Day Four - Wednesday, 21 November

Today, the weather was fine...temperature in the 70s...and even with the wind still on our nose, we had an outgoing tide to lift us as we crossed the Potomac...looking at 8+ knots over the ground! We spent a relaxing 8 hours in the cockpit...listening to CDs, satellite radio and conversation.

Racing by Smith Point Light at 8+ knots!

Last night we were on the computer and fellow cruisers, David and Hallie Groves who were at Oriental, NC called us on our new Skype service and we were able to see and talk to them on their boat and they were able to see us and talk to us via VOIP...amazing technology and not expensive to use. David and Hallie use it to keep in touch with their grandchildren and we plan to do the same with ours once everyone gets outfitted with the software and web cameras.

We raised the anchor at 0800 and got underway in the early morning sunshine. Anchorages are always interesting in the early morning...watermen on their way to earn their living...cruisers on their way to who knows where...recreational boaters on their way out to fish or just have fun...most have a friendly wave to other boaters. Not like commuting in the city where the greetings between drivers take on a different symbology and meaning. Actually, one of the endearing things we enjoy about living in the mid-West now is that many people still do wave to each other when they meet on the roads. If they don't and you do, they will usually return a wave. Not so where we use to live.

Once in a while a day in a boat goes so well, it leaves little doubt why we enjoy boating. Today was like that and we ended up in a neat little anchorage south of Deltaville in Fishing Bay on the Piankatank River. We got there just as the sun was setting and anchored in what would be a crowded anchorage in the summer. Today there was just us and one other boat.

During dinner, we observed that we are on a more routine schedule on the boat than what we do at home. Up early...eat a light breakfast...get moving with the plan of the day...eat a light lunch in the cockpit with Chesapeake Bay as our scenery...stop early and relax for an hour or two...eat a healthy dinner...relax and talk a bit after dinner...then early to bed.

Sarah's Rule - Always take a nap on the boat...as long as the helmperson is awake!

Tomorrow we should tie up at the Hampton Yacht and Country Club to meet friends who have invited us for Thanksgiving Dinner. If we keep on schedule, Friday we should leave Chesapeake Bay and be in the InterCoastal Waterway.

We hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving. We'll be thinking of each of you.