Ramblings

I’ve been having a difficult time deciding what to blog about today. It figures, because I actually remembered it’s blog day and I have time. So I’ve decided to just ramble, a sort of stream of consciousness. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and settle in.

I miss having an exercise routine and I continue to struggle to develop one onboard. We’ve gone ashore exactly once since we left DC last Saturday morning, and that was to hunt for more shark teeth at Shark Tooth Island on Tuesday. I can’t really call that exercise. Other than that, we’ve been either in transit or hanging in the hammocks at anchor in the afternoon and evening. Some mornings I’m able to get in a little yoga before the sun is full on the bow, the only space aboard where I can do yoga. We can’t really swim, especially now that we’re in jellyfish territory. I expect that once we’re in the Caribbean I will have an easier time getting exercise. I won’t mind slathering on sunblock and doing yoga in the sun and trade winds because I’ll be able to swim to rinse off afterward. Plus we will likely dive or snorkel most days, and there will be walks ashore. I’m following other cruisers, some of whom share how they stay in shape while cruising. For now I’ve resigned myself to walking and doing yoga when I can. 

I’ve got driving the dinghy down pretty good, so I no longer have to rely on Dave to get me ashore and back. That gives me a new level of freedom to do what I want on my own schedule. I’m becoming more comfortable handling Indigo Lady. I now frequently drive us out of and into anchorages which for this trip tend to be bays or harbors off of rivers. I still need to work on docking, an experience difficult to come by because we so rarely pull up to a dock, and I’m not yet comfortable doing it in anything but ideal conditions. I’m getting better at anchoring but am still adjusting to our new Rocna, which joined us in DC. It tends to set quickly if there’s any current or wind pushing us back, so I have to be sure I let the chain out at a good pace, which I find a bit tricky while watching for the first (50’) distance mark on the chain. It’s difficult to spot when the chain is moving quickly. I also need to work on choosing a location within an anchorage area and driving the boat while Dave handles the anchor. I have abysmal distance perception on land and it’s even worse on the water, so I’m not sure choosing a place to drop the hook will ever be my strong suit because I can never tell if we’re too close or too far away from land and other objects. With more practice I will learn to read the water and wind so I can properly handle the boat while Dave tends to dropping the anchor. Perhaps I should practice at this afternoon’s anchorage. 😉

We had a lovely chat with Brian yesterday morning before we left Smith Point. He paddled out in his kayak to chat with us and give us a visitor’s guide magazine about this section of The Chesapeake. He also took a picture of Lady at anchor and sent it to us, which I used in this post. (Thanks, Brian!) It’s meeting and talking with local people like Brian that are one of my favorite things about traveling. Each conversation reveals something about the community and its people. Locals have shared with us the history of their towns, suggested things for us to see and do, inquired about our unusual boat, or simply passed a few minutes in simple conversation with us about everyday things. We’ve been offered rides, invited to cookouts and provided WiFi access. On one of the first really bad heat advisory days, the director of the outdoor museum we were touring drove us to and from its remote parts so we could see everything without worrying about heatstroke! At the marine supply store in DC where we ordered a part that was supposed to arrive next day but didn’t, the employee who placed the order for us made sure it was forwarded to our next land stop and convinced the shipper (who was responsible for the delay) to pay for the expedited overnight shipping. These may be tense times in our country, but kindness still abounds and this trip reminds me of that repeatedly. 

On the flip side, these pleasant interactions are all too brief and we have to keep moving on; there’s no time to forge friendships. I find myself missing my family and friends a little more each day. Thank goodness for social media and cell phones, because they provide a link to the folks back home. If it weren’t for these means of communication, I’m not sure I would have decided to give this lifestyle a try. Still, it doesn’t replace visiting with someone in person, which I am starting to sorely miss.

Thursday marked the end of our 15th week on the water. We have 2-3 weeks left before returning home for a bit. I’m ready for a good chunk of home time.

Author: Indigo Lady

I am a retired educator married to a retired chemist/engineer/educator. We will be living aboard our solar electric catamaran for as long as possible. View all posts by Indigo Lady