Received: November 03, 2007

AHOY TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!

 Magic left her home on Deep Creek October 22, 2007 for Key West via
 the Intercoastal Waterway.  The weather has not been on our side with
 the winds out of the south at 20 knots apparent. We were only able to
 make good 12 miles and ducked into Lake Ogleton for the first night.
 The winds continued to be southerly and strong so we stayed there
 waiting for the next day. Our fresh water hose blew off of the water
 pump and we had to fix that. Probably happened as a result of the wave
 action with 20 knows of wind.  We were anchored right next to Monopoly
 II. This boat was owned by friends of Janet and Randy Richter but
 they had recently sold the boat. We had a nice conversation with the
 new owner.  It's a small world.  We tried again to head south on
 Wednesday 10/24 and faced again, 20 knots true from the north.  This
 was a much better wind so we set the jib and motor sailed making 7
 knots over the bottom down to Solomon's Island, MD. As we approached
 Solomon's the rain began. We met Dave & Nancy Buettell in Mill Creek
 and rafted up for the night.  Nancy fed us a wonderful dinner and we
 spent the next day in the pouring rain with them.  We did some grocery
 shopping and were again treated to a wonderful steak dinner care of
 the Buettells.  It rained continuously for these 2 days.  The Buetells
 wanted to leave Friday so we tried to also leave but once again the
 wind was against us and we had to turn back but the Buetells were able
 to head north toward home.  We were again stranded in Solomon Island.
 It was just pouring all day and all night.  I got so disgusted with
 the weather that I said we were going to leave Saturday come hell or
 high water.  Well.....We got up at 7 AM and motored out of the channel
 with another sailboat and 2 powerboats.  A waterman saw us leave and
 call over to us that it was very rough out on the bay and we should
 stay in port but I had had it!!!  Off we went out to the bay and WAM
 the wind was gusting to 26 knots and the seas were 4 Ft.  We were
 making no progress forward with the wind again out of the south so we
 turned around along with the other boats and headed back to port. What
 a mess.  Tom decided to spend the night at Spring Cove Marina. This
 was a nice treat and I did the wash, scrubbed the main sail cover and
 we both took showers.  Fantastic!!! Civilization is a wonderful thing.

 Oh the sun finally decided to show itself. Tomorrow we have a good
 weather forecast and are off to the Great Wicomico River and Reedville,

 VA The wind should be out of the north at 15 to 20 knots. Hope for a
 good sail.  We might make Norfolk by Tuesday 10/30 if all this bad
 weather is really over.  Hope to visit with Susie and Rocky Rockwell
 in Virginia Beach.  Bye for now till we find another YFY (WiFi) connection.
 We thank everyone for their interest and good wishes.

 Signed: The Salty Ones


Next Page