We were ready to head south today, but yesterday we ran into a little problem.  The impeller of the generator died.  This is part of the pump that pulls water into the generator for the cooling system.  The safety shutoff switch worked great, so no damage of overheating happened to the generator, but it meant more delays.  It was Sunday, so nothing was open to find spare parts.  We have since ordered two, that will arrive in Deltalville, our next stop south.  A few days without the Generator ...
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We have been in Reedville for almost 2 weeks, are very anxious to get going.  We have seen some family and friends and relaxed, but really need to get going.  The leaves are starting to change, it is getting cold at night, and Halloween is around the corner.  Tara went to Toronto and accepted her award, then flew to Boston to attend her conference.  Lots of good work and got caught up with people.

Here are some things we have done:

History lesson : Jamestown.

We drove to Jamestown, the oldest se...
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October 15th
We left Solomons island after a very peaceful night and a great sleep.  Everybody slept in.  It was so calm, there was no rocking at all.  No boat wakes, jet skies, early morning crab boats, no high winds, no waves.  It was really great. 
Sahara went half way up the mast for a quick fix.  A jack line came undone and she had to go up and tie a knot to fix it.  the jack lines are the lines that make a basket for the sail, so when lowering the sail, it keeps it from going all over the...
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Finally the rain and wind form the North Easter blew out to sea and we had great sailing weather.  We had a north to north east wind, 10-15 knots most of the day.  Seas 1-3 feet.  We motored out of the West river, about 4 miles and put up the sails.  It was a great feeling.  We put up all three sails for the first time.  Jib up front, main, and the back sail called the mizzen.   The little mizzen is the same size as the sail on our old 28 foot sailboat!  The boat was challenging to control at...
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For the last three days, we have had a LOT of rain in Gailville MD.  Over 5 inches of rain.  There has been strong  15 knot wind out of the North/ North East, with gusts from 20-30.  Something land lubbers don't realize, is that the gusts of wind are never in the same direction as the wind.  Strange as it is, it becomes supper apparent when in a sailboat.  For example, when at anchor, you boat points into the wind.  You feel the boat roll 5 degrees on its side as the gust hits from off centre...
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We have spent the last 3 days at the Whitby 42 Rendezvous.  It has been an amazing time, learning a lot about whitby 42's.  The best part is the people.  All the people we met are great people.  Many are going to the Bahamas this winter as well and it is nice to have people to look forward to meeting.  Some also live along the cost and we will be stopping to visit.  so exciting to see what others have done to their boats as well.  
    Although the weather has not been great, rainy with high N...
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We are currently docked at the West River Sailing Club for the Whitby 42 Rendezvous.  There are currently 8 other Whitby 42's or Brewers (same basic boat, different year and different builder).  I think most have people living aboard them.  It will be fun to meet these people and get to know some storied about what they have done to their boats.

From here it will be to the Annapolise Boat show, one of the biggest in the world.  Then we are going to meet up with friends who live on the Eastern ...
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Oct 4
We went and anchored away from a city.  Although the city had some fun things to offer, we didn't like the jack hammers at 8:00 sharp, the police sirens at night, the helicopters over head, and the pollution.  The storm drains all run directly into the harbor.  There are designated boats going around picking up the trash all day.  And there is a nice film of oil on the water as well.  When driving up to the city you could see the haze in the air form the pollution.  

The Eastern Neck Isla...
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Oct 2nd and 3rd.

We spend 2 days seeing Baltimore.  First day we went to the Science center that is right on the Harbor water front. 
  

That night we went over to another boat for Burgers.  Through a mutual Canadian friend, we met the Morris family who is also traveling for the year down to the Bahamas with their children, ages 12, 13, and 18.  They are traveling on a motor trawler (but we still like them).  Sahara and Devon helped them catch some crabs in Baltimore harbor that night, came back...
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Motored up the harbor, passed Fort Henry and the Francis Scott Key Buoy.  The buoy marks the location where he apparently was held in a ship as he watch the attack and had the inspiration for the poem that became the national anthem.

We made it to the dock! (Always nervous driving this boat in close quarters and docking, still new at this)



We are at a marina within a few hundred yards of a few cool ships to see.  We took two tours today.
The tall ship was the USS Constellation.  
  
The cannon onl...
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We traveled up to Baltimore, well almost there.  We anchored a short distance away so we could arrive in the morning.

Somebody saw our Canadian flag and came out to meet us and Willy was a super nice guy.  Offered us a slip up in Baltimore and a ride in town, etc...  

Passed under a big bridge on the way.

Most importantly, WE CAUGHT FISH!!!!!  1 blue fish and one Striped bass.  Both 12 inches long.  Threw back the striped bass.  Ate the Blue.  
Forgot to take a picture of it in all the excitement...
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October 28th and 29th
We stayed for two nights at the town of St. Michaels.  Claim they fooled the British in the war of 1812.  Very busy place on a saturday.  We ate at the Crusty Crab (Crabby Claw really) and had oysters!  Raw and steamed.  After going to the museum and seeing all the info about oysters, we had to try some.  

Had some great ice cream!!!  Always a high light.

Neat museum, and the town is the birth place, and child hood home of Frederick Douglass.

The anchorage was busy Saturday ...
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