Weathering the weather

Our progress is very slow, as we keep getting caught in bad weather--rain, high winds, fog. After 4 days in Atlantic City, we had a break and moved to Cape May. We had hoped to sail that day, but once again we were headed directly into the wind. Actually, it ended up being a fairly calm day, and we arrived at Utsche's Marina in Cape May after a good day. Colby traveled that day with his buddy Roscoe on Triton's Trumpet.

Then high winds again, so we were 3 nights, two days at Cape May. We knew that the trip up the Delaware Bay would be a long one, and didn't know how it would work out. Our friend Carol Clarke, who lives on the eastern shore of Maryland, had offered to come get any or all of us at Cape May for a break. We decided to ask her to take Colby for a few days, to give us one less thing to have to consider as we made our way up the Delaware Bay. So Carol drove over 3 hours each way to pick Colby up! He has visited her and Rick several times with us on trips back from North Carolina, so he is apparently very comfortable there and having a good time. We think he is secretly relieved to be off the boat for a while! Running and retrieving are his favorite activities, and he doesn't get much of that on a 34 foot boat.

John and Linda ventured out the first day and called us to say "Don't go out! We're coming back!" Waves were up to 5 feet and very confused. The next day, we were able to move. We left at 5:50 AM, first making 6 knots under power, but by 3:00 we were down to 3 knots. The tides on the Delaware Bay and river can be very strong. So we anchored for the night near the entrance to the C & D Canal, and in the morning, the tides were with us. We were in Chesapeake City, only two miles from the Chesapeake Bay, by 10:00 AM. It started to pour, so we went to the town dock, and rafted up with Triton's Trumpet. The next day, the C & D Canal was closed to all boat traffic due to fog, and foggy it was. Today, there is a gale warning on the Chesapeake Bay, so we stay put again. We plan to pick Colby up when we get to St. Michael's, but not sure when we will be able to get there.

We have been staying in marinas much more than anticipated, so being at the free town dock ($15 per day for electric) is a good break. Chesapeake City has a beautiful old downtown area, with lots of shops, restaurants, and B & B's. We had a great Chesapeake crab dinner at the "Tap Room" after we arrived. (There are some benefits to being "stuck"!) Right now we are at the public library, to get Wifi. Internet access has been spotty along our route. We are used to being able to communicate so the internet situation leaves us somewhat isolated. (Karen's phone does receive Email daily, however, and we really like hearing from you all.)

Our plan all along has been to leave the boat somewhere by mid-December, and drive home for Christmas. Don't know far we will get at this rate. The weather will dictate!