Winter Onboard in Annapolis

—Blogpost written by Bob 

Saturday, January 23

The outside temperature was below freezing when we awoke and there was a 13-knot wind out of the northwest.  The water temperature was 40.3 degrees F at the entrance buoy to Annapolis.  It's no wonder that the heater was working hard last night--it would cycle every few minutes to maintain its setting at 74 degrees.

Peering out into the cold (messy) cockpit
this morning. (The gray dome in the
background is the metal roof of the
Naval Academy gymnasium.)

I was feeling pretty good on the day following my medical procedure. The sun was shining brightly all day even though it felt very cold outside.  Everything I touch in the boat that's made from metal feels cold, like my computer case, my iPad, etc.

We had a very pleasant day with plenty of rest and relaxation.  I napped a bit in the sunshine in the enclosed cockpit (like a cat) in the afternoon and got caught up on YouTube videos about San Miguel de Allende.  Maggie did some sewing and Lola lounged around all day.

I had a delicious banana daiquiri on board for Happy Hour, my first alcoholic drink in a few weeks. Maggie made it from scratch (without sugar). At 6 PM, the outside temperature was at freezing with a 14-knot wind, still out of the northwest.  

The best thing that happened today was that we received a contract (via email) on the sale of our condo slip in Baltimore!  The sale should be finalized via the last of four payments on April 1, just 2 months from now.

Sunday, January 24

Twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit and a very low tide described the morning shortly after getting up.  I had to crawl up onto the finger pier on my hands and knees to get to the on-shore bathroom this morning.  It was the lowest tide (and the coldest temperature) I’ve seen this season so far.  Lola didn't want to leave her warm spot on the forward edge of our boat's dining table--it was directly above the warmth of the oil-filled radiator.

Of particular significance (to me)  was the fact that I was able to sleep for four continuous hours (between midnight and 4 AM) last night for the first time in more than a month!   (Sleep makes such a difference in the quality of one’s life—I never appreciated this fact so much before.)

By noon, it was warm enough in our (enclosed) cockpit that we had lunch (a delicious pot roast Maggie made) in our shirtsleeves. We watched all the dock walkers all bundled up in heavy winter clothing.

Moving to San Miguel de Allende (in Mexico) was occupying a much bigger portion of our thoughts and plans today.

Monday, January 25

I got around to blogging very late in the day--it was already dark outside.  Some frozen precipitation recently began.  It seems like a mixture of rain and sleet and is expected to turn into snow during the night tonight. The outside temperature was currently 36 degrees F.

I had an appointment with my urologist today which was simply a follow up on my procedure of Friday--everything was OK!  My next step is with the radiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. 

Sorry, this was such a short day of blogging--I'll make up for it tomorrow!  Stay safe!

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