Friendly Cruisers, Frosty Nights and Fierce Anticipation

     Currently at the boat in Hampton, tomorrow we head back into the Chesapeake for a few days. We will return next weekend to provision, fill up on diesel and water and prepare for the big passage to the BVIs. Before entering the Chesapeake region we hadn't encountered many sailboats and none who were heading south like us. Here they are plentiful and people are eager to share their stories and experiences. We've met many Canadians but no one who did the same route as us along the St. Lawrence River. Some had their boats trucked down and others managed the Champlain Canal.

     Docked at the Hampton Public Piers we are surrounded by cruising boats loaded down with spare diesel cans, solar panels, wind generators and even scuba diving tanks. Many people have arrived at our dock for the Caribbean 1500 rally, but since we're not signed up we are only observers of the preparations.It's a new experience having so many fellow cruisers around after so much solitude. From Quebec all the way to Nova Scotia it was just us and Raftan and we often felt like explorers entering uncharted territory. Now we are truly part of the migration south.

     We head off tomorrow (back to Mobjack Bay) to free space for the rally and to get back on the water again all the while thinking about our own passage to come. Our biggest considerations will be timing the departure for favorable weather, planning easy-to-make-at-sea meals, and preparing ourselves mentally for a possible 10 to 14 day passage.

     Walking outside tonight with my breath frosting the air makes the thought of the long passage to come much more bearable, especially since the end result involves a tropical dreamscape I can scarcely imagine. Sorry to everyone at home, but here's looking forward to a winter on blue-green waters under a roaring hot sun,

Nicole.