WELLLLL We could say we were too busy all winter to finish posting our pictures from last year. Then maybe we could say we lost them. Hmmm, but you would know better so lets just tell the truth that we procrastinated away seven months. Not a world record but close.
At any rate the pictures from Waterford NY back to the Solomons are posted at picasaweb.google.com/lropka in the album "Waterford to Solomons"
It was a fun ride down the Hudson River in the early fall high lighted by a night anchored in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and a rough little passage from there to Manasaquan NJ along the Atlantic Coast.
We are aboard CHARIS in the Solomons now (June 09) and finally catching up. More stuff from our trek from home and relaunch is in the album "Heading Out 04/08
The crew of Charis escaped the surly bonds of Ft Walton on 27 April 09 and land cruised via camper to the Solomons to find CHARIS snug and in fine shape after a winter in her shrink wrap. Thank goodness the bottom did not need sanding this year so 3 days of painting and touch up and in the water she went on 12 May.
The crew "coasted" through most of May getting settled in and putting things away in places where they will never be found. An hour voyage and overnight in St. Leonard Creek found all systems in working order.
The pace picked up as we prepared for the arrival of Joan's brother, John and sister-in-law Paula, who arrived 2 June and were greeted by two days of torrential rain. Never the less, we threw off the lines and headed for St Leonard Creek and then into Mill Creek getting in practice for a run across the bay. We were able to get a quick dinghy ride between rain drops. The sun finally came out and we were off on a delightful 3 day cruise across the bay to Oxford and St Michaels in almost ideal conditions. Nice dinghy trips, walks, sightseeing, dinners aboard and ice cream cones ashore punctuated the days and a great time was had by all. Continued cool weather afforded a last day trip to DC to cruise the mall on bikes and take in the spring grandure of our nation's capitol.
Fast on the heels of John and Paula's departure was the arrival of Vicki Thornell and Margret Henry having taken a detour from their trip from FWB to Ohio. The tide was a bit high so they were dinghyed (is there such a word) aboard. We managed to make an over night at anchor in St. Leonard Creek with a real dinghy ride up the inlets, a cool glass of tea at Vera's and upon return to the dock, a crab cake lunch at the Pier.
Sat the Japanese PBS crew arrived to interview Larry about a Tibetian caper some 50 years ago, which sent the girls on an exciting tour of all Joan's hangouts .... laundramat, grocery store, park, Navy rec center, etc.
Sunday, as we waved the girls good-bye as we waved hello to Gail and Butch Nelson who came over for lunch at Woodburns. Another brief dinghy ride and of course, the traditional ice cream cone on the boardwalk.
A call earlier from George Jolly saying he was coming too, so Tues evening Larry picked him up at the Holiday Inn dock. We had a delightful evening catching up on all happenings back in FWB.
Would you believe that in 2 years of cruising we have had two folks aboard for the night .... what happened? Loved every moment.
After more than 5000 miles and 650 hours under way the past two summers, we are slowing down and hope to simply explore some of the many cruising destinations the Chesapeake Bay has to offer. Included will be 10 days or so in Washington some time in Aug. Pictures and tales will be considerably less dramatic than the last years but still showing this life we so enjoy.
We are up to date as of this moment. Pictures can be found at picasaweb.google.com/lropka
In the Year 2000 Joan and Larry began a two year project to build a cruising trawler to complete their cruising dreams begun in the 1980"s. Six years later "Charis was completed and the cruising has begun. This blog is provided so that we may share our dreams and experiences with family and friends as we continue this long planned adventure. Last year we cruised from FWB to the Chesapeake Bay and this year we are enroute to in Canada. We are having the time of our lives enjoying God's creation.
Charis is 42' built in 1974 as a working lobster boat designed by Royal Lowell and built by Bruno-Stillman. After an unknown career we found her totally gutted in Panama City Fl in Nov 2000 and fell in love with her classic lines. What was planned to be a 2 year project to construct a modest pilothouse design got out of hand and six years later after 18000+ man hours she floats again as a quite tidy little coastal cruiser with ample creature features and a delightful interior crafted from 300 board feet of teak-hand sanded four times by Joan. Along the way she soaked up some 300 gallons of fiberglass resin, hundreds of yards of fiberglass cloth, several truckloads of plywood and 12000 stainless steel screws. She handles like a dream and is well found to begin fulfilling phase II of our cruising dreams.
WELLLLL
