Provisioning in Annapolis

October 31, 2006
Halloween

Trick or treaters were not to be found on Back Creek, so we gave our charitable donations to Fawcett's Boat Supply in exchange for some shackles, line, hose & a couple books. We spent the afternoon tidying up the boat, had leftover pumpkin soup for dinner and then we took the dinghy ashore to meet Jeanne Malley for a couple drinks at Davis's. We were entertained by some co-workers of Richard Simmons who were demonstrating the beneficial health effects of leg lifts and butt presses on the bar floor. Happy Halloween!

We were in bed by 11PM to get a good night's sleep before leaving first thing on Wednesday morning.

Under the Bay Bridge

October 30, 2006



We left Dividing Creek at around 2pm, and headed out the Magothy River on a fast close-hauled beat. Once out on the Bay, though, the winds died down and we had to put the iron genny "Boris"-our 13.5hp Beta Marine diesel engine-into gear.

Notes from the Log of Whisper:

14.30 Sailing at 5 knots, 70 degrees, sunny

15.30 Saw ship "Elektra" with homeport Stockholm pass us by to port. We waved the Swedish flag to greet them.

16.15 Passed under Bay Bridge

17.15 Howard and Mia waved to us from entrance to Back Creek in Annapolis.

17.30 Anchor down. Kristen picked up Howard and Mia for a quick tour of the boat, and then we headed to Davis's Pub for crabcakes and drinks.








Heading south!



We saw these US Navy sailboats racing in Annapolis, where the US Naval Academy is located


Howard and Mia joined us on Whisper


Slight storage problem, remeniscent of both co-captains respective teenage bedrooms

hej da! Bon Voyage! Hasta la vista! cul8r!

October 28 to October 30, 2006






















The weekend before Halloween, friends descended upon 739 Dividing Road in Severna Park, MD to send us off with well wishes. The house was the perfect spot, with a great screened in deck, fireplace, huge dining room table, hot tub & most important: ping-pong & foosball. Although there was a gale warning on the bay for the weekend, Hans took a crew out on Whisper on Saturday early afternoon and Fred, who has a much larger boat, took a handful of foolhardy sailors out later on when the winds were blowing 40+ knots. We had a tasty dinner, lots of good wine & beer, guitar playing & singing, ping-pong tournaments, and general good cheer.
On Sunday morning as we were all recovering, we gathered on the dock for a champagne toast. Friends started going their respective ways and a couple more friends joined us on Sunday evening for another big meal and ICW talk. We started packing up to leave on Monday morning, and we pushed off from the dock around 2PM.

And we're off!

October 27, 2006




Kristen, Allaire, Seth & kitkat cast off the dock lines from White Rocks Marina in Pasadena, MD (Whisper's home port for the last year) and headed south down the Bay to Dividing Creek off the Magothy River in Severna Park, MD for the weekend bon voyage party. Hans drove the ailing truck and met us at the house.
The sail was about 4 hours, with some motoring as the wind was on the nose at times and slowing down at others. Casey & Dan met the crew on the dock and we got Whisper tied up securely for the weekend.
The trip is underway!