​After dropping off Orion in Annapolis, our final days before the trip to Alaska were devoted to some projects on the RV and some quality time with family and friends that we won’t see for quite a while.

​RV Projects
 
In anticipation of being on the road and not plugged in for days at a time, we wanted to ensure we could make good use of 12V power to charge devices, such as tablets and phones.  David had installed a set of 12V outlets in the main living area, but we wanted to install some additional outlets on either side of the bed for convenience. To do this, we needed to run wires from the batteries under the bed to a fuse block and then to the new outlets.  

​We had started the project in Florida, running the wires from the battery through the propane locker out to the metal supports on the underside of the cab.  Dave then installed the fuse block under the bed and began connecting the outlets to it.  This required removing the bed completely to make a neat run of the wires. With all the components in place, the riskiest part of the installation was drilling the hole that would allow the wires to run from the outside in.  With some measurements, we drilled a pilot hole that proved the location was sound.  The final hole was made as small as possible to accommodate the wires.  Once the wires were in place, we filled the hole with foam to prevent anything else coming in.  With everything connected, the outlets lit up.  That fixed one of the bigger deficiencies we had noted when we bought the RV.  Now we just had to re-assemble the bed . . .

As we travel, our ability to get to the internet is going to be uncertain, at best.  To help make access a little more certain, we took the external antenna off Orion Jr, and installed it, along with a router in a plastic box that is wired into the 12V system.  Dave wired the router to a switch installed in one of the outlet boxes by the bed.  Now the box sits in the forward compartment of the RV, with enough wire to allow it to be placed further away from the RV for more reach.  We’ll see if it makes a difference.

Power pedestals at campgrounds can have a variety of unknown problems, some of which can damage the RV.  In order to prevent this, Dave invested in a Power Management System that monitors for low voltage, high voltage, reverse polarity and other issues.  The display on the front will provide a code indicating any problems.  To protect the device from sun damage, Cathy made a sunbrella cover for it.
 
We couldn’t ignore the truck in all this prep.  Dave made sure it had an inspection, rotated the tires, changed the oil, and installed new batteries. 
 
Now, with our work done on the truck and the RV, we were ready to leave Hampton and make our way further north.

​Warranty Work

We returned to Outdoor Express RV in WV, where we bought our fifth wheel to have some warranty work done.  Some cabinet doors needed adjusting, the day/night shade in the rear window wasn’t staying up, the spring that helps the table raise up had broken (again), and the holding tank sensors weren’t reading right.  When we arrived early on a rainy Thursday morning, the service team set to work on the RV.  In addition to the warranty work, we had them re-pack the wheel bearings.  Most of the items were done within a couple of hours of our arrival.  We would have to make a return trip in the fall to finish up since parts would have to be ordered.  However, we were grateful for the good service and a welcome offer to let us leave the fifth wheel there over the weekend so we could visit Dave’s mom.  

​So, we just had to unhook the RV and head out.  But, luckily for us, the truck wouldn’t disconnect from the trailer.  It was the first time since we had installed the custom wedge on the hitch pin that we had this problem, but having it misbehave in the service bay was great.  Upon inspection, the technician recommended that we move the wedge slightly back.  They would do this when we returned on Monday.  Sure enough, as soon as we arrived after the weekend, Will was there to help us, making the adjustment and ensuring we were able to hitch up successfully. 
 
We can only hope it goes smoothly from here on out.

​Family Time
  
We enjoyed a rare opportunity to have all the grandkids and Bonnie and Adam together for a picnic the Saturday before we left Hampton.  What a treat to spend time with all of them.  We even got to help Alexis celebrate her 10th birthday.  The next weekend, we enjoyed the company of Dave’s mom and sister Diane and friend Pam.  It was good to see them doing well.

The time in Hampton went by fast, but we were once again treated to some amazing hospitality by Steve and Linda.  They put up with having the RV in the yard and month-long house guests.  In return, we got to play with Angus and Jessica, 2 Labrador retrievers who were both sweet and full of mischief.  On a beautiful spring day, we joined Steve and Linda for an air show held at Langley where Steve works.  It was an impressive array of aircraft and maneuvers by both vintage and state of the art equipment.  Wow!  We finally caught up with Sue and Steve on our final night in Hampton, joining them, Sue’s mom, Steve, Linda and another couple for fish and chips on the patio at Park Lane.  With this wonderful evening fresh in our minds, we pulled out the next morning.  By Tuesday, we were sitting in a Wal-mart parking lot next to Pat and Fred in Hagerstown MD planning where our first stop would be on our trip to Alaska.
 
And so it begins.   

​After a couple of days on the road from Florida, we parked the RV at our friend Steve’s house, and turned our attention to Orion.  It was time to put her in the hands of a broker, and we had decided to move her to Annapolis.  Spring cleaning would have to happen on an accelerated schedule, since we had to get underway north as soon as the weather allowed

Cleaning Up
​
We made our first trip to the dock at Joy’s Marina to check on Orion on Monday the 4th.  It was the first of a seemingly endless string of blustery days.  But luckily for us, it was a warm one.  We scrubbed the deck and checked out the boat inside and out.  She looked good, having fared well over the mild winter.  But we needed to get her ready for the trip north and to look her best on the brokerage lot.  With the weather forecast, we would have time to get her ready.  We weren’t going to be able to go anywhere.

​Over the next few days, Cathy began prepping and re-applying Cetol to the exterior teak.  Having scheduled a Coast Guard inspection, our pre-check revealed the light at the top of the mast was out.  That meant a trip up to replace it.  Luckily it was just a bulb that was out.  Cathy used the trip back down to look for any problems and didn’t find any. When the inspector arrived a few days later, Orion passed easily.  Meanwhile Dave turned his attention to the engine and batteries.  After topping off the water in the batteries, we plugged the boat in and they took a good charge.  Before starting the engine for the first time in a while, we had the bottom cleaned.  The engine started fine with the freshly charged batteries and the now-clean prop. 
 
But to head up the bay, we would need to live on the boat for a few days.  That required more systems be made operational.  The fresh water tanks were flushed of antifreeze, wiped down on the inside and sanitized with bleach.  Once topped off, the water was drinkable again. Dave plumbed the hot water heater back into line.  The fridge was turned on.  We tested the stove top and oven.  For comfort underway, Cathy hung the bimini, waterproofed it and hung the forward panels of the enclosure.  In the process, one of the windows developed a crack in it.  So Cathy pulled out the sewing machine to replace the Strataglass.  Love that Sailrite.  Dave checked the instruments and discovered a loose connection that, once secured, restored the depth and boat speed.
 
In final preparation, we provisioned with food and supplies, added diesel, and made sure we had enough tools to make any (hopefully unnecessary) repairs.  In our spare time, we studied the weather for the trip.  The winds just weren’t letting up.  Days of NE 15 to 20.  When would we be able to leave?  While we waited, Cathy continued with the Cetol and waxing the upper deck.  Unexpectedly, we woke up Thursday, April 14th and there was a slight break.  Yes, it was still NE 15 to 20 in the southern bay, but if we plowed through that, we would be rewarded with light winds for the rest of the trip.  If we waited, the weather further north was likely to deteriorate. 
 
We decided this was our window. 

Heading North
 

In record time, we packed up, closed up the RV (which included defrosting the freezer), picked up some last minute groceries and headed to the boat.  From the time we first woke up to the time we pulled out of the slip was only 3 hours.  We were finally underway.
 
The forecast was, for once, very accurate.  As we rounded Old Point Comfort and turned north, the wind and waves were were working together to take a toll on our speed.  Our only company was the cargo ships and tugs working their way north and south.  Luckily, the part of the forecast that had the winds diminishing was accurate as well.  By mid-afternoon, we had picked up speed and Orion was no longer taking waves over the bow.
 
We were hoping to make it to Annapolis in 2 days instead of the normal 3.  How far could we get this first day?  Deltaville? Mill Creek on Great Wicomico?  Reedville?  What about Indian Creek?  We could see Rusty and Joy.  A quick exchange with them gave us access to a dock at their yacht club, but unfortunately no facetime.  They were busy this evening and we had to leave before dawn.  We were tying up to the dock as the sun slipped below the horizon.  It quickly started to get cold.   Having eaten while underway, we just took showers and crashed.

​Departing at first light, we were treated to light winds from the west.  Although they shifted northeast, there was nothing like Thursday’s bashing.  As we passed Smith Point to begin the Potomac crossing, the winds were light and the water like glass.  We were making great time.  Maybe we could make Annapolis tonight after all.  We decided on a go/no-go point just south of the Patuxent NAS targets.  It was looking good for an arrival just before sunset. 
 
However, by the time we were at the Navy targets, the engine had stalled and we were adrift.  A quick call to our mechanic confirmed what Dave had suspected.  Since the Racor filter bowls were clear and changing filters had not had any effect, we assumed the problem was the on-engine filter, which hadn’t been changed before the trip.  We took advantage of our BoatUS towing insurance to be towed into Zahniser’s in Solomon’s.  Although it was just before closing, their engine mechanic was soon on board changing the filter and confirming that the problem was simply the older fuel that had been in the filter.  We were good to go.
 
Our unexpected arrival in Solomons happened to coincide with the Tiki Bar season opening – a BIG event for the community.  The roads were closed and the sidewalks clogged with patrons.  The docks just off the bar were also filled with partiers.  It was something to see.  Not normally our thing, but we did manage to find some amazingly good ribs when we investigated.  

On Saturday morning, as we made ready for another pre-dawn departure to Annapolis, we found we were not alone.  Leaving Solomons was a steady stream of fishing boats – all sizes and speeds.  It was all we could do to get a space to get off the dock.  By the time we reached the bay, it was apparent there were hundreds.  It was the first day of Rockfish trophy season.  What we didn’t know, but quickly learned was that you fish for Rockfish by trolling.  So these myriad boats were all in motion at about sailboat speed, with 2 floats drifting anywhere from 30 to 300 feet behind them on either side.  It was like maneuvering north through a slow motion video game.  And despite seeing an endless stream of these guys on the water, we never saw anyone pull a fish in.  

By early afternoon, we were dodging sailboat racers instead of fisherman as we made our way to the mooring field off the Naval Academy in Annapolis.  Cathy had used the calm conditions on the trip north and our stay on the mooring to finish the Cetol on the caprails that were (mostly) free of lines.  We hailed the water taxi and made our way to shore amid another throng of tourists and locals enjoying a beautiful spring day on Market St off Ego Alley.  We discovered Sophia’s Crepes just behind the harbormaster’s office that had an amazing nutella crepe.  And for the first time, we tried Chick N Ruth’s crab cakes.  We had to wedge ourselves into the restaurant to place our order, but the results were worth it.  

​Sunday morning early, we moved the boat over to Back Creek and pulled on to the Annapolis Yacht Sales dock so we could meet with Tim Wilbright and our new broker, Keith Mayes.  After meeting with them, we took advantage of the floating dock to wax Orion’s hull.  We had one more day to finish up on, more waxing and cleaning before signing the contract with Keith Tuesday morning.  Orion was on the dock at Bert Jabin’s and would soon be hauled to “brokerage row”.  She is now in good company with other Beneteau’s for sale and hopefully, the traffic generated will find the right buyer.  Having done all we could to make her look her best, we headed south for Hampton. 
 
Only this time, we were traveling by car.

​

Family Time in NC
 
We managed to have a couple of visits with Cathy’s sister Grace and her husband John who moved to Raleigh last year.  We stopped while passing through on our way north and, taking a break from all the boat work, made a quick trip to celebrate our great-nephews’ birthdays.  Grace’s youngest daughter, Ann, was visiting from South Korea with her little ones.  Her visit was timed perfectly to celebrate the first birthday for the 2 youngest grandsons born with a couple of weeks of each other.  And much of Cathy’s family from NC came for the celebration.  It was good to see everyone, especially since we would have little time together this summer.
 
We squeezed in a brief visit with our daughter’s family and with our son’s family as well.  It’s hard to get a summer’s worth of togetherness into a few days.