Heading South for 2015-16 winter.

Blue Heaven sailing out of Swan Creek

Back again after a year off.  We left on Monday, October 5th after waiting for Hurricane Joaquin to pass by.  We thought that we would leave on Tuesday for heading south because the weathermen  predicted high winds and possible rain.  However, once again Larry the Liar was wrong (our pet name for weathermen) and we awoke to brilliant sunshine and wind from 8-15 knots out of the north, so we decided to leave.   After saying our goodbyes to our marina neighbors Janet and Chris who sent us these photos of our departure which we appreciated. We sailed the entire way from Spring Cove to the Rhode River.

Giving the thumbs up for ready to leave for another Bahamian Adventure!

You can see the gorgeous blue skies we had after five days of rain,wind and a chill.

Heading under the Bay Bridge to leave for the winter.

 

However, we haven't sailed much since but we have had the most gorgeous sunny and calm weather for going down the bay. We usually find from the Solomon Islands to Norfolk some of the roughest conditions on the trip. This time it has been stress free but long motoring days. 

 

We caught up with cruising friends, Matt and Marty on Runaway in the Solomons which is where they live. They invited us to stay at their condo dock for $25 a night which gave us the opportunity to walk to a store for exercise as well as a few items and dinner out with them. It was great catching up on our non-sailboat travels for the past year. While fueling up, we saw another couple we knew from our home marina, Ron and Maryann on Cavu. They now live there, but they were leaving the next day as well to go south.

Blue Heaven as a guest at Solomon's Landing Marina.

The next morning all three boats left to head south as well as about a dozen others. It looked like an armada leaving the Solomon's. 

Al enjoying the calm motor trip.

After nine hours of motoring we pulled into Deltaville with Runaway next to us. All we wanted to do was relax, and while doing so we looked across at the marina and saw other cruisers we knew with their new Island Packet, called Tilt. They said they would be leaving in about a week because their boat just got put back in the water do to the hurricane.  So I guess you can say we do know people going this year, people kept asking us.  We were not sure of many, but the list seems to be growing.

We have been privy to some beautiful sunrises with the great weather .

Leaving Deltaville early morn.

We are heading to Hampton to visit with our friends the Mershons. It is just another beautiful motoring day!