Winter Onboard in Annapolis

—Blogpost written by Bob 

Friday, November  27

The sky was overcast and the town was quiet on the day after Thanksgiving.  There were a few people walking along the dock.  Several stopped and gawked at Lola--she attracts a lot of attention.

Downtown Annapolis: our home for the winter.

Looking out at the harbor entrance 
from the city dock.

We had no agenda today, even though it is Black Friday. (I am playing some music on our satellite radio, at present on Channel 14, Coffee House.)  The pandemic has kept us boat-bound where, otherwise, we would be strolling around this beautiful historic town.

S/V Corsair's bow aimed toward Pusser's just
across Ego Alley.  Corsair is an old
Morgan 38 owned by the
Harbor Master.

In the afternoon, we drove to Homestead Gardens and purchased a nice Christmas wreath to place in our back boat window. When we got back to the boat we had a rather unceremonious hanging of the wreath. It looks great!  (The outside temperature reached 68 degrees in the afternoon.)

Maggie in the checkout line at
Homestead Gardens.

Saturday, November 28

I have two simple goals for the day: (1) find and repair a fresh water leak around the water heater, and (2) listen to Penn State beat Michigan in college football.

Before getting our day started we strolled down to Starbuck's for a breakfast sandwich and coffee.  We sat outside in from of Goodies General Store and ate our breakfast.  I was thinking of ways I could capture the moment, with the warm sun and light breeze.

This image doesn't completely capture the
moment but it brings back our memory.

This dock is full of people when
the weather is nice. (This
image was taken early
in the morning.)

After retiring to the boat, I removed the companionway steps and the panel enclosing the water heater in my search for the minor fresh water leak.  I found some moisture on the fresh water hose that feeds the water heater and some slight moisture on the clamped hose connection including telltale corrosion on the brass fitting. Tightening the hose connection was in order.  Since this was such a small leak, only time will tell if I fixed it--the pump will cycle about every hour or more if the leak was not fixed.

Minor leakage was found at the cold water inlet
connection to the water heater. (Note the
green corrosion on the brass fitting
just above the hose clamp.)

Our new Christmas wreath was mounted on the cockpit enclosure window in the stern and Christmas music played on our satellite radio.  The entire downtown area was decorated for Christmas.  But with the pandemic underway, it just didn't seem like Christmas time. 

Face masks at the ready--a sign
of the times.

Surprising, the idea of selling our condo slip in Baltimore has created a feeling of homelessness in me--it is the only permanent connection we have to have to a land-base, besides our mailing address in Florida.  I've almost always owned a house (or the condo slip).  Our home truly is the boat, wherever it happens to be.

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My Penn State Nittany Lions did beat Michigan by a score of 27 to 17!  It was their first win of this (most unusual) season—they are now 1 and 5 and I think they have turned the corner with only two games remaining (Rutgers and Michigan State).  (The team is much better than their record would indicate but they won’t qualify for a bowl game this year.)

Sunday, November 29

The outside weather was sunny and very cool (high 30’s).  Late in the morning, the enclosed cockpit was nice and warm.

Lola always seems to find a warm comfortable
spot for her late morning nap, which
frequently leads into her early
afternoon nap.

I was sitting in the cockpit today primarily to get warm.  Lots of people were walking along the dock, some pushing strollers, others with kids in tow.  Almost all were wearing cloth face masks.

The fancy cars that gather on Sunday mornings were parked close by.  A Corvette, a mustang, and a bright red Jeep were among the collection.  Our white Prius (even with its sharp looking wheels) didn’t even warrant a glance from the many onlookers. (Maybe I’m the only person who thinks it is sharp looking and that’s OK.)

Consistent with my previous stance on taking off Sundays, I didn’t have much on the agenda for today, maybe a little reading and practicing chords on my ukulele.  It is difficult for me to do nothing.  I have put off all my boat projects until next week---stay tuned...

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