Today said good bye to Virginia and hello to Maryland.  We only went 44 nm and grabbed a mooring ball in Solomon's Maryland.  This is a huge boating community - with lots of marinas and boating businesses near by. 

Sunday we said good bye to Curt and Cindy and headed north to an anchorage on the Great Wicomico River.  The weather started out cloudy but it soon gave way to beautiful sunshine and pretty flat water.  We are working our way to the north end of Chesapeake Bay as we have already cruised the south end last year.  We covered about 50 nm.

The sun and our Looper flag were out as we head up Chesapeake Bay listening to Jimmy Buffett.  We are still sailors at heart!

This guy who lives in the area rowed up to our stern while we were eating dinner to ask where we were from.  He then proceeded to row all the way across this huge bay!

We left Norfolk at 11:11 and traveled 41 nautical miles north (1 nm = 1.15 statute miles) arriving at our anchorage in Mobjack Bay at 4:30.  We didn't have to drop the anchor - we rafted up to our friends Curt and Cindy on their boat Classic Cyn - a 48 foot Hatteras.  They will leave in November heading to the BVIs.   Our first day was COLD and it rained.  We didn't get wet as we are sheltered in the fly-bridge from wind and rain.  But since the back of the fly-bridge is open we got a little chilly.  No problem - we just went below and steered from the lower helm.  The visibility isn't as good, but in open water it's not a problem.  Here is a picture of our anchorage - it is overcast and you can see rain drops on the handrail.  At one time John Lennon and Yoko Ono owned a house on this bay.   We plan to travel 52nm tomorrow.

We leave in the morning! We didn't get finished with all of the boat projects we wanted to complete, but everything crucial is finished.  One of the biggest chores was provisioning.  After today we will not have a car so any shopping will be by foot or by bike.  I made four trips to the grocery store.  We tried to stock four months supply of most small non perishable items.  We have 13 gallons of oil (enough for two oil changes) and lots of spare hoses, pumps and misc other boat parts!  

We will anchor out the first night - it will be a good test of our new anchor, our newly rebuilt windless (winch to raise the anchor) and our new dinghy winch & cable.
I will post our track tomorrow.

Saturday, April 28th!  Weather and completed boat maintenance permitting - we hope to leave the slip and head north.  First stop - Mobjack Bay.  It's only about a 5 hour trip.  We plan to anchor out with friends Curt and Cindy whom we met at York River Yacht Haven.  We were moored at YRYH for 8 months while Jim was working in Williamsburg.   We still have lots to do, but nothing critical that HAS to be done before we leave.   Keep your fingers crossed that we can keep this TARGET date!

Getting on and off of RICKSHAW when she is on the hard (dry docked) is a lot harder than when she is in a slip.  All the work that needs to be done out of the water will be finished today and we will splash her this afternoon!  Thanks to Andrea, Jim's daughter, for letting us stay with her these past 4 nights.

RICKSHAW is getting hauled out to have her bottom cleaned and inspected.

After cleaning she seems to be in great shape.  Only the running gear (props and rudder) need some fresh paint.

Lots to do yet.  We will haul out RICKSHAW April 16th and get her bottom painted.   Watch for pictures.  That should take 3 - 4 days.   Hope there are no surprises.