From Solomons to Pasadena, MD

Getting ready to haul out the boat at Pleasure Cove Marina, in Pasadena, MD.  So we took the boat up the Chesapeake Bay.  It took about 10.5 hours.

 Last minute preparation for a night time departure: replacing the navigation light.

Morning navigation: feels good to feel the sun rays.

 

 Winterizing a boat starts with changing the oil of the 2 diesel engines, 2 gear boxes and the generator.

Prep for the Hurricane / TS Sandy

Sandy is nicknamed Frankenstorm because it is an unusual combination of hurricane and winter storm - supposedly.   Well since we got gently "kicked out" of our floating dock deemed unsafe to sustain tropical storm force winds, we had to haul out in a hurry... space on the hard is rare and coveted.  Anchoring out and riding the storm at sea was not an option since we have not replaced yet our heavily rusted chain and anchor.  So Avi managed to bring the boat by himself with one engine to the marina where we are now for the next few days in Solomons.

It did not prevent us to keep at it and work on our to-do list; Steve is a BIG help; here he is down below...working on that port bilge... we are learning a lot; it's very satisfying.

The passage: an overview in images...

By good weather...

By bad weather...

VIDEOS:

A Message from Avi: No Disney Cruise

"Hello Arno/Sara/Lisa/Alex:

Am copying everyone on this [message]. Thanks to everyone for the great adventure and a successful passage. Strange – I expected Cape Hatteras to be the worst of the trip and after that – piece of cake. Well – it turned out that pre-Hatteras was the piece of cake and post-Hateras was "adventurous", to say the least. In any case, I had a blast. Hope Sara and Arno did too. I apologize once again for the diesel-smelling quarters but then again I never promised this to be a disney cruise [...] Once again – thanks everyone. I had a blast. - Avi."

At last

Agave made it to Calvert marina in Solomons last night at 9:45pm; the welcoming committee, composed of us 3 and Lisa & Andy (who have been a tremendous help all along this process), were there to help them find their way in the dark and tie up to the floating dock.  They were cold, wet, and happy...   We then went over to Lisa & Andy's house to feed the hungry crew, after a nice hot shower, and have some wine to relax and celebrate.


This morning Avi is taking Capt. Arno to the airport, Sara is heading out to work, and I am going over the boat, figuring out all the things that need fixing and cleaning... There is a long list of to dos that is going to keep us busy the next month.  The boat though looks really good and did very well considering all the head on winds and pounding they had the last 2 days of the passage.  Agave is solid.  Its first adventure is over.  

Departed Norfolk, VA at 07:15 today.  25 kts winds on the nose.  Motoring only for a very uncomfortable and rough ride up the Bay.  Stark difference with the good and fun ride up the East Coast last week!

The weather is not cooperating, therefore the departure from Norfolk is postponed to tomorrow morning at day break.  ETA in Solomons: Tuesday evening/night.  Until further notice...