Going South once again - Fall 2009

We're sailing south once again.  It's now the Fall of 2009.   It was sad to leave the Albany NY area, and it's close proximity to our many friends in Western New York. 
We had a easy trip down the Hudson River, past the Statue of Liberty, and over to Atlantic Highlands. 
Gar and Sandy Davidson came to spend a day with us while at the Highlands anchorage.

We waited one day for weather then went around NJ on the outside (ocean) for an overnight passage to Delaware Bay.   We had planned to anchor at Cape Henlopen; rest; and then catch the next flood tide up the Delaware (you can make nearly 10 knots SOG if you do this, and the early morning flood tide would give us the WHOLE day to make the C&D canal too).  WELL... change of plans.... (by the way... never do this...change plans when you're tired).  Anyway, the timing was such that as we crossed the bottom of Delaware Bay the flood tide of the afternoon had just begun.   SO we turned north, and continued up the Delaware.
Things were going OK, except the wind was building and coming from the north (our direction of travel).
The north wind AGAINST the north flowing flood tide made for some WILD waves (square and BIG).
We did make the Reedy Island Anchorage, but just before dark.   One wild passage around NJ.

We stopped at the Sassafras River and had a great Birthday dinner for Susan.   Our next stop was Annapolis to see our friends Deb and Scott Taber.   We also met some cruiser friends, Rob, and Bev Davidge, in the Weems Creek anchorage.  We had dinner and a day in Annapolis with Rob and Bev.
Rob and I went to the Power Boat show, while Susan and Bev went shopping.    Deb Taber picked us up the next morning for breakfast, and another day of touring the town.   We had breakfast at Chick and Ruth's diner (a classic NY style deli with huge portions, and wonderful food).  Nice!

On the way down the Chesapeake we stopped at the Solomon Islands again for two days.  We waited there for the S/V Myosotis to catch up with us (They had "worked" both boat shows at Annapolis !).   We had a great re-union cocktail hour, and dinner with the Rice's.
Our time with Jeanette, and Bill was too brief, as the next day they split off the southern track at the Potomac, while we headed for Deltaville, VA, which is where we are now (as this is posted).   Tomorrow, if the weather prediction is correct we'll catch a North wind for the sail down to Norfolk, and the beginning of the ICW.

Above is Deb Taber, and to the  right (and below) are the Davidges (Rob and Bev from the P/V R&B Haven). 

Our daughter also had a great season with her National Rugby Union team, the Albany Knickerbockers.  Not only did they fly to San Fransico to play in the National Sevens Tournement, but they won the northeast championship of their NRU club, and now fly to Houston, TX to play for the National Championship.   Way to go Knicks!

(Ruth will have a slight disadvantage to overcome (called jet lag), as the TX tournement starts, the day she gets back from a business trip to Japan).  Picture of Championship team below.