October 16th, 2019
OSPREY MARINE
I just cant speak highly enough of JJ and his hard working lads at Osprey Marine
October 16th, 2019
BUBBLING VARNISH
October 16th, 2019
PLASTIC
This cracked us up - Plastic trees, its all about the environment.
October 16th, 2019
AUTUMN
We returned to a sure-fire sign that we needed to start preparing for our run to the sun - an autumnal leaf in the dinghy.
October 16th, 2019
Toronto
The waterfront walk in Toronto is lovely
October 16th, 2019
PUB
Look what we found in Toronto
October 16th, 2019
UPDATE
Confession time - its been so busy that I just didn't realize how long it has been since the last blog. This is partly due to having written and sent off about three articles and I kind of got mixed up with was and wasn't up to date. The good news is that Tracey and I are very happy if a little tired thanks to a peak panic period.
This comes from Ireland where I have dropped in to speak at a conference before flying on to Oxford where I am teaching. Prior to that we had a weekend in Toronto so that our US health insurance could reboot. It's a weird system whereby it comes in blocks of 89 days which reboot every time you leave the country.
Our week in Baltimore was a very successful for we got lots of jobs done to the boat including some work on the Bimini by Marvin who has to be the best sail maker I have come across when it comes to canvas work. I can honestly say that we now have Pearl just as we want her and am delighted with all the mods and jobs that we have done to her.
From Baltimore we sailed to Herrington Harbour North Marina which we see as our home base. They are the most professional and friendly yard that we have visited and kindly provide the address we use for any deliveries. I think they were glad to see us for the pile was really quite large.
Apart from antifouling the bottom and changing the anodes we had Osprey Marine sand all the varnish off the hull so that it could oxidize as is the case with most aluminum boats. The varnish looks great when new but in my view just sets you up for a fall as the aluminum tries to breath over time and blisters the coating. In truth, I prefer the utilitarian look of a bare hull.
Once launched we rushed up to the Annapolis Boat Show where Pearl was once again on show. Its great fun but very tiring thanks to a permanent queue from morning through to evening. We were either showing people round the boat, doing television interviews or speaking at some event. As ever we met loads of interesting people and caught up with old friends.
This picture is of a Heron that wandered about the marina in Baltimore and was most put out by the inconvenience of berth holders.
September 20th, 2019
BALTIMORE
This comes from Baltimore where we have just tied up in the marina so that Marvin can do some remedial work on our dodger. Marinas are unusual for us but its convenient as Marvins loft is located here and we have to leave the US to reboot our health insurance which comes in 89 day blocks. As such we are off to Toronto for a long weekend away which we are really looking forward too. I have been there before but it was for work so I just belted in and out. Its so nice to be sharing the travel with Tracey for being on your own is grim.
Our trip south from Newport went like clockwork with stops in Block Island, Shinnecock, Atlantic City and Cape May. The last leg from Cape May was epic with the tide carrying us 55NM up the Delaware River before turning to spit us through the canal to Chesapeake and then carry us down to Baltimore. We also had a great wind which saw us arrive into Baltimore in the early evening in darkness. Not perfect given the crab pots but we managed to miss them all.
