Foreign Affair Sailing

Seven Seas Cruising Association - Commodore Designation

Girls Outing - Lunch and the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

Dwayne took his youngest grand-daughters for an outing with limited exposure to the outdoors as the temperatures were in the single digits.  The original plan was to have lunch at Fritz's located at the Crown Center followed by ice skating.  The line to get into Fritz's was extremely long and the wait to be seated was well over an hour.  As a result, we ate at the Mexican restaurant next door and had a wonderful lunch of quesadillas, burritos and Mexican bottled soft drinks.  The girls were well pleased with this substitute for Fritz's.  The brief walk to the skating rink convinced them it was too cold to spend much time in the outdoors.  As a result, we headed to the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.  The museum greatly exceeded their expectations as the doll houses and miniatures on display were stupendous and varied.  Their oohs and awes were loud and interrupted  by occasional squeals of joy as they ran from exhibit to exhibit admiring the beauty and craftsmanship of the models.  The second floor exhibit of vintage toys was not as exciting.  However, they did have a good time shooting marbles at the exhibit dedicated to the VFW Marble Tournaments.  The day was topped off with dessert and coffee at Starbucks on the Plaza.  The ride home was a concert of Christmas carols and plotting to convince Marin's mother to allow the girls to have a sleep over that night.

Luncheon with the Girls - Plaza III

Dwayne took his teenage grand-daughters to the award winning Plaza III steak house where they enjoyed a fabulous casual luncheon.  These young ladies were very excited that they were experiencing some of the finer things in life and being treated as young adults.  As expected, the food was fabulous and service superb.  Dwayne and Alana took great pleasure in slowly consuming their petite filet and grilled jumbo shrimp with bearnaise sauce served with asparagus and fried potatoes.  Maddy opted for the Kansas City Strip steak perfectly aged and served medium-well done.  The girls split a slice of rich white and dark chocolate cake.  They shared not out of concern for the calories but due to the fact they doubted they could each eat a piece on their own.  Dwayne had the traditional cheese cake topped with caramel sauce.  He wisely avoided the bread to allow for dessert.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!  Carla and Dwayne spent the holidays with family and friends.  We are very fortunate to be living so well and enjoying life with wonderful people in beautiful surroundings.  2017 passed quickly and we anticipate the same will hold true for 2018.  We wish everyone a joyous holiday season and extraordinary New Year.

The Nutcracker Ballet and Dinner at Lidia's

Eric invited Dwayne to join his family for dinner at Lidia's followed by the Kansas City Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker" at the Kaufman Center.  We had a wonderful meal at the finest Italian restaurant in Kansas City.  Dwayne had the pork shoulder spiced with rose mary along with roasted potatoes and steamed spinach greens.  It was very tasty when served with a fine chianti wine.  Everyone was very satisfied with the meal as evidenced by the lack of left-overs.  No doggy bags.


The Kansas City Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker was well beyond what was expected.  It was filled with innovative costuming and dance which made it a very refreshing visual experience while remaining true to the music and story.  The KC Ballet performed this production at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. over the Thanksgiving holiday.  I'm sure all who attended were amazed that such a marvelous ballet troupe could exist in a "small town in fly-over country".  This was the most captivating performance of The Nutcracker I have seen.  We all had a wonderful evening.

The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Kansas City Symphony

Dwayne was invited to attend the Kansas City Symphony's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" concert at the Kaufman Performing Arts Center.  The orchestra played the score to accompany the Disney movie.  Sarah and the girls wore skirts and slacks which had images of Jack and other characters from the movie.  It was a wonderful performance and a great way to introduce the kids to the symphony.  We are very fortunate to have such a splendid venue for the performing arts.  The Kaufman Center is a work of art in its own right.  After the performance, we headed to The Melting Pot for cheese and chocolate fondue.  It was a great evening with family.

Electrical Work

Gingerbread Houses

The grandchildren made gingerbread houses for the holiday.  Carla bought two decorating kits and got them started on the project.  The results were really impressive considering the kids did all the work.  It was a wonderful way for cousins to share some time and create memories for the future.  Carla baked cookies while the kids constructed and decorated the gingerbread houses.

Lucky Ones

We drove out to check on Lucky Ones, our Catalina 27 which has been on the hard for over two years.  She is looking fine and her bilge was bone dry.  That means the cabin windows aren't leaking.  She should be ready to launch next spring after a thorough scrubbing and with some new bottom paint.  We replaced one of the tarps covering her as the existing one was starting to fall apart.  The ride out was sunny and warm.  Seeing her in great shape made this outing very pleasant.

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Eric smoked a turkey and everyone brought something to add to the feast.  The adults and kids each had their own tables which was an arrangement with which all were pleased.  The assorted desserts were plentiful and were served long after dinner as our eyes were bigger than our stomachs at dinner.  It was a wonderful day.

Fall Clean Up

Wisconsin Badger Football and the Jacomo Sailing Club Year End Banquet

Dwayne spent the morning at Lew's Bar and Grill watching Wisconsin beat Indiana in football.  The Wisconsin team looks really good this year.  Taylor is a powerful running back and will keep the ground game moving.  Let's hope they win the conference title and Rose Bowl game.  If so, they might get a chance to play for the national championship.  The basketball team should be good this year as well.  Let's hope Wisconsin can stay on a roll.

The Jacomo Sailing Club celebrated their year end with a wonderful banquet.  Dwayne was glad to see some old friends there but was really happy to see so many new faces.  The number of members under age 50 has substantially increased which is a very good sign the club is growing.  Dwayne and Carla will be active members in the club next year.  They hope to help increase membership and share what they have learned over the years with other younger sailors.

Take Me to the River Concert - Folly Theater

Dwayne Returns to Fort Knox

Dwayne decided to break up the trip back to Kansas into two days.  He headed off to Fort Knox, Kentucky to spend the night.  The US Bullion Depository is located there which is where billions of dollars in gold are stored for the US and other countries.  Lately, some of these countries such as Germany have decided to repatriate much of the gold they have stored there.  Rumor once had it that the vaults at Fort Knox were empty.  However, it appears as if there is some gold there.  President Trump sent out the Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchen to see there was gold in the vault and he verified gold was there and that it is well protected.

Off to North Carolina - Halloween and Reformation Day

We left Maryland on a cloudy and sometimes rainy day bound for North Carolina where Carla will spend time with her children and grandchildren.  The trip down the Shenandoah Valley and over the Appalachians is always scenic even in the rain.  We made good time.  Of course, the grandkids were excited to see their grandmother and have her around for the festivities.  This year Halloween coincided with Reformation Day which acknowledges the beginning of the Protestant Reformation with the posting of the 95 Theses by Martin Luther on the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517.  Carla's grandsons attend a Christian school which hosted a Reformation Day fair on the school grounds during the day.  The costumes were primarily of dress worn by people living 500 years ago.  We are sure many of these costumes were worn for "trick or treat" later in the evening.

Downrigging Weekend in Chestertown

We made one more trip to the Eastern Shore to enjoy a wonderful Fall day on the Chester River and in Chestertown during Downrigging Weekend.  This event is a tall ship and wooden boat festival organized by the Sultana Education Foundation.  The Sultana is a replica of a vessel built in Chestertown in 1768 and used by the British Navy to enforce the tea tax laws and monitor trade on the Chesapeake Bay.  Chestertown is one of the best preserved early colonial seaports and a major trade center during the colonial period.  George Washington was instrumental to the founding of Washington College which was chartered in 1782 making it the tenth oldest college in the USA. Many colonial homes exist in Chestertown with several lining the banks of the Chester River.  Six tall ships and two skipjacks provided an opportunity to sail on the Chester River for the afternoon.  We enjoyed the spectacle from the deck of the skipjack, Sigsbee which was built in 1901.  The Sigsbee is one of less than 20 skipjacks still sailing the Chesapeake Bay.  About a dozen others are on exhibit in museums.  We felt there was no better way to say goodbye to the Bay than by sailing on a skipjack.

The Skipjack Elsworth - Built 1901

Aboard the Skipjack Sigsbee - Built 1901

Winterizing Foreign Affair

We rested for a day after returning from China.  Adjusting to the 12 hour time difference is harder when coming home than it is when arriving in Beijing.  Foreign Affair was hauled and shrink wrapped while we were away.  A door was installed so we could get inside and complete the winterization process.  Carla cleaned and packed away gear inside the boat while Dwayne worked on the outside.  The thru-hull valves were lubricated and antifreeze was run through the toilet and macerater pump. Batteries were checked and charged.  The rest of the winterization was done by the marina.  We removed all our personal items and the gear we felt would be better stored ashore.  The sails, bimini and dodger went to Dwayne's brother's house in Columbia.  Several boxes of items were stored in his garage.  It took the better part of 3 days to complete closing the boat up for the winter.  We will spend the holidays with family.  Instead of heading South on Foreign Affair this winter, we will be traveling around the world with Dwayne's brother, Brian and his wife, Janet.  The big adventure begins in mid-January and will last 68 days or so (mostly in warm climates).

Heading Home

We boarded our Hainan Airline Boeing 787.  The flight was long but smooth.  We landed in Boston after watching 3 movies and a few short travel programs during our14 hours in the air.  We did our best to get some sleep.  We checked our bags for our flight to Baltimore upon our arrival in Boston.  Then, it was off to the KLM/Air France lounge for breakfast and to relax while waiting for our flight to Baltimore.  It was a very long journey from Beijing to our beds in Columbia.  Getting our sleep patterns re-established is going to be a challenge and take several days.  But it was all worth it.

Shanghai - Maglev - Shanghai Museum and Yangtze River Walk at Night

We rode the world's fastest train again today.  The Shanghai Maglev train reaches speeds in excess of 425 kilometers per hour (260 miles per hour) covering 30 kilometers in under 8 minutes.  The Shanghai magnetic levitation train is the third maglev train to be commissioned for commercial purposes.  The German firm, Siemens, built the Shanghai train which has been in operation since 2004.  At 260 mph, we were gliding along quite rapidly.  It was a fun ride both coming and going.

Shanghai Museum, Bund and Yangtze River Walk

Shanghai is the world's largest city by population with 24 million.  It is China's financial center and busiest port in the world.  The Bund is the old financial district established by the European colonial powers.  The land across the river from the Bund was farmland until 40 years ago.  The city has rapidly grown and modernized within the past 40 years.  Of the 5 tallest buildings in the world, 3 are located in Shanghai.  At night, the lights on the buildings along the riverfront are lit creating a scene which is a mash of Las Vegas and Times Square.  Brightly lit boats cruise the river at night giving the tourists a spectacular view.  The weather was perfect for our walk along the waterfront.

Mei Jia Wu and Hangzhou West Lake

Our next stop was Mei Jia Wu enroute to Hangzhou's West Lake.  Mei Jia Wu is famous for it tea production.  The scenery was once again spectacular with terraced tea plantations intermixed with forests and streams running through a river valley.  We made a stop to learn more about tea production and sample some of the local tea which is reputed to be the best green tea in China.

At West Lake, numerous tourist boats were on the lake with those aboard taking in the marvelous scenes which came into view.  The hills around the lake were cloaked in mist.  We now understand why so many Chinese art works depicting natural settings contain mist or clouds.  The Leifeng pagoda was one of the oldest in China erected in 975 c.a. before it collapsed in 1924 and rebuilt in 2002.  It was one of the most impressive images we have seen in China.

Suzhou - The Grand Canal and Wuxi - Ling Shan Grand Budda

Suzhou is located on the Yantze River.  It is considered a small city by Chinese standards with a population of only 4 million.  It is known as the "Venice of the East" due to the many canals running through the city.  The Great Canal runs through Suzhou which helped the city to become a major trading center and resort throughout its history.  Marco Polo wrote extensively about the most beautiful city he encountered during this voyages.  We took a boat ride through a section of the Great Canal which is still in use today.  We always take the opportunity to be on the water.

Temple of Heaven and Peking Duck

We spent the morning at the Temple of Heaven which is a vast 660 acre park and several structures used by the Emperor during his annual prayers for good harvests.  The Emperor was regarded as the "Son of Heaven" and as such represented heavenly authority.  The three primary structures of the Temple of Heaven are:  The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests; The Imperial Vault of Heaven; and The Circular Mound Alter.  Construction on the temple complex began in 1406 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor who was also responsible for the construction of The Forbidden City.

The Great Wall, Cloissone Factory and the Olympic Green

We departed Beijing to climb the Great Wall of China.  We went to Juyongguan, the same spot as last year but climbed the wall westward from the South Gate rather than eastward from the North Gate as we did last year.  This extensive section of the wall was a stronghold guarding the Juyong Pass which cuts through mountainous terrain just 37 miles from the center of Beijing.  This location has been fortified for over 2,500 years.  The climb today was more strenuous than last year; however, the weather was perfect - sunny and not too warm.  Also, it was not very crowded.

The Forbidden City and Summer Palace

We began the day with a trip to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City.  Tiananmen Square is in the center of Beijing and around it are: The Gate of Heavenly Peace which separates the square from The Forbidden City; the Great Hall of People which is the meeting place for the Chinese parliament; the National Museum of China; and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.   It was from the top of The Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) that Mao made the proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.  The 125 foot tall Monument to the People's Heroes is located in Tiananmen Square.  Security was high as the National Congress of the Communist Party of China was meeting later in the week to elect the Chinese leadership and prepare the next Five Year Plan.

Arrival in Beijing

Our flight from Boston to Beijing took 14 hours and went well.  We arrived shortly after 7 pm and were met by our tour guide.  Two hours later, after gathering our luggage, clearing customs and immigration, we arrived at our hotel.  The Chun Hui Yuan Spring Garden Resort and Spa is located in a suburb of Beijing and part of an extensive collection of buildings which support conferences and conventions.  It was a very nice hotel; however, it was a long drive to the sites we were to visit during our stay in Beijing.  Traffic in Beijing is very heavy and we will spend more time commuting and less time sightseeing than on our last trip to Beijing.  At least the weather is forecast to be nice.

Link to the Chun Hui Yuan Spring Garden Resort and Spa:

Bound for China

We headed off to China again for a ten day tour with Brian and Janet (Dwayne's brother and sister-in-law) who sailed with us on Foreign Affair in the past.  Brian finds great bargains on travel and we couldn't pass this one up.  We were up at 0415 so we could catch our early morning flight from Baltimore to Boston where we transferred to our Hainan Airline flight to Beijing.  We met up with Beverly (Dwayne and Brian's sister) and Judy (Janet's sister) in Beijing.  Our itinerary for this trip was different enough from our last trip to China to warrant a return visit.  Our flight to Beijing from Boston took almost 14 hours.  We occupied our time reading and watching videos enroute.

Meeting Friends at Rock Hall

Frank and Carol are planning to sell their 33 foot Beneteau slope, Hakuna Matata and purchase a larger boat.  They were in Delaware for a few days and drove down to Rock Hall to look at a Beneteau 393 listed there for sale.  We joined them when they met with the yacht broker to examine the boat for sale.  Aside from being a larger boat, it is very similar to Hakuna Matata which would make transition easy.  One feature of the 393 that made it less desirable was the second head located in the bow.  It took up quite a bit of room and wasn't really necessary.  They preferred a larger forward berth.  We left satisfied with having a better appreciation for the features of the Beneteau 393.  Lunch followed and we finished the day at Haven Harbour catching up on life, planning for the future and drinking moonshine Frank bought when they took a road trip through North Carolina.

Sea Trials

All of the navigation instruments on Foreign Affair have been replaced or refurbished.  Taylor did the installation and calibration.  He joined us for a sea trial to make sure everything was properly working.  Foreign Affair's engine cranked up right away and sounded great during our hour long sea trial. It was a great feeling to be out on the Bay again.  The sun was shining and the temperature was in the high 70s.  Unfortunately, we had removed all the sails.  So, we motored for the hour.  We wished we could have been able to just head out for a few days of cruising; however, this was not possible.  We only have one more day to complete stripping the boat before it is hauled for the winter.

Patowmac Canal - Great Falls, VA

There was an urgency for a means to swiftly travel and move goods throughout the new nation after the American Revolution.  George Washington was a major force in promoting canals as a means to connect the Eastern Seaboard to the Great Lakes and Ohio River.  In 1785, four years prior to his being elected President of the United States, he and several other investors founded the Potowmack Company which made navigation possible on the Potomac River by building canals to skirt the major falls which prevented barges from continuing down the river prior to the building of the canals and locks.  The Patowmac Canal made barge navigation possible from Cumberland, MD to Georgetown/Washington, D.C.  It met the National Road in Cumberland allowing goods from west of the Appalachian Mountains to move to the Eastern Seaboard via the Chesapeake Bay.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patowmack_Canal

https://www.nps.gov/grfa/learn/historyculture/canal.htm

C & O Canal

On our way back to Maryland, we took a break in Hancock to check out the National Park Service visitor center for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.  We arrived just as they were closing; however, we did take pictures of the lock and the ranger station which was once a lock-tender's house and resting place for travelers along the canal.  Construction on the C & O Canal began in 1828 and the last section was completed in 1850.  The canal was 184.5 miles long running from Cumberland, MD to Washington, D.C.  The canal was initially planned to reach Pittsburgh, PA; however, it became too expensive due to engineering challenges associated with crossing the Appalachian Mountains.  The Erie Canal was completed in 1825.  Engineers and workers from the Erie Canal were also employed in building the C & O Canal and benefited from their Erie Canal building experience.  The C & O Canal continued to operate until 1924.  Today, the canal is managed by the National Park Service which has converted the towpaths to hiking and cycling trails through the parkway.

Friday Night Football

It was a great night for football (if you were the other team).  Dwayne went to watch his grand-daughter perform with the flag team and band before and after the Leavenworth High School game.  The band and flag team put on a great show.  The football team had a less than stellar game.  The same was true on the other side of town as Carla raved at the great show put on by the Lansing High School marching band.  It was home-coming weekend for Lansing and they went all out with a stadium lights out segment during which the band members put on a sparkling display as they marched and played while their uniforms glowed due to LED lights on their uniforms.  It wasn't like this when we were in high school.  The kids were in great spirit despite the fact the football team lost the game by a wide margin.  Too bad, we couldn't be in two places at one time.  It would have been wonderful if we could have been together to see both games and experience the fun at both stadiums.

Sporting Events

We have been attending as many of the sporting events in which the grand kids are participating.  In Kansas, we have one cheerleader, a soccer player, a volleyball player and a cross-country/track star among the girls.  The one boy plays baseball.  All of the kids are engaged in other activities besides sports which is keeping them and us very busy.  The weather has been very nice which makes attending these events a real pleasure.  Best of all, the kids are performing well and their teams are winning more often than not.  We will miss the remainder of their fall season as we will be traveling for the entire month of October.  Next week, we will be on the Chesapeake Bay and then off to China for a little over a week followed by another stint in Maryland before heading to North Carolina for the first week of November.  We'll be back in Kansas for Thanksgiving with family.

More Deck Work

The deck at Dwayne's house needed to be cleaned and sealed.  So, we went to work.  The deck had not previously been sealed which made the job much easier as we didn't have to use a stripper to remove the old sealant.  We used Behr's Deck Brightener to remove the dirt and prepare the wood for the stain.  It worked great.  Two days later, we stained half the deck and stairs.  The following day we finished staining the remainder of the deck.  The hand rails and railings will have to wait until next year as we won't have time to complete the job before heading back to the boat in Maryland.

Car Painting

Dwayne acquired his mother's car as she decided to quite driving. The car is in great shape as it was only driven to church and back by a little 95 year old lady.  (Sometimes, the story is true).  The car was in great shape overall.  It had some paint peeling on the trunk and the top of the right rear side panel.  The auto body shop wanted half of what the car was worth to touch up the patches of peeling paint.  We ordered a touch-up kit from paintscratch.com for less than what would have been the sales tax had the auto shop done the work.  Carla is a master spray painter and did a wonderful job of sanding, priming and painting the peeling areas.  The paint color perfectly matched the original.  Dwayne did his part by installing the new floor mats and a new battery.  Dwayne's happy with another Ford Taurus and expects it to last for at least another 5 years.

Trim Work

We found a couple of soft spots in the ends of the trim work around the windows on the south side of the house.  Since the weather forecast for the next few days was clear, we decided to make the repair.  The entire project went without any difficulties.  How did that happen?  We installed vinyl brick molding so we won't have to worry about it rotting out again.  Carla did a superb job of caulking and painting.  We should not have to do this job again.  Houses and boats always need a lot of TLC.

Big 12 Sailing Regatta

Collegiate sailors came together at the Perry Yacht Club which hosted the Big 12 Sailing Championship.  Dwayne got an up close view of the action while he served on the Race Committee as a line judge looking for boats over the line at the start of a race and sounding the horn as he observed boats crossing the finish line.  It was an interesting day on the water with a wide variety of conditions.  Winds in the morning were variable in the 8 - 12 knot range with gusts reaching the low teens.  The wind shifted as much as 10 degrees between races which caused repeated adjustments in the rounding marks to maintain a proper up-wind/down-wind course orientation.  At one point, races were abandoned due to lightening strikes in the area.  When racing resumed, the wind was light and variable.  It shifted 180 degrees during the day.  Eventually, the Principal Race Officer (PRO) decided to end the racing due to lack of wind.  No one objected as everyone was getting hungry and ready for the evening meal and the dance party which followed.

Harley-Davidson Factory Tour

Frank and Carol (of Hakuna Mattata) called to let us know that Carol's sister and her husband were going to spend a few days in Kansas City and wondered if we might be able to provide some local knowledge on things to do and what to see during their stay.  Dwayne made numerous suggestions among which was taking a tour of the Harley-Davidson factory in Kansas City.  We joined them for a wonderful time learning more about the history of this iconic company and their marvelous production  facility which is highly automated.  We headed to the Smokehouse Restaurant at Zona Rosa for a BBQ lunch.  The ribs were on special and done to perfection.

Deck Done

Our biggest project, refinishing the deck is finally completed. Carla did most of the work stripping, brightening and sealing hundreds of square feet of cedar.  We were able to work several hours in the morning and just before sundown while the temperatures were 85 degrees or cooler.  Rain did not interrupt our progress.  The cedar soaked up quit a bit of sealant.  We applied three coats since the planks were so dry.  We are pleased with the final appearance and hope we will not have to do anything more than annual touch-up in the future.  Time to relax on the deck with friends.

Grandparents Day

We went to the elementary school to join Dwayne's grand-daughter and grandson for lunch.  It was Grandparents Day.  The kids enjoyed showing us their classrooms, introducing us to their teachers and friends.  Lunch was chicken tenders, fries and mixed vegetables.  Dessert was apples or pineapple.  It was too much like fast food but that made it attractive to the kids.  We didn't see meatloaf and mashed potatoes on the school menu for the month.  Tacos and pizza showed up more than once.  It was definitely not the school lunch from 50 years ago.  There was a emphasis on eating healthy and posters on nutrition were prominently hung on the cafeteria walls.  The highlight of it all was the children, teachers and grandparents enjoying each other's company.  It was a good day.

Perry Yacht Club Commodore's Cup

Tour of New Kansas University Health Education Building

The Kansas University Endowment Association invited Dwayne to join a group of donors to tour the new Kansas University Health Education Building.  The five story, $82 million project provides 170,000 square feet of space for supporting the education of medical, nursing and allied health students.  The extensive collection of simulation mannequins and video equipment allows students to engage in hands on learning with instant feedback via the video recording, peer comment and faculty mentoring.  Students working as multi-disciplinary teams will learn together in settings which carefully replicate clinical and hospital facilities.  Although the building contains auditoriums capable of seating an entire class of medical students, there are numerous rooms to facilitate small group learning.  Major curriculum revisions were made to foster learning in small groups and inter-disciplinary teams.  This change in approach to teaching our future health care-givers would not have been possible without the new Health Education Building.  It was a wise investment for the benefit of the people of Kansas.  It is a splendid, modern addition to the KU Medical Center Campus.

Total Eclipse of the Sun

Dwayne's daughter and her husband joined us at the City Market where we viewed the total eclipse of the sun.  At first, we weren't sure we would see it as it was raining until about an hour before the start of the eclipse.  Fortunately, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared long enough for us to get to see the moon pass in front of the sun totally blocking its light for a few brief seconds.  The crowd at the City Market was much smaller than anticipated which was most likely due to the heavy rain which fell just prior to the eclipse.  We felt sorry for those who missed seeing this event due to the cloud cover which prevented many in the area from experiencing this once in a lifetime event.

Cleaning Lucky Ones

We headed out to the Perry Yacht Club to clean the hull on Lucky Ones.  Carla brought one of her magic potions which removed the crud off the boat with little effort.  We had the hull looking good in about two hours.  We were fortunate in that the temperature was below average and there was a light breeze blowing to keep us cool as we scrubbed away.  Once the work was done, we headed up to the club house to visit with friends before heading home.  Another great day messing with boats.

Stripping the Deck

We turned our attention to stripping the deck.  We made a trip to Home Depot and Lowe's for our supplies.  Dwayne used a hard bristle brush to work in the stripper.  It was a pleasant surprise to see that it worked as advertised.  It lifted the dirt and stain out of the wood and washed away leaving us a clean cedar deck.  There are a few spots on the deck which will require additional prep work. Once Carla is satisfied with the deck's appearance, we will begin applying the finish coat .  Instructions call for two days of clear weather to dry out the deck before using the sealant and one day after to allow it to cure.  The forecast for the next few days looks pretty good.  We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Yard Work

One of the joys of home ownership is mowing the lawn.  Carla does a fine job of it.  Besides mowing, we cleaned out gutters, trimmed bushes, swept the driveway and hosed down the front of the house. In general, the house looks pretty good but needs a little TLC to really get it up to Carla's standards. The deck needs a lot of work as it weathered and must be refinished.  It has to be stripped and resealed.  That will be our major project for the summer.  Carla got the lawn mower running.

Miss JuLi

Yes, there is sailing in Kansas.  We headed out to Lake Perry to meet with friends and check on Lucky Ones, our Catalina 27 which has been on the hard since the end of the 2014 sailing season.  She needs a good scrubbing but looks good otherwise.  Carla will make sure we bring our cleaning supplies on our next trip to the club.  Dwayne crewed on Miss JuLi, a J29 upon which we sailed in the past.  It was a fun day on the water and his first time sailing since we left Maryland.  It was great to see old friends and get caught up on their lives over the past two years we have been away on Foreign Affair.

Legoland and Sea Life Aquarium

Homer's and the Mall

The Circus Parade

We stopped in Baraboo, Wisconsin for the Circus Parade.  The Ringling Brothers quartered their circus during the winter in Baraboo from 1884 until 1919 when they merged their circus with the Barnum & Baily Circus and began wintering in Sarasota, Florida.  Other circuses continued to winter in Baraboo which is the home of Circus World and the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center.  Dozens of old circus wagons and bands marched through the downtown district as thousands of spectators gathered for the spectacle.  It was perfect weather and everyone appeared to be having fun.  We took the long way home after the parade to take in more of the beauty of Wisconsin.  Of course, we bought some cheese and sausage to take home to Kansas.

West Virginia to Wisconsin

From West Virginia we drove to Wisconsin for Dwayne's family reunion.  Over 50 years ago, Dwayne's grandmother suggested her siblings and their off-spring gather together on the family homestead farm for a reunion.  Hundreds of relatives showed up traveling from as far west as Washington State and Western Canada for the first reunion.  The farms today are much different from what they were in the 1960s let alone when the homestead was established.  Today, the family farms are incorporated and operate 24 hours a day.  Dwayne no longer bucks hay or picks rocks as he did in his younger years while visiting the farm.  Instead, he is content with walking along with his grandchildren as they learn about modern dairy farming during a guided tour conducted by a cousin.

Got Milk?

On To West Virginia

We headed to Beckley, West Virginia for Carla's family reunion.  Her siblings get together every three years along with their children and grandchildren.  They decide on locations which they have not been to before and this time the destination was West Virginia.  They rented a large log cabin which was able to accommodate everyone.  We made a day trip to learn about coal mining and life in the mountains.  Our tour began with an introduction to coal mining by a retired coal miner who worked in the mine for over 40 years.  A section of a mine in Beckley has been turned into a living history museum in which an old mine train moves you from one exhibit to the next with the miner/guide providing an explanation and answering questions on the exhibit.  Co-located with the mine was a the mine superintendent's house, single family house, bachelor's shanty and school house. Buildings of historical interest such as a farm house, barn, blacksmith's shop, and whisky still were also moved to the site from nearby locations.  We all had an interesting learning experience and fun outing.  One evening the family had a large bonfire.  Other nights were spent playing games.

Rendezvous in North Carolina and the Lazy 5 Ranch

Carla was busy the first week of July helping her daughter pack and move from Tennessee to North Carolina.  Dwayne drove out to help with the unpacking.  Dozens of boxes were emptied and pictures hung while painters, window washers, cable and security system installers completed their work. A day of rest took us to the Lazy 5 Ranch.  Carla's son and his family joined us there for the day.  A hayride through the park to view and feed the many exotic animals was the high point.  Dozens of animal species were allowed to roam the many acres of the ranch and be fed by the visitors.  It was a fun and exciting day which ended with a picnic feast with ice cream for desert.

Independence Day - July 4

We spent Independence Day with our respective families.  Carla enjoyed a wonderful holiday in North Carolina with her children and grandchildren.  Everyone survived the fireworks and Carla still has 10 fingers.  Dwayne was in Kansas with his family.  A BBQ feast was followed by a backyard movie, The Sandlot, and the evening ended with fireworks.  It was a great day all around.

Cedar Creek Church - Site of Skirmish on October 19, 1864 Shenandoah Valley Virginia

Dwayne and Brian headed down the Shenandoah Valley to further explore the area around Cedar Run Church, Marlboro, Virginia which is where their great-grandfather, William Hein, was captured when Confederate General Thomas L. Rosser led a raid with the intent of capturing Union General George A. Custer in retaliation for a humiliating defeat a week earlier at Tom's Brook.  To make a long story short, Custer and Rosser were cadets and friends at the US Military Academy in West Point. Rosser left the academy to join the Confederate army and Custer remained with the Union.  Both quickly rose through the ranks and their cavalry units frequently fought against each other.  On October 9, 1864 Custer's cavalry achieved a stunning victory and routed Rosser's horsemen who fled down the Shenandoah Valley.  On October 17, Rosser lead his division on a night raid hoping to capture General Custer as retribution.  Custer's headquarters was at Cedar Run Church but moved to another nearby location just before Rosser's force attacked.  Instead of riding off with Custer as his prisoner, Rosser rode away with officers and men of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry taken as prisoners when they were overwhelmed during a brief skirmish.  William Hein spent the remainder of the war as a POW enduring months of confinement at the Confederate prison camp in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Brentwood, Tennessee

Carla was working hard helping her daughter prepare for her move from Tennessee to North Carolina.  Dwayne and his brother, Brian took a road trip to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park.  They are both interested in history and the Civil War in particular as their great-grandfather, William Hein, served in the Union army as a member of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry Regiment.  He was not at Gettysburg during the battle as he had not yet enlisted for service.  However, his regiment fought there as part of General Custer's brigade which was heavily engaged in the battle.

Dingy Dinghy and Other Dirty Work

Dwayne spent the days after haul-out cleaning the bilge, head, galley and clearing out the storage spaces of items to be removed from Foreign Affair prior to leaving her until we return in October. Frank and Susan helped remove the canvas and sails.  It took many hours to clean the dinghy which had not been scrubbed for over two years.  She looks like new now.  Frank helped Dwayne hoist her up to rest on the Foreign Affair's bow where she will be stored.  Frank also helped with servicing the outboard motor.  Dwayne made one last visit with Bill, the service manager, to review the repair estimate and discuss the plan for completing the repairs.  Foreign Affair will be launched again sometime in October.  Until then, Dwayne and Carla will be spending time with family and on the road exploring the "red" highways rather than the "blue" highways.

Haul Out and Power Wash

Foreign Affair was hauled, power-washed and blocked.  The bottom paint held up very well and there was very little growth on her hull to include the underside of the keel which we expected to see covered in barnacles but it was relatively clean.  Foreign Affair was moved to the storage area where she will remain while repairs are made to her due to the storm damage.  The surveyor will come out once more to inspect the hull and meet with the service manager to finalize the estimated cost of repairs.  Work will begin sometime in July as the insurance company must review the claim and submit an offer of settlement. Dwayne and Carla are preparing for a busy life ashore with family. Carla will be helping her daughter move from Tennessee to North Carolina.  Dwayne will remain in Maryland for a while making some repairs, servicing equipment and preparing Foreign Affair for her lay-up.

Father's Day - Washing Sails and Eating Crabs

A Little Help From My Friends

Frank and Suzanne of Rockhopper came over from Lankford Bay Marina to help Dwayne remove the sails, dodger and bimini.  Frank was our instructor for the docking class we took through the Maryland School of Sailing.  We have been friends ever since and keep in touch with each other through out the year.  Suzanne will repair the dodger and bimini which suffered from damage due to high winds and chaffing.  The sails will be washed and eventually stored on Foreign Affair over the winter. Frank and Suzanne will still be in Rock Hall in early October when we return to complete preparations for winterizing Foreign Affair.  We are fortunate to have friends near by to help us with all that must be done before the winter and able to check on the boat if we need someone to do so.

Hull and Deck Cleaned

Terry to the Airport

St. Micheals to Rock Hall

Annapolis to St. Michaels

Rock Hall to Annapolis

Terry Arrives

All's Well That Ends Well

Flight Delayed and Orioles Game

Haven Harbor Marina Rock Hall Day 3 and on to Columbia, MD

Haven Harbor Marina - Rock Hall Day 2

Magothy River Anchorage to Haven Harbor Marina – Rock Hall

Little Choptank River – Cherry Point to Magothy River Anchorage

Reedville to Little Choptank River - Cherry Point Anchorage

Piankatank River Anchorage to Reedville

Norfolk – ICW MM0 Hospital Point to Piankatank River Anchorage

Broad Creek Anchorage to Norfolk - ICW Mile Mark 0 Hospital Point

Pungo River Anchorage to Broad Creek Anchorage

Oriental to Pungo River Anchorage

Swansboro to Oriental

Swansboro

Wrightsville Beach to Swansboro

Wrightsville Beach

Myrtle Beach to Wrightsville Beach

Georgetown to Myrtle Beach

Georgetown

Winyah Bay to Georgetown

Winyah Bay - Day of Rest

Arrival at Winyah Bay

St. Augustine Bound for Winyah Bay and Georgetown

Daytona Beach to St. Augustine

Titusville Municipal Mooring to Daytona Beach (Seabreeze Anchorage)

Melbourne Bridge Anchorage to Titusville Municipal Mooring

Vero Beach to Melbourne Bridge Anchorage

Vero Beach

Gulf Stream, Fort Pierce Inlet and Vero Beach, FL

West End, Grand Bahama Bound for Fort Pierce Inlet and Vero Beach, FL

Soldier Cay, Berry Islands to West End, Grand Bahama

Nassau to Soldier Cay, Berry Islands

Nassau

Atlantis

Atlantis Waterpark Day

Highbourne Cay to Nassau, Paradise Island

Black Point Settlement, Great Guana Cay to Highbourne Cay

Black Point Settlement, Great Guana Cay

Big Major Spot to Black Point Settlement, Great Guana Cay

Big Major Spot – Day 3

Big Major Spot and Staniel Cay

Cambridge Cay to Big Major Spot/Staniel Cay