Although we did eventually get moving and took the boat out the western Okeechobee Waterway to Cape Coral, we didn't go very far or for very long. By mid-December, Jr was back in her slip at Port LaBelle and shortly afterward, we were driving north to gather with family for the holidays; By the time the clock was winding down the final minutes to 2014, we had traveled to Bradenton, FL, Raleigh, NC, Winston-Salem, Richmond, VA, Jarratt, Hampton, and then back to Raleigh via Richmond and Emporia. It's hard to say where we welcomed in the new year, since we were back on the train heading south – probably somewhere around the NC/SC line.  

The day after we arrived on the LaBelle town docks, we got a call from Pat and Fred, who had made fast progress south (you can do that in an RV) and were now only a few miles west in Moore Haven. It was an unexpected thrill to catch up with them. Since they had left Marianna to suffer the indignity of the Massachusetts winter, we offered them some time on the water on Jr, as we traveled first to Franklin Lock and then to Tom and Dau's house in Cape Coral. The offer was readily accepted and we were on our way west early one Tuesday morning in early December with crew on board; Although we didn't see any alligators or manatees on this run, they did get to enjoy the beauty of the Okeechobee Waterway by boat, something Marianna is not likely ever to do. (Fred would say definitely not going to do.)  

By Friday, we were ready to move on, and Pat and Fred joined us for an early departure for the longer trip to Cape Coral. The trip was mostly uneventful. The one significant exception being the railroad bridge that started closing on us as we approached. We were close enough to be looking into the eyes of the bridge tender, who neither signaled by horn, radio, or even some frantic gestures, to say turn around. Luckily Dave had been keeping a close eye on the span and determined in time that it was slowly lowering. We turned around as fast as Orion Jr can, which is not that fast, while Cathy tried to hail the bridge tender to understand what was happening and how long of a closure to expect. We never heard anything, but about 15 minutes later after the train passed, the bridge re-opened. We cautiously proceeded through, a little gun-shy this time.

Before docking at Tom and Dau's, we took a tour of the popular Bimini Basin anchorage nearby. There were about 10 boats anchored there, and it appeared there was ample room for more. For the next 3 nights, we were docked behind Tom and Dau's neighbor's house and enjoyed their company for the weekend. On Monday, we decided to head a little farther west. With the winds projected to stay light out of the south, this would be a good time to visit the JN “Ding” Darling Wildlife Preserve on Sanibel Island. The anchorage on the north side is wide open to any winds with a northern component, but well protected from the south. We had wanted to stop here a few different times, but never could get the right weather. So, we made the short run from Cape Coral and dropped anchor around noon, with only 1 other boat for company in the huge anchorage. The “cut” that would take us through the nearby island to the dinghy landing was nearby. We should have the afternoon to explore. Not so fast.

Our arrival was nearly perfectly timed with a very low tide. As we approached the cut by dinghy, there was no obvious way through it We opted instead to go around the outer island and into the bay where the dinghy dock was located. An hour and a half later, we pulled into the protected cove and were greeted by a member of the staff at the facility. Unfortunately, the building and dock were managed by a concessionaire. We were welcome to tie up for a bit, but we could only explore beyond the building if we used some of their services to do so. We could rent bikes, canoes, kayaks, take bus tours, etc. But since we were already so late and potentially facing another 1 ½ ride back to our boat, it didn't make sense to rent anything. Before leaving, we got better instructions for navigating the cut. With the water up a few more inches, we j – u – s – t made it through, requiring us to first raise the outboard and paddle and then Dave to get out and pull us through. You definitely need a higher tide.

Upon review of the weather, we discovered our visit to Ding Darling would be cut short. The next day's winds were to shift to the north, and our protected anchorage would vanish. So, we enjoyed the beautiful evening as long as it lasted and were up early the next day to pull anchor and head back east. After a night at Franklin Lock, we made our way back to the LaBelle Town Docks, which we had enjoyed from our first visit. Recently rebuilt, these free docks were well-appointed with power and water, wi-fi available from the nearby library and a short walk to town. With the rebuild, the “Mediterranean moor” dockage was no longer a requirement, since there is now a piling separating each slip. This made a bow-in approach for Orion Jr more practical, and a much easier on and off for us via the bow. (With the outboard, disembarking via the stern is problematic.) The town allows you to stay for 3 consecutive days and requires an 8-day gap between stays. This worked perfectly for our brief excursion, allowing us to bracket our trip with a few nights in town. By Saturday, the 14th, we had stayed our limit, having enjoyed the town and meeting new faces on the dock , but holiday plans were calling, so we headed back to our slip at Port LaBelle, and a much more extensive round trip on land

Holiday Travels by Road and Rail

We continued the tradition of traveling north to visit family for Christmas, but the first hop was pretty short, since Dave's family was gathering at his sister's home in Bradenton. We enjoyed getting to sample some of the yummy treats at the yogurt shop Wendy manages, Menchie's. And spending a Sunday afternoon playing pinball and other games at Janelle's employer, Clickbooth, was a lot of fun for the kids of all ages. But we had more stops to make, so on the 23rd, we boarded an Amtrak bus in downtown Bradenton for Amtrak's Silver Star service out of Tampa to Raleigh NC. We would be spending Christmas Eve in NC.

Although we've taken the same train north for the holidays 2 other times, this was the first trip starting in Tampa. We boarded early enough to enjoy a dinner in the dining car and woke up Christmas Eve morning in NC. Cathy's family gathers in Winston-Salem, which is where we headed next. It was a quieter year, since none of the grandkids were able to make the trip, but there was lots of family time over some amazing food.  

Then it was time to head further north to Virginia and the grandkids. We bounced around between houses, and had a wonderful celebration all together at Bonnie and Troy's house on Saturday. After a trip to checkout Orion in Hampton and to see Steve and Sue, we headed back to Raleigh. Our neice, Christine and her husband hosted us for a night before we were headed back to the train on New Year's Eve night. It wasn't the first time we watched the “early” acorn drop at 7pm during Raleigh's First Night festival before boarding the train for Florida and warmer weather. We awoke in the New Year in Florida, having just escaped the next major storm that was rolling through the northern states. 

Boat Stuff

It was a light month for boat maintenance. Other than cleaning and waxing, we weren't doing too many boat projects. However, there is one system that we made sure we fixed with dispatch. Our short (3-mile) trip from Port LaBelle Marina to LaBelle town docks should have been an uneventful motoring trip. However, when the engine stalled not once but 3 times, we were increasingly nervous about approaching the opening bridge just before our destination. Dave guessed that the problem was due to a kink in the fuel line for one of the tanks. This was confirmed when he simply switched to run off the other tank and no more stalling. By mid-afternoon after our arrival, we had new fuel hose in place and experienced no more problems with stalling. Good call!

Other Cool Stuff

While visiting with Tom and Dau, we took a tour of the Wicked Dolphin distillery, where they make rum from Florida cane sugar. We were guided by the head distiller through the impressive automated control process and the more traditional copper still and barrels of aging rum. And then of course came the sampling. There is an apple-flavored rum coming out in January that we were all very interested in.  

It wasn't a big move, but we finally headed out of Port LaBelle Marina for our next destination – the LaBelle town docks. It was only 3 miles and one opening bridge away, but at least we had cast off the dock lines. We made a couple of more significant improvements to the boat before heading out and even managed to make a trip to Cape Coral for a great Thanksgiving with “family”.

Solar Upgrade

They are thin and light. Four of them produce the same wattage as all five of the panels Orion Jr sported last season. These are our new semi-flexible solar panels that we installed on the bimini shortly after arriving at LaBelle. After considering various options, we opted for 2- 30W and 2 – 90W panels, which are mounted on the bimini on each side of the boom. Given the different dimensions of the new panels, we had to modify the bimini attachment points and create a new channel to allow the wires and thicker MC4 connections to pass over the bimini and down to the solar controller mounted in the port cockpit locker. They also have a blocking diode that ensures the current flows toward the batteries from the panels, but not the other way around. The only downside of the new panels is that they are not as shade-tolerant as the 3 flexible panels that used to sit atop the bimini. So, we needed to ensure they were mounted as far from the boom as possible to minimize shade, and also we needed to expect that we would routinely lose half of the panels, assuming the boom cast a shadow in one direction or the other.

Once Cathy modified the bimini to accept the panels, Dave mounted them, simply using wire ties to attach them to the new webbing strips – a much simpler process than the complicated tie-down used before. He then used some Y-connectors and T-connectors to join the panels to each other and route them to the solar controller in the port cockpit locker. Once in place, the panels were working great. Since we hadn't yet removed the 2 rigid panels that sat on the PVC arch, the 6 panels together were keeping up with our usage enough that we didn't need to run the Honda generator for days at a time. Eventually, we'll remove the arch and sell the two panels mounted there. In the meantime, we're flush with power – as long as the days are sunny.

More Boat Stuff

Keeping up with the Joneses. As Cathy did some repairs and sewing for other cruisers, Dave kept coming up with ideas for Jr to keep up. Why don't we have a tiller cover? Maybe we'd get more air flow with another set of larger mesh screens? OK. OK. So, in short order, a tiller cover appeared and this one even had a webbing strap to hold the tiller up and out of the way in the cockpit. And that 2nd set of screens appeared. With the warm weather and the persistent bugs, the increased air flow while still keeping the pests at bay was appreciated.  

In the meantime, Dave kept busy with his own projects. He installed quick-disconnects on the fuel tanks, so that they can be removed without using a tool. This makes them more compliant with Coast Guard regulations. Despite our best efforts in the spring, several dock lines spent a lot of their time over the summer in the water. So, one by one, he soaked and scrubbed them to remove the growth and associated smell. We decided to move the sewing machine off the boat, storing it now in the truck. That meant we no longer had anything to serve as a backstop on the shelf it previously occupied, allowing our clothes to fall down behind the shelf on the floor. So Dave found a way to extend the existing shelf, epoxying a support against the hull, and then simply cutting a foam board to fit into the gap. It works well. No more clothes on the floor.

We continued to work to clean up the boat's exterior. Dave cleaned the stain off the waterline, and then we worked together to wax the hull. Cathy waxed the upper deck to restore and protect it as well. After mulling over the problem for a while, Dave came up with a new solution to the problem of protecting the toe rail from the anchor chain paying out over it as it is deployed or retrieved. Using a length of PVC and flexible hose and a few cable ties, he sandwiched the toe rail between the 2 tubes, creating a bridge that might be able to protect it. We'll see how it works when we anchor for the first time.  

Finally, we had to make a repair to the hinge on the forward hatch, once Cathy opened it one morning only to discover that it was swinging wildly, since one hinge had broken in half. We had purchased a replacement hinge two years ago, since the one hinge had a crack in it, but this was the first time we had reason to actually fit it in place. The footprint looked really close, but was it exactly the same? Apparently so. We managed to fit the new hinges in place, but unfortunately, we didn't have exactly the right length bolts. (The predecessors had been cut off to get the right length.) So, the hinges work well for now, but we'll have to keep looking for the unusual size bolts to do the installation right.

The hinge wasn't the only emergency repair that we had to do. Our short trip to LaBelle was more eventful than it should have been because the engine kept shutting down. We switched fuel tanks and it then ran smoothly. The problem was two pinch points in the fuel hose on the one tank. Dave replaced the hose and the engine ran smoothly on both tanks again. The summer heat once again caused 2 wooden blocks that we had epoxied to the hull to support the water tank and to support the dinghy seats to fall off. We replaced them taking more care to clean and sand both the block and the hull surface to get a better bond. Maybe we got it right this time. Cathy loves crawling into that locker to fix these things, so she's especially hopeful they stay put.

Turkey Day and more

Our departure from Port LaBelle was delayed longer than we had hoped due to the windy weather brought by a cold front Thanksgiving week. The same front that brought cold and lousy weather to much of the rest of the country. We didn't let it de-rail our plans too much. Instead we drove to Tom and Dau's house for Thanksgiving dinner, spending the day with them, their son Grady, Dau's mom and step-dad and Dau's sister and brother-in-law. It was a big family gathering and we felt privileged to be able to join all of Cathy's “cousins” for the day.

Before heading to Cape Coral for the holiday dinner, we stopped by the Harold Curtis Honey store to check out a local honey producer. We got to spend some time talking to the proprietor, learning how their honey is made and the intricacies of managing the hives. It was an interesting discussion, and we left with some delicious honey to take to Tom and Dau's.

As we provisioned the boat, we discovered a wonderful Farmer's Market in town on Saturdays. In addition to some fresh produce (including some huge Florida avocados), there was fresh bread, and the best tacos we've ever had. We tried enchiladas made the way native Mexicans eat them, with lettuce, diced carrots and potatoes and sour cream on top. Then there was the “fruit cup” stand, which always had a line. We bought one, declining their offer to top it with chili pepper, but accepted the salt and lime. The combination of melon, chunks of fresh coconut, pineapple, cucumber, some crunchy white stuff --- it was all good. Needless to say, we made sure we made it back for a 2nd trip.

Where to?

So, we keep figuring out where we're headed on our cruise. Since we plan to leave the boat back at Port LaBelle when we travel north for Christmas, we'll only be out and about for a couple of weeks. Maybe we'll head to Cayo Costa or Fort Myers Beach. We've already promised Tom and Dau that we'll come back by boat. And then there's Franklin Lock. We're not in a hurry, so it will give us time to explore. And at least we're moving again.

After a couple of days on the road, we once again arrived in LaBelle on election day. The boat was in pretty good shape, so we started the re-commissioning process that is going more smoothly the 2nd time around. With a truck available to us, routine trips to town made re-provisioning easier and also let us take in some local dining and festivals.

Starting Up Jr

We heard from our neighbors here in LaBelle that this was a very wet summer. Water levels in Lake Okeechobee were so high that they had to open the locks to let water flow out in order to reduce the level. Pretty big change from concerns about water so low that the waterway was closed a few years ago. At any rate, we were concerned about how much water had made its way into the boat over the summer. Although we had re-sealed a number of problem areas, there wasn't much time to prove them out while we were still on the boat in the spring. So, with a mental drum roll, we unlocked the companionway and peered inside.

It wasn't too bad.

The boat smelled OK, and the floor was dry. There was evidence that water had come in, but nothing appeared damaged by it. It's hard to say whether the water that did make it inside came from the companionway or our problem portlight, since it was centered in the Main Saloon. However, the forward compartments were dry, meaning that we had had some success in fixing those leaks.

So, we set to work pulling all of the stuff out of the interior: rudder, dinghy, outboard, boom, stackpack, bimini, enclosure, etc. We pulled out enough to get some work done on deck and then closed up the boat to fog the interior one last time. While the boat was fogging, we rigged the boom, hung the rudder, mounted the dinghy outboard. By the end of the day, the bimini was up, the dinghy was in the water, and we had the boat cleaned and outfitted enough that we could sleep down below.

This was a much warmer November than last year, so we paced ourselves in restoring order over the next few days, trying to moderate what we did in the heat. However, by the end of our first week, the sails and stackpack were hung, the Nissan outboard was back in place and running, the composting head had its compost in place, and the water system was in the process of being primed for use with a heavy dose of bleach. We were close to having all the systems up and running. Cathy used up the super-chlorinated water to clean the deck and Dave used some to clean the lines that had spent a little too much time in the water. Once the tank ran dry, we filled it up again and began using the water for drinking and cooking as well.

The only real surprise in all of this activity came on our 2nd day, when Cathy lifted up the seat to access the fuel locker and a wasp's nest was staring her in the face, with most of its residents at home. By nightfall, they came to an unfortunate end. There's not enough room on Jr for all of us, so they had to go.

Boat Projects

We had a number of projects planned for improvements when we returned to the boat, many of which were underway before we left Hampton.

The wooden block on Jr's motor mount for the Nissan looked worn and peeling, which made Dave doubt its integrity. The last thing we wanted to have happen was to lose the outboard due to a cracked motor mount support. So, after researching possible replacements from the manufacturer, which were very expensive, we decided to try making our own. With Steve's help, Dave cut 3 rectangles of 5/8” plywood to the dimensions of the existing motor mount. He then epoxied them together, and sanded the edges flush. Cathy took over and varnished the block of wood to protect it from the inevitable abuse once it was employed.

When we arrived in LaBelle, Dave removed the old board and used it to locate and drill the holes in the new block for the mounting bolts. He oversized the holes so he could fill them with epoxy and drill again, protecting the inside of the holes from the elements. Since we lacked any sophisticated wordworking tools, Dave wasn't able to exactly replicate the recessed hardware of the original installation. But with careful measuring, he was able to ensure the outboard would slip between the new bolts, which would otherwise get in the way.

Sure enough, the Nissan slid into place with only a fraction of an inch to spare either way. With so much invested, we will make sure this mount doesn't deteriorate like its predecessor.

When we arrived in LaBelle, Dave removed the old board and used it to locate and drill the holes in the new block for the mounting bolts. He oversized the holes so he could fill them with epoxy and drill again, protecting the inside of the holes from the elements. Since we lacked any sophisticated wordworking tools, Dave wasn't able to exactly replicate the recessed hardware of the original installation. But with careful measuring, he was able to ensure the outboard would slip between the new bolts, which would otherwise get in the way.

Sure enough, the Nissan slid into place with only a fraction of an inch to spare either way. With so much invested, we will make sure this mount doesn't deteriorate like its predecessor.

Before leaving Hampton, Dave ordered some new LED light bulbs and a new fixture for the Main Saloon. We had never upgraded the fixtures in Orion Jr's head and V-berth to LED, so the new bulbs were going to fit in there. As for the Main Saloon, the existing 40 LED strip was having some bulb failures. So, the fixture was intended to replace it. Since we didn't remember exactly what the bulb bases looked like for the head and V-berth, it was a bit of luck that Dave ordered the correct bulbs to plug into these fixtures. Replacing the fixture in the Main Saloon was pretty straightforward and now the light from the new fixture is dramatically bright, allowing us to read easily under it. An improvement with the new fixture over the old is that it has a voltage regulator that allows the LED's to tolerate a large range of voltages from 8 to 30V without damage. 

Exploring LaBelle and Points West




20131109_130348 Dave talking to someone at Hendry Co Heritage Festival

We stumbled across a number of activities in LaBelle that we missed last year. The first Hendry County Heritage Festival was held at the local rodeo grounds. It had a mixture of local history, craft vendors, non-profits and produce booths. From fossils to the progression of voting boxes, we learned a bit and had some good conversation and some good food. We also got to meet more of our fellow cruisers who have re-joined their boats in the marina, gathering more routinely under the trees at the marina office.

We made our annual provisioning run into Fort Myers, but this time found a new marine parts store in the Marine Trading Post, located in North Fort Myers. It was full of new and used marine parts, allowing us to locate some more hard-to-find components and supplies.

Cathy's sewing skills were in demand as she did some repairs and make a tiller cover for a neighboring boat.

So, we still have one or two more projects to complete, but Orion Jr could be ready to go at any time. In the meantime, we are enjoying the company of our neighbors and the opportunities to explore LaBelle a little more than we did last year.

Parting Shots

A lightning storm hit the marina not long before we arrived and this catamaran took a direct hit and caught fire. Thanks to some quick action by a fellow cruiser and some local off-duty firefighters, the dock and the rest of the boats in our basin were spared. But not so with this boat, ironically named, David's Wings.

The late October temperatures in Hampton were falling and giving us the heads up that it was time to move south. So, we put our efforts into winterizing Orion and getting her ready to weather the colder temperatures. As November began, we were on our way south to LaBelle, with some stops along the way to say goodbye to Adam's and Bonnie's families.

Winter's Not Here Yet, But It's Coming

It's our third year winterizing Orion for the Hampton winter, and we're getting better at it. We strip the deck of canvas, headsail, and any smaller items (flag, horseshoe PFD, etc.) that could take flight or create windage. And then we secure anything else that is impractical to remove (anchor, bimini poles, etc.). With the new engine just at the 50 hour mark, we changed the engine oil and ran antifreeze into the raw water lines. Similarly, we ran the A/C with antifreeze, pumped some through the toilet, deck washdown and shower sump pump. Lastly, we emptied the fresh water tanks and the hot water heater. After cleaning the inside of the forward water tank, and re-plumbing the hot water heater to take it out of the plumbing circuit, we poured antifreeze in the water fill, running all of the faucets, including the swim shower, until they ran pink instead of clear. That took care of the major systems.

The remaining shutdown tasks were more mundane. We emptied the boat of food, much of our clothing, and the various items that travel with us to Orion Jr. Cathy went through all the compartments, cleaning out what she could and inventorying the rest. The mid-October rains had pointed out a few areas where seals needed refreshing, so we re-siliconed a portlight, a stanchion and a few bolts. To ensure the wood looks good when we return in the Spring, Cathy applied another coat of Cetol. Dave focused his attention on rigging extra lines and refreshing the chafe protection. We had the benefit of some extra high tides and some extra low ones that allowed him to study how Orion sat in the slip at both extremes with the new line configuration. 

By the morning of our departure, we felt pretty good that everything that was left on Orion was clean and protected for the winter, and everything that we needed on Orion Jr was in the truck, ready to go. Dave would suggest that maybe there was too much of the latter. At any rate. We bid Orion goodbye and turned our attention south.

Boat Stuff and More


There are a number of things that are more convenient in Hampton than they will be once we move to Orion Jr, so we took advantage of our final weeks to get a number of things done. Haircuts, flu shots, on-line shopping and banking, research for projects planned on Jr, and so forth. Cathy was due for a colonoscopy, so we scheduled that before we left. (All clean, pun intended.) The truck had a few more issues, which we have hopefully addressed for a while to come. 

Cathy also did some final sewing projects. Our trip with Steve had pointed out a weakness in our bimini straps, one of which snapped as Cathy tried to tighten it. So, she took the time to replace them before taking the bimini down for the winter. Speaking of Steve, he had asked for a pocket to put his hatch boards in, so she make one for his locker and installed it there. Also, Sue's fiance, Steve had asked for some modifications to prevent rain coming into his enclosure, which Cathy installed just before we left.

Just as Dave was preparing to remove Orion from the market for the winter, we were surprised when a prospective buyer called to see her. So, we delayed our departure by a few days to show her the morning before we left. (The prospective buyer also left later that afternoon as crew on a boat headed with the Salty Dawg Rally to Tortola, BVI. Needless to say, we don't expect to hear more until she makes landfall again. 


Hampton Snowbird Rendezvous

We were privileged to attend some of the first Hampton Snowbird Rendezvous, held Oct. 18-20 in downtown Hampton. It had some excellent speakers and lots of good opportunities to network with other cruisers who had expertise in various aspects of cruising the ICW, the Bahamas, the Great Loop and more.  There was also some great food served, which is usually a magnet for good times. Congratulations to the organizers of this first annual festival. Look for it again next year!

Saying Goodbye

With the end of the season, we have to say goodbye to friends and family that we won't see as often as we make our way south. We enjoyed an evening with Sue and her fiance, Steve on his boat at Salt Ponds (enjoying the space created by Cathy's enclosure). And we joined Steve from Bay Dreamer for a couple of get-togethers – first for his annual bonfire during the Poquoson Seafood Festival and lastly, for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

We were delighted to see Bonnie and Troy and the kids as they came to visit on a beautiful fall weekend, where we spent time at the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market and playing at the playground on Virginia Beach. After a delicious dinner at Harpoon Larry's, we explored Bass Pro Shops with the kids while Mom and Dad shopped. Unfortunately, Grandma and Grandpa need a refresher course in keeping a close eye on a 3 year old. The sound of breaking glass and a lot of BBQ sauce on the floor does wonders to focus your attention. 

We joined both families at Adam's as we made our way out of Hampton, in a celebration to honor their mom's birthday, 10 months after her passing. The weather cooperated and the kids had a great time on the trampoline in the backyard. But this time the goodbyes were for longer, so it was hard to pry us away, but we finally waved our last and headed down the road toward LaBelle.

As September drew to a close, we began prepping Orion for her first cruise in a couple of years, finally dropping the dock lines on a warm October Friday with our friend Steve aboard. It had been a busy couple of weeks getting her ready and finishing some sewing projects, but we felt ready to get underway. Although the weather moved from summer to fall and from no wind to gale force, we managed to make the most of our week long trip.

As the sun set over Sandy Point that first night, Steve and Dave finished grilling supper and we enjoyed the warm evening by watching the nautical Master and Commander movie in the cockpit. As the sun rose the next day, we were under way in flat calm conditions that followed us across the Potomac, turning this mighty river into a placid lake. Since Dave's cousins weren't available until Sunday afternoon, we motored past Solomons up the Patuxent to beautiful St. Leonard's Creek. Despite the weekend boat traffic to and from Vera's Beach Resort just up the creek, there was plenty of room to anchor without feeling crowded by the others who were enjoying their weekend here. With the temperatures in the upper 80's, Cathy needed little convincing to go in the water to check the prop. Having been cleaned by our friend Sue only 17 days earlier, it was dismaying to see the growth that had developed in the interim. After a few dives, it was clean again and the zinc was still looking new. Cathy took a tour around the waterline to clean a little growth, but confirmed that most of the bottom looked good. After swim platform showers, we grilled some hamburgers and enjoyed another nautical theme movie, Captain Ron. Hopefully, our neighbors weren't disturbed by our laughter.  

But by Monday morning, the forecast was becoming more dire for the coming week. There was going to be rain – lots of it. And those light north winds? There were no longer light. By Tuesday's forecast, gale force winds were in the forecast for parts of the bay. (Gale?!) So, Tuesday's departure slipped to Thursday. Then Friday. Then Saturday. No, maybe Monday. Well, maybe Friday again. Maybe Steve should just rent a car and drive home so he could make it back in time to get back to work on Tuesday. We dodged rain showers to go to shore for walks and showers. It was not going to be the week we planned. But they rarely are, are they?

After waking to rain pouring on the deck on Friday morning, Cathy figured it was literally a washout, so she stayed snuggled into bed. However, Dave was not deterred and studied the weather more closely. The showers were supposed to pass and the forecast was for 15 to 20 knots from the North with 3 to 4 ft seas. That was a forecast we would avoid with Jr, but should be no problem for Orion. The gale force winds were gone and, if we stayed, the conditions north of the Potomac were going to get worse before they got better. So, we made a quick trip to shore and headed out. The conditions were a little better than forecasted. As we rounded Drum Point, we motorsailed on a furled headsail past the Navy targets, crossing the Potomac. Although it was no longer the flat lake that we crossed on the way north, it wasn't a raging fury either. We surfed down the following seas, making good enough progress that we made for Fishing Bay on the Piankatank for the night. If all went well, we could top off the fuel tanks in the morning at the marina before leaving. By 6pm, we were anchored with only 2 other boats in this huge anchorage. The winds had settled and it was a calm night. But Saturday had us leaving in the rain again. Although we pulled up to the fuel dock, it was soon clear we weren't going to get a break in the weather and we didn't want to risk fueling in the rain. With the winds blowing 20 out of the northeast, we slogged our way out of the Piankatank, rarely even making 4 knots until we turned south to make our way down the bay. By then we made up for lost time, seeing 8 and 9 knots occasionally, again motorsailing on a furled headsail.  

Just after 3pm, we made our way up the Hampton River, having averaged 6 knots over the trip. We had managed to see a hazy sun during the afternoon, but as we took a detour down to Sunset Creek Marina to pump-out, the rain began again. Also, we were arriving at high tide, which meant that the docks at Joys were underwater when we pulled back into our slip. (The strong northeast winds and spring tides can make this a more routine occurrence.) At any rate, it was good to be back. Steve even claimed to have enjoyed the trip. Also, the engine performed like a dream. So, Orion's as good as she ever was.

Boat Stuff


Our “shakedown” cruise revealed a few things that needed attention, but luckily not too many. The deck washdown hose had to be replaced. Although Cathy re-stitched the bimini before departing, she didn't anticipate that a bimini strap would break. She was able to repair it underway and the repair held. One of the main saloon portlights dripped, meaning it needs to be sealed again. (Of course it has to stop raining to do that.) In general, things looked good.

Also, before leaving Dave had installed a new automatic charging relay, which combines the 2 battery banks for charging purposes and separates them when no charging source is present. Since we were “off the grid” during our trip north, we got to try out this capability and it worked as planned.

And the sewing work for other people continued. Cathy made a rear enclosure for a friend's powerboat and a windshield cover for another boat. We tested out Steve's stackpack during a couple of sails on the bay, and with a few tweaks of the lazy jacks, it seems to be working well. It's all been a learning experience, but the results seem to look pretty good.  

Friends and Family

In addition to connecting with Dave's cousins, we made a road trip to visit Cathy's family in NC. One highlight of that trip was taking in a movie under the stars with Cathy's sister and brother-in-law at their church in Winston-Salem. It was a beautiful weekend for a visit with Cathy's mom and sisters, and, as always, good to spend time with them. 

Back in Hampton and during our trip north, we enjoyed spending time with our friends on the dock and meeting new ones. There was another cruising couple, Doug and Lisa on Carefree, who spent the summer at Joy's, and have since headed south for the winter ahead of the fall rush. Dave spent an afternoon suggesting some routes and places to stay on the trip south to Florida. Another couple, Judy and Bob and Cringle, joined us in the rain in Solomons while we were both on Zahniser's mooring balls. They were equally anxious to get underway for points south. It won't be long before we will be moving further south as well.

One reason we purchased our Columbia T26 sailboat is for the T in its name – meaning it's Trailerable. However, we had no way to take advantage of this feature, since we haven't owned a vehicle in 5 years. As of mid-August, that changed when we purchased a Ford F250 truck capable of hauling Orion Jr and much more (since it is a ¾ ton diesel). We took it on a road trip north to visit David's family and took our 2 older grandsons with us to try it out.



Keep on Truckin'

We knew we eventually wanted to buy a truck, but had assumed we'd wait until Orion sold. In anticipation, Dave started researching the market for the type of truck we would want. It needed to be able to tow Orion Jr with ease, but should also be able to tow a fifth wheel or trailer that we plan to purchase in the future, which would be heavier. For this reason, Dave wanted at least a ¾ ton truck and he wanted a diesel engine. Diesels are great for towing with minimal strain. The trade-off is the potentially higher cost of driving it when it's not towing. We stopped by dealerships to look at their used trucks whenever we took a road trip somewhere, just browsing and not seriously planning to purchase anything this soon. And initially, we weren't seeing many trucks that fit the profile. However, Dave stumbled across a truck right here in Hampton that piqued his interest. It was a ¾ ton diesel, relatively low mileage for a diesel engine, and the price was very attractive. After a test drive, it took a week of dialog between Dave and the dealership before we went back to take a 2nd look. (The salesman actually came to pick us up.) Needless to say, we left with the truck. 

The truck now gives us some more freedom, but like every major purchase, more to do. Dave's been having all of its systems checked out and working to , understand the maintenance required for an automotive diesel engine. There are big differences from Orion's small 27hp version. For instance, it takes almost 4 gallons of oil for the truck vs. Orion's tiny 3 quarts. But now, we don't have to wonder how we'll get to Florida. We will have to plan where to keep the truck while we're cruising. And in the spring, it looks like Jr will be coming back to Virginia with us.

Once the main sail was back on and the stackpack finished, Dave and Steve repositioned Bay Dreamer's lazy jacks to better hold the stack pack and contain the sail. Steve now can raise and lower the sail with much less work and can singlehand the boat much easier.  

A week after our return, the Hampton's Bay Days festival took over downtown on an absolutely gorgeous weekend. For the first time, we volunteered at the festival, spending 3 hours taking surveys of festival-goers. It was fun, but exhausting. The picnic and fireworks Saturday night were a great time, as always. As the summer weather starts to slip away, we'll be looking for time to take Orion out on a trip up the bay and dust off her sails and that new engine.

Movies in the park. Visits with the grandkids. Racing on Wednesdays with Steve. Our time in Hampton has been falling into a nice routine. And with some of our trips behind us, we took some time to work on the boat and help out with others' boat projects.

All Sewn Up

Cathy dusted off the sewing machine to work on some projects for Steve and Sue. Steve had some minor repairs he needed on existing canvas and wanted to have some covers made for his cockpit seats. Sue's project was bigger, and a little more intimidating. She wanted a sail cover and helm cover. Her existing canvas was frayed and threadbare. A couple of days of work and she had some crisp new canvas that should last her quite a while. While working on that project, someone else approached for a re-stitch, and . . . Well, you get the idea.   

In between the projects from other boats, we took a look at our chafe protection that looked well-worn after almost a year of use. Instead of dissecting jeans, we opted for some denim on sale at JoAnn Fabrics, that Cathy stitched up into a few dozen sleeves that should last through the next year.

Cathy took some time to clean the boat from stem to stern, both inside and out. With some help from Droz, we managed to get the hull waxed so it shines. Orion's looking pretty good.  

In between Orion's clean-up, we were helping with advice and assistance to other boaters.  Now Steve's dinghy floats and doesn't lose too much air and Sean's main sail will raise without difficulty.  

Family Ties

We are blessed to be close enough to our grandkids to see them often.  A trip to Nauticus.  One to Busch Gardens.  A week visit from Droz.  It's all good.

Parting Shot


Sue entered her first race, the Tri-Service cup and came in 3rd place in her class.  Way to go!

After our dismal performance in the Cock Island Race, we left early the next morning for northern VA to get in our annual physicals and a visit with our friend, Cookie. Upon our return, we had only a few days to prepare to leave on our big trip to the west coast for a cruise along the Alaskan inside passage. Needless to say, we didn't get a lot of boat projects done over this last few weeks.

Traveling in Style

Snow-capped mountains descending in thick, forested slopes to glacier-blue seas, littered with ice and visited by all manner of creatures. Something tells us we are not in Kansas – or our usual east coast cruising grounds – any more. We saw these wonderful sights on our cruise to Alaska, but this time we let someone else drive, taking a cruise on one of those big ships to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We left from Vancouver, a beautiful Canadian port city and stopped in the ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. One day was spent sailing up in the Glacier Bay National Park. The scenery was gorgeous, and the weather for viewing it was near-perfect.   

In addition to letting someone else drive, it was great to relinquish the cooking, cleaning, provisioning, engine maintenance, etc., etc. . . . . to someone else. Although we had some issues with Holland American staff, which would keep us from recommending this cruise line, we had a good time and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, just on another line.  


If you're interested in more details about the trip, click on the pictures below and read about what we did.

Kids and Animals

Before leaving for Alaska, Bonnie and Troy came for a visit with the grandkids. We made a trip to the Virginia Living Museum and got re-acquainted with the animals. When we got back to the boat, Daddy Troy and little Troy went about catching some local wildlife to take home. Little Troy was proud to say he caught 4. Taylor just caught Grandpa.  

We returned to Hampton on July 4th, in time to join Steve on Bay Dreamer for fireworks off Fort Monroe. The following weekend, we celebrated Jayden's birthday with Adam's family and friends. The rain outside didn't dampen the fun, as the kids were already getting wet with water balloons and water guns.  

After returning to Hampton in time for the Pirate Festival, we turned our attention back to Orion. It was time to get her moving again.


Out and About

With the newly-rebuilt engine installed, we needed to get out on the water to break it in. Before getting underway, we had a diver clean the bottom, which hadn't been cleaned since before the engine had been pulled last fall. Then, since the diesel in the fuel tank was now a couple of years old, Dave plumbed in a temporary fuel pump to cycle the fuel in the tank through the Racor filters to polish it. After running this process for several hours, the entire tank been filtered multiple times. He then changed the fuel filter, which wasn't too dirty and there was no water in the bowl. So, the fuel was looking very good. We were ready to head out.

Picking a calm, albeit sultry morning, we cast off lines and headed out to the bay. We needed to run the engine at varying rpm's for the first 5 hours of run time to ensure the pistons didn't create an uneven wear pattern. That meant moving the throttle at least every 5 minutes. We wanted to do this on a trip when we didn't have a schedule to meet. All was going well until we cleared the no wake zone at the Hampton harbor entrance. David had been checking on the engine and discovered a slow, but steady oil leak. As we considered returning to the slip, Dave checked with Bill to get his opinion. He suggested we continue on. If the leak persisted, stop and re-fill the oil. We moved on, but Dave gradually zeroed in on the source of the leak and carefully tightened a bolt that stopped the flow. For the rest of the 3 ½ hour run, the bilge stayed dry. All of the indicators seemed to say that the engine was running perfectly.

In one sense, it was a pretty boring trip out the Hampton River, west through Hampton Roads into the mouth of the James River and then back through the west entrance to the Hampton River. However, given the milestone we had reached with Orion, it couldn't be more exciting to see how smoothly she puttered along. Given how much time had passed since we had been at the helm, we stopped a couple of times on the return trip to practice backing up, since we hadn't done this in a couple of years. It must have worked, since we had little trouble backing her into her slip when we returned. Another good milestone passed.

More Boat Stuff

Crack! Cathy cringed as she realized that she had just stepped on the 15watt solar panel we had borrowed from Steve to keep Orion's batteries topped off over the winter and whenever we were traveling. So, Dave started searching for a replacement. What he found was a small, light, thin, semi-flexible panel that actually had more wattage. The difference between the 2 was dramatic. Solar technology is advancing rapidly and costs are dropping. Hmmm. . . maybe we should re-think Orion Jr's solar panels.. .

We finally bit the bullet and decided to strip and re-finish the only wood that hadn't been converted to Cetol Natural Teak. That was the wood by the companionway and the cockpit table. After stripping and sanding, Cathy applied 4 coats of Cetol and now all the wood matches.   

When the winds blow from the southwest for several days running, the water levels in the Hampton River drop below even spring low tides. Our friend Steve was finding it hard to get down to his boat safely and decided to build a ladder on the dock to make it easier to get on and off. One morning, fortune smiled on the project, when we discovered the stairs from the slip across from us floating in the water. Apparently, when the boat left the slip that morning, they had knocked them in the water. This became the raw materials for the new ladder. After much discussion and engineering, Dave helped Steve construct the ladder, which worked just as designed.

Did Someone Say Pirates?

We had another successful Blackbeard Pirate Festival, having been invaded by our own set of pirates when Adam's family and his friends Brian and Jessica joined us for the day. The day ended with our traditional cookout and then the fireworks. A day to remember.  We've included some pictures to share the day with you.  Click on them to see the show.

2013 Cock Island Race – The Doldrums

Steve and his daughter, Stephanie, have participated in the infamous Cock Island Race in the Elizabeth River, for more than a decade. So, when he was looking for crew to help him move the boat to Portsmouth and to crew for the race, we readily agreed to help. Dave joined him for an amazing downwind run from Hampton to Portsmouth. The morning of the race, we were not going to be nearly as lucky. The winds were light out of the northeast, but the current in the river was steadily flooding against us all day. We crossed the start line at 9:30, but by 1:30, we still had 7 miles to go on a 9-mile course. The wind just died as the day progressed. In the meantime, there was more commercial boat traffic than anyone could remember in the 26 year history of the race. We managed to stay out of the way, but the 5 long blasts told us that not everyone was keeping a comfortable distance.

At the awards ceremony that night, we learned that only 13 of the 77 boats crossed the finish line – none of them in our racing class. At least we didn't feel bad for bailing out.  

Family and Friends

We were just sitting down in the movie theater, when the phone rang. It was Meg Moore on Gelato. John and she were on the Hampton River and taking us up on our invitation to come visit. Where should they go? We directed them to the Public Piers and agreed to touch base as soon as the movie was over. As we walked out of the theater, we saw them walking by. We had never met the Moores in person, but had exchanged e-mails over the winter. They were put in touch with us through a mutual friend from our church in Reston. We enjoyed spending the afternoon and evening with them before they headed out the next day.   

A few days later we made a surprise trip to Richmond to see our oldest grandson's ceremony for moving up from elementary school to middle school. He proudly showed off his recognition certificate to us as we celebrated this accomplishment with him. The first of many to come.

Maybe we got too cocky. Or maybe we jinxed ourselves by thinking we could be to Newburyport within a few days of our entry into Long Island Sound. At any rate, it took us until Tuesday, May 28th -- exactly 2 weeks from our Hampton departure -- to deliver Marianna to the dock in Newburyport. The same fickle weather that had delayed our departure from Hampton took hold again as we tried to make our way through Long Island Sound and up the Massachusetts coast.

Take your pick: fog, rain, wind or all 3?

Little did we know that our arrival in Manhasset in the rain was going to be a portent of things to come.  As we left early Sunday morning, the rain was falling and continued all day, although the wind was light. By late afternoon, with the current now against us, we had rejected our most optimistic destinations (Newport, Fishers Island) in favor of an anchorage behind Duck Island off the Connecticut coast. With winds slated to build from the southwest overnight, we were a little uncomfortable with the protection we'd receive there. Dave started checking Active Captain and found a protected cove just inside the mouth of the Connecticut River. It just wasn't clear whether it had enough depth for Marianna's 6ft draft or whether the town moorings were set up this early in the season. We called the local TowBoatUS operator, who couldn't have been more helpful. He called the Saybrook harbormaster to confirm the depth and to identify a mooring that was available for the night with enough draft for Fred's boat. As we made our way around Old Saybrook light into the river, we picked up the outer marker for the cove and entered the narrow channel. The shallowest spot was just where it had been predicted, but with enough water for us to clear. Just after clearing the channel, we spotted our mooring and were secured in a couple of minutes. With protection all around, we were able to sleep well that night.

 “A Naval vessel will be transiting the Thames River. Please keep a distance of at least 500 yards.” That securite announcement probably meant a sub was leaving Groton, and we would be crossing its course line shortly after leaving the Connecticut River. However, in the fog that closed in just as we left the river, how could we know how to avoid it? So, we made our way east, studying the radar and scanning the horizon, trying to stay clear of anything that looked like a hazard, including the sub. By mid-morning, the chatter on the radio about the “naval vessel” and other boats rendezvousing with it was increasing, while we continued travelling in our little bubble of visibility. Then, out of the fog a boat came racing toward us. The Coast Guard escort with its obviously armed contingent hailed us and asked us to proceed north to leave the sub (now visibile) 500 yards to our south. Fred checked the chart to ensure we could travel north of our route line that far and we headed around what apparently was the “Event Alpha” rendezvous location being mentioned on the radio. Probably some transfer of personnel to the sub that had come in from sea to pick them up. At any rate, we left them behind as we made our way to Newport, until the fog swallowed them up again. Apparently, our effforts to avoid them weren't too successful. We couldn't have come any closer if we put a waypoint for their location in our route.  

By mid-afternoon, the fog had cleared as we rounded Point Judith into Narragansett Bay. The winds were now up, and the Newport sailboats were out taking advantage of it. We picked up a mooring and then took a quick dinghy ride in for – you guessed it – ice cream. With a forecast of more fog on Tuesday, and the need to take on fuel and water the next morning, it was unclear where or when we would be able to go next.

Weather. Weather. Weather. We studied it. Wrote it down. Analyzed it. Argued about it. It just wasn't cooperating with us to get Marianna the short distance left to get her home. Days of wind from the south or southwest should have made for a great trip the rest of the way, but the southerly winds were bringing in the fog and higher winds were kicking up the seas. On Tuesday morning, after pulling over to the dock for fuel, water and pump-out, we finally decided to take a day off and leave the fog to run its course. Although Newport stayed sunny and breezy, it was obvious that there was fog just outside in the sounds. We took showers, took a walk around town and then toured the International Yacht Restoration School for a 2nd time (having seen it on our last trip north in 2007). This trip was much more interesting as the students were all there and in the last 10 days before the required completion of their cat boats (the first year students' assignment). We then toured the Coronet yacht restoration building, where a mammoth project was underway to restore (i.e. rebuild) this amazing luxury yacht. As we returned to Marianna for supper, it was pretty clear that Wednesday's weather would be a repeat of Tuesday. As we went to bed, it seemed pretty certain we'd spend another day in Newport.

The next morning Cathy woke up to the sound of the engine starting. What happened to the bad weather forecast? Although overcast, the fog didn't appear to be as bad. Since the wind was up, we thought that it might blow it away. As we made our way out into the sound, the fog closed in again, but it wasn't as bad as our trip into Newport. With the wind and current behind us, we had a chance to make the last of the flood current through the Cape Cod canal and head to Scituate or Provincetown. That could put us in Newburyport on Thursday. Alright! But, not so fast. We were wondering why a tug that passed us around noon, began to slow down again so that we left him farther behind. Hmmm. What's up with that? We continued on, arriving at the canal's western entrance on schedule just before 2:30 pm. However, the answer to our question about the tug became clear as we made our approach to the canal. A police boat approached to tell us the canal was closed for work on high-tension wires. It was scheduled to re-open at 3:30. By that time the ebb current would have begun. Since it can run as much as 4.5 kts against an eastbound boat in the canal, we realized we had just lost a half day's travel and would have to turn in at Onset. That 1 hour closure ended up costing us 5 days.

Over the next few days in Onset, we kept running into the same dilemma. The current in the canal was only favorable early in the morning or early in the evening. To make any progress once we exited into Cape Cod Bay, we had to take the early window. However, it was inevitably foggy in the early morning until it was too late to leave. By Friday, the threat was no longer fog, it was severe thunderstorms. Although they would be through by 10am, we couldn't wait for them to pass and still be able to get anywhere. After the front passed, there were going to be days of strong north winds, making travel north miserable at best. With the north winds, we were going to be treated to lots of rainy, cold weather. What fun. Fred finally decided that it wasn't worth being miserable on the boat for a weekend, when home was a couple hours away. On Friday, his brother was able to pick us up and take us to Newburyport, where we picked up Fred's car and headed to his home. It was a good decision.  

It wasn't until Monday that we saw the weather to sneak in the run north to Newburyport. The forecast was for light west winds going south during the day, with a similar forecast for Tuesday. We drove down to the boat in Onset in time for a 10 am departure. It was finally a sunny day, slowly warming up. As we exited the canal, we were disappointed to see whitecaps and waves from the northwest. We could only plug ahead hoping for the weather to settle into the forecasted 5 to 10 knot westerlies. Sure enough, it did settle down and we pulled into Scituate before 4 pm dodging the last of the Memorial Day boat traffic. After another trip to shore for the best ice cream of the trip at Nona's, we had supper and went to bed for a first light departure. The waters were smooth as glass as we pulled out into the Massachusetts Bay and stayed that way until the final hour after we rounded Cape Ann. For once the calm conditions weren't accompanied by fog. We were into the Merrimac River before the breeze started to build from the southeast with more oomph than the 5 knots predicted. But with the flood current and a perfectly timed bridge transit, we were sliding onto the dock at Merrimar Yacht Basin shortly after 1 pm with Jay and Pat catching the lines.   We had managed to deliver her safely, which was a good thing, since she is for sale.  (If you're interested in a Moody 40 center cockpit, you can contact Jay at Merrimar.)

Fifteen elapsed days and 8 travel days after leaving Hampton, Marianna was finally home.

Downtime


We managed to explore quite a bit as we made our way north, including our extended stay in Nottingham, as we waited for weather. We took in a Red Hook Brewery tour (even though none of us drink beer), tasting their Black Lobster brew (yes, lobsters were boiled to produce it). We sampled some whole clams at Bob's Clam Hut, cracked some lobsters at Pat and Fred's and reunited with Dave and Donna (from Merlin) and Jay and Debra (from Jadera) over hor d'ouvres for our final night in town. It was a great trip, whether we were traveling or chilling ashore. We enjoyed the company and the time on the water. It will be good to head home, but we'll miss Pat and Fred until we see them again. 

Maybe this fall.