Voyage 2021: Chapter 1

13 Mar 2021, Viaje de los Viejos, 38 46.308 N/ 076 33.762 W

"Viaje de los Viejos" or Voyage of the Old Ones aptly describes us and our last big trip (Plan A). Covid in Canada, continuing medical issues with the Admiral, and general oldness suggests a Plan B. A Plan C may be required if the Admiral has contracted Shingles (yes, she had the latest vaccine). So our 6 month Viaje will be a 2.5 month Plan C where we will explore the Chesapeake until Ann has to to see her team of physicians to fix things that need to be fixed. We will splash the boat soon, and head for our Chesapeake destinations as soon as weather permits.

31 Mar 2021, Preparing for Splash Date, 38 46.308 N/ 076 33.762 W

We arrived at Shipwright on 17 March to prepare Jule for her 31 March splash date. Implementation of Plan C lightens our provisioning and preparation loads. Removing the cover was our first challenge, certainly less of a challenge than putting it on. The yard will paint the bottom, but a little electrical works will be left to us. Of course, the head sail will have to be raised and furled right after the splash, the dinghy will be re-inflated, winter and spring clothes will loaded on the boat. As it turns out, most of the systems are working.

Chris and family came for a visit to wish his Mom a happy birthday. The whole gang sans Collin (he was TDY in New York) were there to wish a happy 70th. The Admiral was tickled for the wishes and the grub. Later in the week we got some breakfast at the Coffee Table Cafe, a mobile take out eatery. Mattie Kay was getting used to life on the hard. She did complain a bit about her litter box and demonstrated her displeasure.

Walks are an essential part in our cruising life. Ann is handicapped on walking these days but she tries until the pain becomes too much. Walking the yard and the docks is both pleasurable and sobering. Many of the boats are Bristol and well used, others are not used as owners originally planned, and a few are ignored or abandoned. The boat depicted on the right came to the yard nearly 20 years ago. She appeared to be well cared for except for some peeling paint. She went up for sale but never sold. She was a ferro-cement boat but that could not save her from abandonment. Soon she will be chopped up and discarded.