boat behind us is 95' long, there were two others about that long and then the remainder of the dock was absolutely full with other misc. boats.


These guys have a great business going!!

View from the bridge

Departure from Hatteras

Monday, May 07, 2007

New Car Shopping in El Paso, Texas

Well, the news is not good. It appears that the rear differential on the suburban decided to destroy itself last night. Thank goodness it happened in a town that had a GM dealership and a Marriot hotel right across the street from each other.

The mechanics told me that pieces litterally "fell out" when they opened up the unit in the shop. Multiple gears and bearings are ruined and at least one axle is bent. So...they need to replace the entire rear wheel assembly. And....they can't get a new one for a week!!

It's either work a trade in deal for the car here and leave driving a new one. Or fly home and come back in a week to finish the trip after a $3,000 repair!

Stand by....

Stuck in El Paso, Texas

Had a nice dinner in El Paso last night. Then when I got back in the car and made the first turn heard a terrible noise from the back of the car as the entire car seemed to lurch. The sound did not go away....

So...I limped to the parking lot of a Marriot across the street from the local GM dealer hoping that I've not totally ruined the car.

Will be an interesting day....