We pulled out of Weems Creek right after the Annapolis Boat Show on Monday,  

October 8, 2012, joining up with s/v Xtasea (friends Amy & Rex Noel)  for our  

start south down the Chesapeake Bay.  Headed first to Solomon, MD for stops at  

Roy Rogers, West Marine (where we got a present of a bright yellow boat cushion) 

and 7-11.  Then headed on to friends Mary & Walt Keith's dock in Reedville, VA  

for fun, conversation, food and drink and couple boat projects.  Rex helped  

Garry get the mainsail off for some more sewing repairs.  Thanks so much for  

all your help, friends!  We also had a diver clean Windkist4's bottom and put  

the second zinc on.

On the way again we saw several schooners in the Great Chesapeake Schooner Race  

and even heard a Mayday from one on way into Deltaville's Fishing Bay.  The boat had lost a crewman overboard, rescue was accomplished, but unfortunately the man did not survive.  Let's all be very careful out there!

After trying new anchorage at Phoebus Channel opposite entrance to Norfolk,  

we headed up the river to Mile Marker 0 and the official start of our trip south.

We saw many schooners coming out from Norfolk & Portsmouth, including Farewell, 

Sultana and Pride of Baltimore II.

Had to wait for a train on the first railroad bridge but nice lady at Gilmerton 

Bridge took pity on us and held her bridge opening for all four of us.  Garry 

said he would like to give her a big hug!  Made it through all the first group 

of bridges, thru the Great Bridge Loch with Halloween candy given, on to the 

Great Bridge Dock before the Great Bridge Bridge.  Spent one day there doing 

some little provisioning and having Dairy Queen cones.  On way again thru 

Virginia Cut, past Coinjack, to Lutz Creek anchorage, opposite Broad Creek. 

More later.