Crisfield, MD to Lewisetta, VA, May 15 - 18, 2015

May 15 - 18, 2015

Expecting a six-plus hour trek across the Chesapeake Bay, I was delighted when Clay notified the Holmes of our pending arrival some two hours early. (As you can tell, I'm not particularly fond of boating the Chesapeake, but I love the little hamlets along the coastline!) We soon saw a small whaler in the distance approaching us to guide our way. As the small vessel neared, I saw Judy frantically waving; she received an equally frantic wave from me. Ah, such Theta enthusiasm! And, what a terrific escort service, especially appreciated by Captain Clay as we traversed unknown waters (depth!).

Judy and Gregg's dock was a work-in-progress which made an interesting docking and an even more interesting pathway to terra firma. I was impressed with Judy's dismount from the whaler which resembled an uneven parallel bars mount.  
You go, girl! She was our role model for future foot steps to and from shore. Gregg's ingenuity resulted in swing bridge access using the whaler as the swing bridge. Where there's a will, there's a way! Thanks, Gregg!

After two hours of non-stop chatter on our fly bridge, we parted company only to reassemble soon for a tour of their 'river home' (new purchase of October, 2014), a road trip through the neighborhood, a stop for pictures at the Lewisetta General Store, and finally a delicious spaghetti dinner in their home. Hey Judy, loved the bread! What a fantastic first day of our reunion...and the elation of more to come!

As Clay and I bid Gregg and Judy good night to traverse our makeshift swing bridge back to the boat for the night, Judy and I made plans for a morning walk. Asking if I was 'up' for a 6-7 mile walk roundtrip to the Lewisetta General Store, Judy was thrilled when I responded with an enthusiastic, 'Yes!' 

Judy and I covered 6.98 miles (per her RunKeeper app) on foot Saturday morning then played catch-up on mutual acquaintances (family, Theta friends, etc) in their family room while Gregg and Clay went bidding at a local auction. Clay's proposed idea for them to join us overnight at a nearby anchorage soon had the two of them hustling to pack and prep for a 24-hour absence from their home. What fun we were destined to have aboard SaSea Sally which would prove to be a learning experience for them both. 

Note: Judy and I had originally connected through Facebook September 2014 as Clay and I departed the Chesapeake Bay first time through. Judy had posted a picture of a newly-purchased sailboat on her Facebook page saying 'Now what do we do with it?' Clay, of course, had plenty of ideas as to what they could 'do with it,' and Susan also chimed in with a suggestion that Judy and I talk. Such fun that we are doing more than talking; we are sharing and showing them the ropes of a very small segment of the Great Loop!

As we cruised a smooth-as-glass Potomac River to the St. Mary's River, Clay introduced Gregg to the myriad of electronics aboard. Conversation was peppered with questions as to what, how, etc. Two hours cruising time had us dropping anchor just outside St. Mary's, MD, then launching the dinghy for exploration ashore. Our afternoon entertainment was poking around the harbor area of this historic town!

We dined aboard this Saturday night on grilled pork chops, zucchini, and jasmine rice, using the generator for stovetop preparation of the rice. Judy and I worked on a bottle of wine with abundant chatter continuing in the galley as we made dinner preparations. Following dinner, dessert was interrupted with the abrupt prompt of the 24/7 tuned-in-and-turned-on weather radio; we checked radar to see a distinct line of red approaching. Reinforcing this was a text from Walter giving us a heads-up. Ignorance is bliss, but preparation is crucial. We've been fortunate to have storms separate around us, but that isn't always the case. Not sure we've ever anchored with radar red approaching; this may have been a first!

But not to worry, we came out unscathed with only an initial and wild 180-degree swing around the anchor as pivot point. Was so weird to look out, feel the centrifugal force and see the red-and-white lights on land speed oh so quickly past! We four slept soundly this night once the storm passed!

Gregg captained the dinghy to shore Sunday morning for Judy's and my 6.75 mile (so said Judy's RunKeeper); we gave Captain Clay some 'me' time while Judy and I walked and Gregg read in the Adirondack chair riverside and monitored Clay's doings in the far distance (as if that were possible?). Back to the SaSea Sally, breakfast and an easy anchor pull completed the morning at which time we cruised back across the Potomac River to home base. Score one for the group!

Lunch aboard then some down time before we reconvened in the Holmes' home to meet and greet their Texas friends Billy and Frances and dine on leftovers...thank goodness for leftovers! During down time, Gregg and Billy fashioned a more convenient mount/dismount at their dock. Thanks, guys, for the secured ladder and your thoughtfulness.

Judy and I saw our time drawing near, even at this point, but were determined to make the most of the time we had left. That, of course, meant another lengthy walk (6.97 miles) Monday morning again round trip to the Lewisetta General Store. I had left Clay to give the boat a good washing in my absence which had been on his to-do list for considerable time. 

Late morning Clay and I untied SaSea as Gregg, Judy and Bill boarded the whaler to guide our way safely toward the Chesapeake Bay. Bound for Solomons, MD, we waved farewell to our friends, vowing to reconnect somewhere, sometime, someplace. What fond memories we have added to our Columbia and Theta ties!