Hello again! Since we left you in late June, due to a cranky back of Bill's, we headed home after winterizing and putting Simpatico on the hard. Since then have been extremely busy. There were Drs., PT professionals, MRI's, Xrays, more Dr appts and a very close relationship with the DRUGist. If you know what I mean. As you may be aware we have been very sure we would sell the house and just live on the boat!!! Well, while home recuperating we did just that. Gleaned and Cleaned and Listed the house. Then began yearning for our seafaring liftestyle! What about Bill? Well, he figured he could be uncomfortable on the boat as well as at home. So here we are.
We left home October 14, went South right away to Ohio and visited Gary and Teresa, Aunt Corinne 92, (still Sharp and a bit outspoken); Aunt Helen 88 (Best pie maker!) and Uncle Maury 92 (very sharp and so interesting to hear stories of my Dad in the service). All are in good spirits and enjoying life to the best.
Oct. 15 we traveled on to Herrington Harbor North in Deale Maryland unloaded all the stuff for the boat stayed there the night. So good to know we would soon be back in the water.
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| Yep, right there "on the hard" Nope, it won't fall over. We been running around all over her until the 26th when she launched.
Oct. 23rd We arrived at Terri's, our daughter in Wilmington, DE, helped her with some projects, had another Dr appt., enjoyed Terri's company and visited our Grandson Hugo at his school.
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| He is about to gear up for a task of barge inspection. |
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| The helmet weighs at least 40 lbs. There are always two helpers for each diver, one helps with gear, tending the air and communication lines and the other talking thru microphone to diver and logging as the diver reports what he sees. |
Oct. 21st we set out for the boat. We spent the next days, organizing, cleaning, checking systems, purging the winterized water tanks, changed zincs in the engine, and on the rudder. Zincs are anodes attached to the boat to protect other metals on the boat. We painted the bottom, stowed all our belongings, bought groceries and finally we are ready.
Well, almost. And I am still laughing about this! The bicycles needed the tires pumped up and as I started to ride one back to the boat to load - the chain broke. so after acquiring a new chain, we put the bike up on a picnic table to install the chain. You have to connect the two ends with a little two-piece link. First the chain has to be threaded through all the sprockets of the 3-speed mechanism; one part being spring loaded. I'm holding one end, Bill the other while trying to put these two teeny tiny pieces together, oops, slipped out. Tried again, got them together and something happened; the spring mechanism let loose and - - - -I heard Bill say, "We lost the part!" We just looked at one another and fell to our knees and began searching the leaf strewn grass all around the picnic table. Very systematically, on our hands and knees for at least a half hour, searching - - - people walking by - - - wondering if we were looking for mushrooms- - - - I should have had them take a picture!! I got up to look at the spring thingy again to see which way it flung and started searching again. by this time I'm laughing at what a site we must be -- two old fools crawling around on their hands and knees - - - we looked at the bike again and there the piece was stuck in the big sprocket. So all ended well. I'm still laughing!
We enjoyed the South County Cafe in the mornings with their fresh baked pies and great coffee. I must confess Connie bought a whole peach pie and ate the whole thing!! over two days. Breakfast, lunch and supper. Ha! I love peach pie!
The Dockside restaurant here at the Marina has 25 cent oysters on Wednesday nights. Managed two visits for those! Then there is the Happy Harbor Bar and Grill - they do 25 cent oysters and $5 hamburgers. 1/2 lb burgers. - on Monday nights. Wednesday, its meatloaf $10, Thursday Fried Chicken $10.95 (huge plate of chicken) and all fix-ens. Friday nights Steak dinner with a draft $10. All very good. We shared one dinner and went away fulfilled.
This area is very rural and quite hilly. Lots of farms, horse farms, sod farms, all just a short distance from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Only 35 miles from DC.
Horatio? Poor little guy, he is a little upset we think! He was fine with all the moving, packing, traveling in different cars - - but when we hit the water, different story. He just could not get comfortable in the Salon. Shortly after we were underway he came up in the cockpit and wanted to be held. So he sat with Bill, right up against him for quite a while; then finally laid down and began to relax. Even tho he previously had no trouble going business on the back deck and his green pad; we had to encourage him it was OK to do so. He is such a good boy!
Oct. 26th - the day finally arrives - Simpatico is cradled to the launch slip.
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| ...and put afloat
we were grinning all day!
Our friends Ann and Tony DeNiccola shared a couple of meals with us while we have been here. Great folks, who are about to haul their boat for the winter and travel to Savannah to meet Ann's son returning from Afghanistan, then on to Ohio where they are from. We hope to meet up with them again in the Southern climes.
We meet the nicest people!
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| This was a 25 cent night at Dockside.
Oct 28th Wednesday, we were ready to go but Mother Nature thought different. Predicted Winds and waves not in our favor to go South and it looked to be nasty for the next two days delaying our departure til Saturday morning.
Oct. 29th Thursday - WHAT! we awoke to clear skies, sun and the seas were almost like glass at 7am. We looked at one another and smiled, checked the weather again, and sure enough, light winds and calm seas!
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| . . . on our way South |
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| we picked up a mooring ball at Solomons Island. First days end of our next adventure. |
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