Took A Mooring in Back Creek, Annapolis; Tomorrow: Chesapeake City, Del.

Wed., May 12:  It was overcast when we left around 6 a.m. with Bum's Rest this morning. We were heading to Annapolis. They were heading to Rock Hall.

I made breakfast while we were underway, but it got rough quickly. Aside from the crossing to/from the Bahamas, the passages from Virginia to home port are the roughest, I think. I don't want this trip to end, but if it has to, I just want to get on with it. I don't like being on the water when it's cold...thermal underwear and pea coats and all.

We've been fortunate, as far as weather is concerned. We've had very little rain this trip. Although we were "tucking in" out of the wind alot, especially in the Bahamas, at least we weren't wet!

The morning started out with windswept white caps. The tide was going out in the Chesapeake, while winds were at a right angle to the waves. Occasionally, we got splashed with a wave hitting the port side. Winds were 22-23 knots from the Southeast, gusting to 27, so we were heeling over quite a bit. When the wind increased, our speed was cut down. Seas were 2-3 ft. and choppy.

Chuck forgot to put his clip on his hat and lost his new Beaufort, NC, hat.

By 8:30 a.m., the sun was out and the seas calmed down. By late morning, the wind changed direction and was coming from the Northeast at only 8 knots. Now we were looking for wind. It went from one extreme to the other and we had 18 miles to go.

It was getting hazy. I went downstairs while it was calm and took and shower and washed my hair. It was getting warmer, so I put on cropped jeans and a l/s shirt. That didn't last long! It got cooler again and I dug out a sweatshirt.

We went past the Thomas Point Shoal bell, a lighthouse.

At 2 p.m., we stopped to top off the fuel at Annapolis Landing Marina. Then we took a mooring ball in Back Creek. It's right off Severn House where our friend, Ron Pence, lives. We're going out to dinner with him tonight.

This is where Ron lives. His boat is also a 323 and is at the far right.

We put the motor on the dinghy and took Jazzy to shore for a nice, long walk.

This is the pet-friendly apartment complex where I walk Jazzy when we're in Annapolis.

Tomorrow we hope to meet with our friends, Betty and Fred Luderitz, in Chesapeake City. They live in Newark, Del. We missed Fred's 80th birthday party while we were away.