Annapolis, post-Perrone visit, meant time to take care of urgent, overdue tasks, like hair maintenance. As I'd run out of the color I'd stashed on the boat from my colorist back home, I had to venture into the unknown to cover my fast whitening hair. We DO live on Adventure Street, after all. Ross asked a woman who worked at the fuel dock where I should go for a cut and color, and she recommended Liu Liu, a salon about 25 minutes away by bike. We trekked there and split up so Ross could multi-task. In the time it took for me to morph from the Bride of Frankenstein back to Admiral Laura, he got a haircut, went to the drug store, saw a(nother) notary, went to the Post Office and had a cappuccino!
 |
| Thank you, Deanna!! |
 |
| No more grey. (Could use some Botox though) |
I felt like Shirley Devore, who traveled 'round the world to meet the guy next door. Cue song:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtJSLZnKCv0)
Before we moved on to Delaware City, we decided to drop the dinghy for its virgin Looper ride around Annapolis. Let me tell you, it takes both of us and a lot of muscle to haul that beast into the water and back up. It's about 850 lbs., and despite using an electric crane, there's a lot of holding, pushing, pulling, and guiding so it doesn't crash into anything. It is no quick get-away, but definitely worth the effort. Like everything else, we need to develop a system so it becomes routine for us.
Onward, briefly, to Delaware! We knew we had a couple of long days ahead and left early for our 65 mile journey, laughing about our coupons for "free balls with seaman sauce" from Crabby Dick's restaurant. (And that's all I'm going to say about that.) Delaware City Marina offered us friendly assistance docking, and Tim, who Ross met at the Rendezvous, offered us a round of drinks at dinner. He also showed up at 6:45 the next morning to help get us out of the marina and on our way to Cape May, NJ. Thanks Tim!
 |
| Unfortunately, we didn't have time to really check out Delaware City, but it seemed a sweet little stop. |
 |
| Mrs. Anita Dick |
.JPG) |
| Small & disappointing |
As current holder of the title, "Champion of Silly & Dangerous Boat Fails", including falling overboard, and flooding the head (3 times), and accidentally defrosting a freezer full of meat..I now declare the NEW champion to be....drum roll please...the near-perfect Captain Awesome. Yes, he has stolen the title from me by inadvertently creating situations 3 times that almost resulted in burning down the boat ( I am exaggerating only slightly, and all 3 times I was the one who discovered something was awry before any real damage was done), AND while in Delaware City, he dropped the boat keys in the water as he was about to lock the door. Thank goodness for those floating key chains we got at the Rendezvous (and thank goodness it wasn't ME who dropped them!)
Our early morning trek to Cape May proved to be our worst ride thus far. Holy Moly were we rocky-rolly! Once while on its way to Bimini from Florida, The Zone's bell rang 8 times on its own from all the waves. This trip was a 7 bell ride. Being on the Delaware Bay was like riding a bull for 8 hours, but we made it through without anything being damaged. By now I've figured out how to pack the refrigerator so nothing spills or comes crashing out when I open the door. I do recall one trip with family a few years ago when I opened the fridge while en route, only to find myself on the floor covered in meatballs and milk. Ross was so pissed, as he had made the giant pot of sauce and meatballs for his grandkids...
Once in Cape May, we docked at the Canyon Club Resort & Marina, (which we'd selected mainly for the pool we never used) and as we were washing the boat, Loopers Lynda and Bob, from Erika Lin, came over to say hey! They told us some other Loopers were staying across the bridge from our marina at Utsch's. We thought all the Loopers had had about enough of us and were hiding, but as always, we were welcomed and made plans to join in for a Looper Pot Luck Dinner the next night.Love those Loopers!!
 |
| 1st night in Cape May we walked in the rain for a delicious dinner at the Lobster House |
We each made a dish for our Pot Luck. Ross made Mac 'n-cheese w/bacon and, yes, I made a salad; shut up!! It had beets and goat cheese and nuts and they loved it. We headed with Lynda & Bob to our fun-fest by water taxi, as opposed to shlepping the half mile over the bridge with food and drinks. Lynda found them and made the arrangements (gotta love Lynda!) and it was a sweet ride.
 |
| Love the Tiny Cruise Line! |
 |
| Ross, our "cab driver", Lynda and her great smile, & Bob's pretty knees |
 |
| Bob's pretty face, me & Ross |
 |
| Loopers including Ginny & Craig from Brown Eyed Girl and Marc & Michelle from Marc's Ark |
 |
| Sunset from the Tiny Taxi |
We left at 7am, an hour later than our Pot Luck Loopers from the night before, and enjoyed a much smoother and uneventful journey on the Atlantic Ocean than I anticipated. We pulled into the Farley State Marina at The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino and were greeted by our boat buddies buffing their boats.
 |
| Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean |
 |
| AC, here we come |
 |
| The Zone, sitting pretty |
 |
| The marina sits just outside a bar with LOUD, live music and a dance floor. Whoohoo. |
A few hours later we joined them briefly for Docktails and a discussion on the next day's weather reports which were calling for unsettled weather with high winds. We were undecided if we would leave early and try to head to Sandy Hook or Manasquan, or stay put. Nevertheless, we went and had ourselves a hot Saturday night date. Dinner at The Chart House followed by some roulette and craps (I always wanted to play craps and won a few times...before losing a few more), followed by a mad dash to the boat as it started pouring furiously. We barely made it back before getting totally soaked, but immediately realized the windows and hatches were opened as we ran around trying to prevent more of a mess than was already there. We mopped and blow dried and used the clothes dryer for our sopping bed linen and pillows! We were laughing and cleaning it up, still in our fancy-pants dinner outfits. Never a dull moment.
 |
| How's my hair? |
 |
| Yes, I'd like a shrimp cocktail |
Oh, sorry, I never really answered the title question about when we'll be in NY. The short answer is, we don't know, but pray it's before the weekend. Once we leave here, it will be two travel days to NY. Whether they will start tomorrow and be consecutive, is another story. We need to wait and see what Mother Nature's hormones are doing, as she's the Boss and apparently in menopause. We just heard from Next To Me, our little sister boat, that they suffered a harrowing and dangerous ride and are lucky to have made it to Manasquan from AC by the skin of their teeth. Cathryn & Bob, we are glad you are safe! Phew!
Once we are able to, we will likely stay at a marina on the Hudson River if all goes as "planned", whatever that means, and stay for a week. We look forward to seeing family & friends (and doctors and dentists and my apartment and the bank and the pharmacist and the dry cleaner).
Here's a belated picture from the AGLCA Rendezvous. Can you find us? I'll give you a clue: I'm short & he's bald.
