October 26. If I think of patience lessons, waiting in a safe hole for the weather to improve weighs large. Listening to the weather this morning, it became clear that we should wait another day. Especially because it takes time for the waves to subside after the heavy winds stop.
We did wait today and the winds turned out to be much stronger than forecast, so our decision seems even wiser in retrospect. Still, I’d like to get going southward. It’s cold and getting colder every day.
I claim fixing the waste disposal pipe as my major accomplishment for the day. I borrowed a wrench from Barney and removed the pipe. The seacock below the pipe was closed so no water came in. The problem was that a wooden bung blocked the pipe and I couldn’t get it out. I had to saw off the bung with a hacksaw, then drill a hole through it with a bit and hand drill, then dig out the pieces with a screwdriver. It took me an hour.
I also started writing my memoirs. Time will tell how much I stick with it.
Two more boats came to the anchorage today. One of them, a Canadian boat, had to place and re-place his anchor six times before he was satisfied. Our anchor seemed to drag at the rate of two feet per hour and we were getting too close to Barney's boat. We pulled it up and moved forward 100 feet.
Barney thought we were crazy to spend November in the Chesapeake. It’s too cold in November. We’re considering it. There is a nice weather window to jump from New York to Cape May in one day, sleep one day, then sail on to Norfolk in a third day. Norfolk should be warmer than Philadelphia.
Hi Dick and Libby,,
ReplyDeleteFinally got around to tracking you down. Have been concerned but not worried about you because I know you too well. Got an email from Don Mattice this week asking me to join him at the Clarkson 40th reunion next summer. If there is any way you could join us, that would be great. Anyway, stay safe and have fun. Keep in touch. Jerry