7 October, 2014

Port Annapolis Marina.  The Girl has come full circle.  During the later stages of her commissioning, Alizann spent a winter berthed in this slip, receiving guests from Michigan (Suz and I) nearly every other weekend.  It was in this slip that the Anne Arundel County Fire Department E.M.S.  plucked me out of the cockpit with an arterial bleed obtained while opening some boat toys with a VERY pointy knife.  (Still made it to the airport for our flight home that afternoon after multiple sutures.)  Suzanne also avoided a trip to the pokey after a string of very pointed (pun intended) questions about how my injury occurred.  Not sure why they suspected domestic abuse except for the fact that the injury was the result of unbelievable stupidity.  Maybe her admonishing the paramedics not to remove the tourniquet because I would bleed all over her boat added fuel to the fire.  I dunno-just sayin’.  Kadey Krogen’s office is here at the marina, so I go on up to visit with the gang.  Larry Polster, KK’s V.P., introduces us to a new member of the team, Jennifer Burkett.   After cleaning The Girl up, we were off to dinner at the restaurant, “Level” with Larry and his wife, Janet, accompanied by Jennifer.  What a great evening with lively conversation and sumptuous food at this small-plate eatery.  Thank-You, Larry.  The following day, we catch the free shuttle to Annapolis to visit the Naval Academy, where we spend most of the day.  The Annapolis Boat Show was to open soon, so town was really hopping.  The traffic was crazy, and the problem was compounded by the abnormally high tides that were exacerbated by high winds out at sea.  The roads and low land around the waterfront were all flooded. 

After two too-short days, we were on the move to St. Michael’s, a must-see three hour cruise from Annapolis.  When we arrive, we find that the docks are pretty much underwater due to the high tides.  Fortunately, we had planned to anchor out in Leed’s Creek, about a mile or so from St. Mike’s (thanks Larry).  On our way up the creek, we pass by a Selene motoryacht working on a fouled anchor chain.  The hook was halfway up, and there was a lady in a tender under the bow working while a gentleman on the deck was doing his part from up above.  “Need help?”  “No thanks, we’re O.K.”  We get the hook down in 18 knot winds under sunny skies, and I’m smilin’ cuz the Girls’ wind generators and solar panels are “makin’ money”.  Tender’s down, and after a vote, 2 out of 3 cylinders decide to move forward #@%$!!!.  Yep, the folks on the Selene, “Alacrity”, are up for cocktails this evening-their place.  Across the way in St. Mike’s, the fixed docks are under water.  The dinghy dock is around the corner by the Crab Claw parking lot.  Fortunately, the D dock is a floater, as there is no parking lot, just a very shallow extension of the harbor.  Too funny.  The restaurant is still open and they are ferrying customers in on a semi-monster pickup truck.  A quick recon reveals an upscale downtown and “Yelp!” leads us to Gina’s, a really funky, kind of alternative Mexican restaurant.  Good music, and great food.  On the way back, groceries and another pot of Mums ($6).  Chesapeake Maritime Museum on the agenda for the next day, we’re doing the silent prayer to the gods of outboard motors for the mile or so back to the Girl.  A little sip with Craig and Barb aboard “Alacrity”, and we’re cashin’ in our chips.  First thing in the morning, we again have a quorum, and majority rule gets us back across the river.  We meet Lisa “Changing Course”, who clues us in to the good trinket shops in town, and then we’re off to the Maritime museum.  It is as good as its’ reviews, and gets the 5 hours it deserves.  It was such a pretty day that we strolled the back streets, and then did a little window shopping in town.  Lunch/dinner was taken at Foxy’s Harbor Grill.  We give it “3 stars”, 4 for the outside patio on the harbor, 2 for……well, you get the picture.  We spy 2 Krogens at the town dock.  They’re “Daydreams”, and “Waterford2”, a pair of buddy-boating 39’s that we met on Lake Superior a few years ago, and have been in touch with since.  Nobody was home, but we left our boat card, hoping to catch up with them later.  More sips with Craig and Barb, this time at our place, but not until they finish the Bronco’s game on T.V.  They live in Colorado during the winter, and cruise the Chesapeake in the summer.  We get their favorite anchorages, and share some good conversation.  Another day in The Life.  Before bed, we dial up Doug on “Daydreams”, and find that they’re heading down the bay tomorrow, and may hit the Krogen Rendezvous in Solomon’s-Yay!  The next morning we’ve got a pretty good breeze still.  It’s been blowing 15-20 knots from the south for a few days, and seas are predicted to be 3’-5’ with a 4 second frequency (steep, close waves) from the south where we’re heading.  The two 39’s, as well as “Changing Course” decide against going, and in fact, are headed to the anchorage that we are vacating.  Thought we’d stick our nose out to see what the seas were like, and after an hour and a half, we get around the corner and find it’s pretty lumpy.  Only 3 hours more, and we’ll be in the lee of land for another hour to our anchorage in McKeil Bay on the Little Choptank River.  It’s sunny, so off we go.  Not bad.  We pick up “My Dreams” on the AIS, about 5 miles behind us.  They left N.Y.C. as scheduled, but unlike the Girl, they have a 4’ 6” draft, and were able to take the Intercoastal  Waterway, thereby avoiding the seas in the Atlantic.  Guess my concerns about them were unfounded.  Right now, the seas are bouncing them around a bit, so they’ll head in to shelter short of our intended anchorage, but will catch up with us in Solomon’s.  When we arrive at McKeil Bay, the winds are howling, and the land around this open bay is pretty low, affording very little shelter.  No worries, the waves are blocked, even though the wind isn’t (ka-ching.  Wind generators).  Entertainment is provided by a sailboat cruising in while I’m waxing the Girls’ backside.  After 4 tries, they get their anchor to hold, but not without some drama on deck (as viewed through binoculars).

October 7th, and we’re headed to the much anticipated Krogen Cruisers Rendezvous, held at Calvert’s Marina in Solomons Maryland.  The seas have moderated to 1’-3’, and the winds are S.W. at 15 knots for our 4 hour jaunt.  On the way, we do the “crab pot boogie”, and arrive at Calvert’s fuel dock at 1125, just as “Klassy Kadey” is pulling off.  Perfect timing for our fuel up, which is graciously priced at Calvert’s cost for the rendezvous participants.

Adios                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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