November 14, 2014 We are home in Memphis.

We spent the last of October going through every cabinet and drawer on the boat boxing up stuff we had not used or didn't think we needed on the boat to take home. We rented a car to drive home and when we went to pick it up they didn't have the size that we had reserved so they gave us a mini van. Lucky for us that we got the van, we had a big load of stuff to take home.

So on October 27th we winterized the boat, pumping pink antifreeze through the engine, generator, HVAC, and fresh water system. Inch-n-Along will sleep until April, staying in the water under a roof in a big barn, protected from the weather.

We stayed in a hotel the 27th and 28th as the boat had no heat or toilet because those systems were now shut down for the winter. The Adi cat had been a little uneasy as she didn't know what was going on. The boat had been in an upheaval for a week with the sorting and packing; Adi cat does not like things on the boat to be out of place. However when we took her to the hotel she calmed down and seemed to be thinking she was on a new adventure and was excited to get going. Adi loves hotel rooms provided she has her food and potty box.

We left Chesapeake, VA on the morning of October 29 for a leisurely trip home to Memphis. First stop was Blacksburg, VA. Our daughter Megan's first friend when we moved to Memphis, Natalie, lives in Blacksburg with her husband and new baby, Eva Cathren. Eva is three months old and so .sweet. We had dinner with them and then off to another hotel, to the excitement of the Adi cat.

Next day we headed to Asheville NC to visit Grace and Jeff. The trees were turning and the color was beautiful. We had started our loop adventure with them, leaving from our home port of Grand Harbor in October 2013. Grace and Jeff at that point were half way around their loop. They have a beautiful log home in the country outside of Asheville. Grace fixed a wonderful dinner and we talked about our loop adventures.

Nashville was our next stop. We had an early dinner and got a good nights sleep, Adi included, and got up early for the final leg of our trip home to Memphis. We arrived home in the afternoon greeted by our daughter Megan. Megan prepared a delicious dinner and we settled back in to our house until April. Amazingly the Adi cat traveled home those several days almost a thousand miles perfectly. She is a great all around traveler and boat cat!

We will return to the boat in early April 2015 to continue our adventure. Our plan is to quickly run up Chesapeake Bay to the C&D Canal to Delaware Bay and up the Delaware River to Philadelphia. From there we will head to Cape Fear, NJ and then on the outside to New York Harbor. We'll spend time in NYC and then go up the Hudson River to the Erie Canal where we will spend the summer leaving the boat in Brewerton, NY for the 2015 winter.

Everyone have a great holiday season and we will and we will see you again in April.

October 18 & 19, 2014 Naval Tour and Art Festival

The local TV news gave us two ideas for something to do over the weekend. On Friday morning we got the Enterprise car rental weekend special, $33.63 total returning the car on Monday morning. On Saturday we traveled to Norfolk Naval Station for an event celebrating the 239th anniversary of the U.S. Navy. There were ship tours. We were able to go on board the carrier Theodore Roosevelt the ship that passed us on 10/17 on Chesapeake Bay. There was also aircraft displayed, various navy equipment, an antique car show, and a chili cook off. In the afternoon we attended a Navy Band concert on the Roosvelt. It was a fun day.

On Sunday, we spent the afternoon in downtown Norfolk at the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival. This event was held at the Stockley Gardens park in the middle of a beautiful neighborhood of old restored homes. The art show is an annual event with about 150 artists displaying their work. We enjoyed the afternoon and the artwork.

October 13-17, 2014

We spent the week at Atlantic Yacht Basin, doing maintenance on the boat and planning our trip back to Memphis. While we are away for the winter AYB is going to do some needed work on the boat for us:  New cushions in the salon and pilothouse, a roof vent in the pilothouse (it can get hot in the pilothouse and we can't have the doors open for fear of an escaping Adi cat), wax on the outside of the boat, and in the Spring new bottom paint. All this and the maintenance that I'll do on the engine, generator and other systems will send us off in the Spring ready for another six months of cruising before laying the boat up again for the winter in Brewerton, NY. As we sit at AYB on the outside dock we see every hour, when the Great Bridge Bridge opens, boats of all sizes headed south down the Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal to warmer waters.

Headed to the Bahamas?

Lots of commercial traffic on the canal.

October 13, 2014 Atlantic Yacht Basin

This morning we headed south through Norfolk, the Virginia Cut and Great Bridge Lock into the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal. Atlantic Yacht Basin (AYB) is about a mile from the lock on the canal. We'll leave the boat at AYB for the winter at the end of October and Lois, Adi cat and I will drive home to Memphis.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard. 

Great Bridge Lock. 

October 10-12, 2014 Hampton

We arrived at Hampton on Friday at Bluewater Yacht Center about 1:30, pumped the holding tank and got into a nice slip looking out at the harbor. Friends John and Diane drove down from Williamsburg to visit and have dinner with us that evening. The next day we rented a car and took Lois to an urgent care to have her checked out. She has had a cold and cough for a couple of weeks that settled in her chest. The doctor examined her and gave her some meds and she is now much better. We got done at the urgent care at lunch time so I looked at Urbanspoon to see what restaurants were in the area and of course Urbanspoon hit another home run with Los Paisas Mexican Restaurant in Newport News. It was the best! We did some shopping after lunch and went back to the boat. We took the car back to Enterprise Sunday morning and had planned to head to Waterside Marina in downtown Norfolk in the afternoon but the day was cool and the wind was blowing 15-20 so we stayed another night.

View out our window. 

October 9, 2014 Another calm day.

Got up this morning at 5:30 and checked the weather. Another day with winds 5-10 and waves 1-2. This looks like the last good travel day for about a week or more. The destination today is Hampton, VA. Once we get to Hampton, the rest of the trip, 27 miles, to Atlantic Yacht Basin is in Norfolk harbor and other protected waters and the weather isn't as important. We started to pull out of Deltaville at 7:00 during nautical dawn when I heard engines running. I turned and looked over my shoulder to see a steady stream of fishing boats starting to pass us. It took about 30 minutes for all of them to pass coming out of every corner of the little harbor. Once out of the harbor they scattered along the oyster beds about a mile out. We left and Lois counted 82 boats moving in all directions bringing up oysters from the shallow bottom. We quickly passed them and headed out into Chesapeake Bay for the 50 mile trip to Hampton. Our only excitement was the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt passing about 3 miles in front of us on its way into Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  It's a 1092 foot ship.

The parade of oyster boats from Deltaville. 

Oyster boats everywhere. 

Up comes the sun. 

Travel wears Lois and Adi cat out. 

October 8, 2014 Headed to Deltaville.

The weather finally let up and we were able to leave Coles Point and head down the Potomac. We were underway just prior to sunrise at 7:00 AM. We traveled 30 miles down River to Smith Point and again into Chesapeake Bay. Smith Point is notorious for rough water and even on a day with low wind and waves we had an hour or better with 3 to 4 foot waves. Once around the Point the water calmed for the last 28 miles south to Deltaville. We had been to Deltaville early in the summer. We borrowed a car from the marina and drove to the market, purchased two NY steaks to cook on the boat and celebrate leaving Coles Point.

Sunrise on the Potomac. 

October 8, 2014 Still at Coles Point

We are still here at Coles Point, getting low on water, toilet paper, etc., and wondering if this will be another Carabelle (you may recall our 7weeks in Carabelle, Fl. last December and January, waiting for a weather window to cross the gulf), but here we are minus the restaurants, stores, and everything we enjoyed in Carabelle.  There is nothing here but an annoyingly shut-down bar and restaurant, an old condemned log cabin, and a few boats with nobody on them.  On the other hand, the view out our back window this morning was of the lunar eclipse and just last week when we were in DC it was the Washington Memorial... We are grateful to have a changing and always new and interesting view out our window. We have many blessings to count! The weather is supposed to improve tomorrow so hopefully we will be on our way to Deltaville, VA. The Adi Cat is curled up in one of her special spots, which reminds us to be peaceful and patient.

October 6, 2014 Update

Thursday, October 2nd we left Washington DC. We had a great time visiting with friends and seeing the sites. Headed to Belmont Bay Marina the morning of October 2nd down the Potomac then up the Occoquan River. We had a pleasant trip 29 miles. Stayed here until Sunday because of wind and rain. We rented a car to do some shopping; I also did some boat maintenance. Sunday was cold, clear and sunny with light wind. It was 39 degrees when we got up at 5:30. We were off at 7:15 just after sunrise for a 70 mile trip to Coles Point. We arrived at Coles Point at 3:15. We made good time as the tide was going out for most of our trip which gave us an extra 1 to 1 1/2 mph. Got up this morning, October 6th, to light winds at Coles Point but down at the mouth of the Potomac at Point Lookout it was blowing 16 mph and would be a rough ride to our next stop. It looks like weather will not improve until Thursday so we'll stay at Coles Point for a few days. We may be able to leave on Wednesday if things improve.

Sunrise at Belmont Bay October 5th. 

Sunrise at Coles Point October 6th. 

September 30, 2014

Today we were off to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. I had been waiting to go to this museum to see the dinosaur exhibit. Well, as luck would have it the dinosaur exhibit is closed UNTIL 2019. 2019, what are they trying to do, bring them back to life. Well we enjoyed the museum without dinosaurs. The Hope diamond on display was beautiful.

September 29, 2014 Air and Space Museum

This morning we headed to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. I was equipped with my CVS cane, the pain from my herniated disc is much better but I'm still not 100%. We were ready for a day of airplanes, rockets and space craft. It is amazing to see the progress man has made in the 111 years since the Wright Flyer made first flight in 1903.

September 28, 2014 The National Cathedral

Today we took a cab to the National Cathedral for a tour, a presentation by the choir and an organ recital on the great pipe organ by the resident organist Jeremy Filsell. The cathedral was built in 1907 and has been under construction on and off for expansion and renovation for most of the years since then. It is currently undergoing repairs from earthquake damage a couple of years ago. The architecture, stained class windows and grounds are a must see in DC.

September 22, 2014 My Issues

From Lois here is her version of my recent issues. As of today I'm doing much much better! We are in DC and hope to do some sightseeing later this week.

"Hi. Mike has had several challenges:  first gout, then a herniated disk which was the most painful thing he has ever had. Then one day at Zahnisers he was going to go down in the engine room but because the disk problem weakened his leg, he fell into the engine room. Back to the ER we went (time #3), where x-rays showed a possible break in his upper arm. So they put a temporary cast and sling on and referred him to an orthopedic dr. This dr didn't seem to think the arm was broken, so off came the cast. But he was nonetheless bruised badly and looked like he had been through a war. They asked at the ER if anyone had been abusing him. Bruises are now fading, pain is much better, leg strength slowly improving, and he's hoping none of this will ever happen again."

This prime rib helped to ease the pain!

September 20, 2014

We're alive and well and a catch up is coming soon. We are now in Washington DC and will be here a couple of weeks. I thought I should send something as we have gotten calls, text messages and emails from folks wondering what has happened to us. You'll find the catch up interesting.

I've had issues.

Our view in DC.

August 27, 2014 Walking around Annapolis

Got up this morning and walked down the street to Chick and Ruth's Delly for breakfast. It's apparently a landmark here in Annapolis. After breakfast we cruised around town and then headed back to the boat. Did some chores, took a short nap with Adi and headed out again this time boarding the free bus for a loop around town. Stopped in at the Naval Academy visitor center to get info about a tour that we will take tomorrow and then headed to the Maryland Capitol for a look around. Dinner out at a nearby pub and then back to the boat to listen to the live music across the water from us.

August 26, 2014. Baltimore to Annapolis

Today we said goodbye to Anchorage Marina and the City of Baltimore. We're headed to Annapolis for a few days on the wall at the Annapolis City Dock. We really enjoyed Baltimore!

Last night in Baltimore.

Away we go. 

 Cargo ship headed to Baltimore.

 Naval Academy entering Annapolis Harbor.

Annapolis City Dock. 

Capitol. 

 Walking around town.

Adi cat is worn out.

August 23, 2014 Catch up.

Well we are still in Baltimore. A bunch of stuff has happened since we last blogged. I flew out to California and drove up to Tehachapi to visit my mom for a week. We had a great visit and I got lots of maintenance and repairs done around her house. Meanwhile, Lois and Adi stayed on the boat at Anchorage Marina in Baltimore. Lois walked the city shopping in the little stores, visiting art galleries, the National Aquarium and restaurants. I returned to the boat on August 14th and we intended to leave the following Monday for Annapolis. HOWEVER, on Saturday my left foot started to hurt and by evening it had swollen to about three times its normal size and I could hardly put weight on it. It got worse on Sunday and Monday morning I was off to the Johns Hopkins Urgent Care. The doctor thought it was an arthritis flare up and gave me some pain pills to help until it got better. On Wednesday afternoon, after three days of agony, I couldn't put any weight on my foot, so it was back to the doctor where it was determined that I had gout. I've had small run-ins with it before but nothing like this episode. Well two new prescriptions and about three hours after taking them I was finally feeling better. My foot is now almost back to normal without pain. I don't want this again so I'm watching my diet a little better. Tomorrow, Sunday, August 24th will be a work on the boat day and Monday we'll head to Annapolis for the week. All three of us are ready to travel again!

Los Angeles traffic.... Yuk! 

Row houses in Baltimore - Could be fun.

Jellyfish at the aquarium.

 At the Urgent Care.

I'm still able to shop at Costco.

Adi cat taking it easy.

August 2, 2014 Fort Mchenry and the Baltimore Art District.

This was a very interesting day. We toured Fort McHenry, which is located in the southern portion of Baltimore on the Patapsco River. In 1814 the British Navy attacked the fort in an attempt to capture Baltimore. The 25 hour bombardment ended with American victory and when Francis Scott Key saw the American flag still flying above the fort he began to compose "The Star-Spangled Banner", which did not become the official national anthem until 1931.The fort tour includes a variety of interesting demonstrations like men dressed as soldiers marching with their rifles and a firing of one of the cannons. We then drove to the Mount Vernon-Belvedere  neighborhood of northern Baltimore. We took a peek in the Peabody Library in the Johns Hopkins University conservatory of music.  Across the street was an enormous ornate church, so big we could not get it all in one picture.