Got a Cold......

Sneezy, sniffly, drippy, yucky, no not the seven dwarfs. I pickup a bug somewhere in my travels. Hoping to get rid of it by Friday when I head to Sweden. Been going to the office in Center City. My badge dosen't work in Yardley. Seems like they got a bad batch of badges. Being in Center City is great I got to see some of my friends in the office and on the train.

I've given a lot of advice about going to Sweden. Bring indoor shoes, the people are fair, knowlegeable, not aggressive, and like their coffee. And I should stay away from the blond women.

Rock Hall Fall Fest

Heading down to Rock Hall today to the fall fest. Busy weekend in little Rock Hall the Fall Fest is on and the Spring Cove Marina Picnic is taking place. The Fall Fest is more fun in two city blocks than I have ever seen. Musicians, art, the lint lady, just a lot of fun stuff. I think that Madaline drafted me to grill burgers for the picnic.

Marj and Roy are coming down for the fun. Roy may help me set up the solar panel charging system while we are down there.

Assignment Cambridge Complete!

The test that we ran last night was a success! Customers computer application running well and he is happy. So my first solo customer service call was a great success. Tried to come home early but all trains were sold out. Have to wait for the 3:15 Acela.

In Cambridge Ma

Welcome from Cambridge! I took the Acela to Boston. The train ride was great Hi Speed rail is sooooo much more civilized than air travel. I'm visiting the a biotech company in the area. I can see both Amgen are Biogen from my hotel room. My visit was a success! The software works great and I jusy have to see how it's running in the morning. MIT and Harvard are around the corner. ( Do I seem any smarter???? Yes, I thoought not too! ) I hope to go to Legal Seafood for dinner tonight to celebrate.

And the Number Is........

The PowerBall is up to 170 million. I gotta put a couple of bucks down on this. Think of the millions that I could have. I could pay for the roof that needs replacing. The taxes will go a long way to pay for that Wall Street Financial bail out too!

Roof Leak Part Deux!

The siding guy is still working on the house. It's looking real good. Bad news the roof is rotten in places on the back addition. Looks like the roof has to come off and a new one put on. It will be for the good though. He will be able to reinsulate or better the roof of the back addition so it will be warmer this year.

Home again....again...

What a week Austin, Tx and San Francisco. Hopped on the red eye again and rode a middle seat home. Spending today trying to ride out the jet lag. Next week I just have to run to Boston for a few days. But mostly I'm home!

Final thoughts on Austin

We stopped for lunch at Rudy's. A Bar B Que place that is a gas station, store.... and smoked brisket by the pound. BBQ brisket, sauce, white bread...... no more need be said.

Wish I has some time to hear some music. It looks like a really missed some good stuff there.

www.bicyclefilmfestival.com was one of the two film fests running at the same time.

Is Austin Weird?

I'm not sure.... spent a lot of time lost..... got a broken GPS from the rental car company. I'm here on business. Went downtown last night to a place called the Ginger Man. Many beers on tap from all over the world. Downtown was hopping for a Tuesday night, looked like a bunch of bands playing in various places. Did not go and investigate. We went to a Italian place for dinner. ( not my choice! I'd be going to a place for some que! ) Talked much business. Found that the New Zealand team used PI in thier boat to win the America's Cup. Rino said that he would get me a cap with Team New Zealand and PI.

Home again....

We're home again.... The house is still getting siding. Seems the contrators have had some weather delays. Have to get ready for my trip to Austin, Tx tomorrow morning.... flight out at 6:45 am eeek! Just time enough to unpack and repack.

Back in Rock Hall

Yesterday morning we took off early around 7 form Tilghman. The forcast was for rain and there was a small craft advisory out. The winds were going about 15 to 20 knots form the south and the current was behind us. This made the boat a little hard to control as were surfing on the wave tops. We made it to the Kent Narrows bridge. I asked the bridge keeper if he was going to open the bridge ar 9:30. His response was " ....should I?" Yes please. Sheesh I didn't know the bridges had trolls? Once past the bridge we could see rain cells passing to the north. The last part was an easy run to Rock Hall from the Chester River. We did not get caught in the rain untill we tied up at our slip. The it started sprinkling. We had dinner at a local pizza joint. After our dock neighbors Al and Ann were there and we invited them over and the had a few people and in a while we had a full boat of people munching and drinking. Ann and I went out for a folding chair. I heard a cry for help and heard splashing. I ran over to the other dock to find John was on the ladder in the water fishing their dog out. It seemed the dog could not see well and walked off the dock. He got the dog out and I helped him up off the ladder. I made it back to the party which lasted to midnight.

Tilghman creek

We left the solomons around 7 am. Wind was 18 knots from the east and 3 foot chop. Around noon it calmed down enough for us to put up sails and sail for a couple hours. Made it the 40 or so miles in 8 and half hours. It was real relaxing. Had dinner at anchor in Tilghman creek. Wind picking up tonight. Should be nice sleeping weather.

Last day in the Solomons

We took our option this morning to stay one more day. The winds were blowing pretty hard in the morning and there was a 4 to 5 foot chop on the water. Tomorrow would be favorable winds and calm seas. We did some shopping at the local West Marine and we got some foul weather gear and updated cruising guide. We topped off the fuel tank and emptied the holding. After watching the blue crabs walk on the pilings we took a walk down town again. We had lunch at a shop and had the best key lime pie. ( see note A ). We saw schools of fish in the water here, up in Rock Hall the water is more turbid and you can't see much of anything. We made it back and jumped into the pool which was chilly. The we had dinner and preped for an early start in the morning. Tomorrow we are shooting to get to Tilghman Creek 40 miles and 7 hours.






(note A ...... Mom for the record YOU make the best key lime pie...... this is best key lime in a place other than home!!!! )

Solomons on Tuesday

We toured Solomons Island today. We enjoyed Calvert Marine Museum where we learned about marine fossils, Drum Point Lighthouse and hermit crabs among other things. On our way to the Solomons we passed beautiful cliffs, which we learned have 24 layers - each taking 1 million years to make - and they contain all sorts of fossils. People continue to hunt fossils there.

Surprisingly among the old oyster boats and oyster house exhibit was an otter exhibit. We stopped by but the otters were taking a nap in the shade instead of frolicking in the water. The lighthouse, built in 1883, was another screwpile lighthouse like the Thomas Point lighthouse we sailed by on Day one. Anyway, as soon as we were at the to of this lighthouse, the guide said we needed to come down because of the storms.

We will be staying here another day because of ugly weather and wind.

Solomons,MD

SECURITE, SECURITE, STAY AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM! THERE IS A 500 YARD SECUITY ZONE AROUND THE PLATFORM! Boomed the voice of the great and powerful Oz. On our way down here we passed a gas tanker offloading platform. The VHF cracked with the warning every hour. We stayed far away. Calm day but no wind. We motored all day. Arrived in 6 and half hours. Saw freighters and barges. The Cove point light house is remarkable. We are at the Solomons in Spring Cove Marina. Not at all like our Spring Cove but livable. They have underwater music in the pool. We are here at least for two days. Weather tomorrow is for rain and a cold front is coming thru.

Thomas Point Lighthouse

Here is Thomas Point Light as we passed it this afternoon. It is about 1 mile offshore proctecting ships from running aground on the Thomas Point shoal. This is what they call a screw pile lighthouse. The pilings that are the foundation are screwed into the bay's bottom.

Going on vacation!

Got under was about 11:30. Fuel and water filled waste empty. Our first leg to galesville. We past under the bay bridge, Annapolis, Thomas Point Lighthose among other places. We sailed for a while then the wind died, motored the rest of the way. At anchor now in Galesville.

Winds now

We have 30 knot north winds now. Showers and the boat is rocking. The marina is having a hurricane party but we are snug here. We are tied up in the center of the slip and it's too far to jump off the boat to the finger pier.

More hurricane live blog

Lots of rain... Some wind..... Not too bad. Sailboat off our stern pulled up anchor and went to a slip. Just sitting here listening to the radio.

Starting to rain

Just started to rain a few hours ago. Hot and steamy no wind yet. A sailboat has anchored about 15. feet off our stern. I hope he is locked down well. Nice in snug here just made a nice warm cup of coffee.

In yer eye Hana

We have started our vacation and we are down at the boat. All is calm with intermittent showers. There are other boaters here George and his wife are in slip d9. And there are a few others so we are not alone. Internet a little spotty but that is the worst of it. Eye passing over us tomorrow sometime. Let you all know how we are doing.

Vacation

Marine Forcast
TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT

SAT
E WINDS 30 TO 40 KT...BECOMING NE 40 TO 50 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT...BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN.

SAT NIGHT
NW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KT... DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. A CHANCE OF RAIN.


We are going to spend the next week on the sailing vessel Imagination. The Solomons is out destination. We are going to start by spending the weekend on the boat with hurricane Hanna going overhead. We're well inland and pretty well sheltered so we'll be ok Saturday. ( If not we'll run like hell! ) The Solomons are two days away. Stopping at Galesville first. Ike could be a factor in the vacation equation. We'll try to not get swept up! But it there is a long pause in our posts........


.... Come looking for us!

Disco?

Went to the Fringe Fest and saw Disco Descending. It was a trip into Hades to rescue Eurydice. But Orpheus can only dance disco and Cerberus is real dog. This is a nice story of a man descending into the pits of disco after the loss of a loved one. Not a word is spoken the dance says it all. So does the flaming mirror ball. Go see it if you can at the Susan Roberts Theater.

Disco still Sucks!

Weekend Wrapup

Never made it to Pirates Cove. Anchored in Tighman Creek with Glenn and Carol. It was a new place for both of us. We had a great day sailing. We were sailing wing on wing, where the wind was hitting us on the stern and boths sails are open to catch the wind. We rafted up at the creek and had dinner of hot dogs and meatloaf on the grill. This was a dark creek and the stars just lit up the sky as we layed on the deck counting them.

Can't wait for our boat vacation next week. Have to watch the hurricanes looks like Hanna may drop some rain on us and delay our departure.