Plain Jane Plain Talk
Journals from the road, trails and at sea
Category: 2008
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When the local weather forecast began predicting 60 mph winds for the last day of 2008, I was somewhat skeptical. The weather weasels were mostly wrong about their forecasts. Whenever the forecasts were for severe winds, we might get 15 knot wind gusts at best. Alternately, when the forecasts call for calm skies — it…
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…all stations….this is Cat Maudy with a mariner alert on Channel 16 for the Chesapeake Bay….there’s a new captain in town….OVER Since we wouldn’t be traveling south on Cat Maudy this winter, it was time to fill up my “free” time with Plan B activities. Captain Pat thought it might be a good idea if…
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Bracing for high winds, cold temperatures and rain, topped off with a cracked salon window, meant we needed to protect the salon from the weather. We purchased the largest blue tarp sold by Home Depot, “Big Blu”, and spent the afternoon trying to tie it down. Big challenge. Our first big test was just hours…
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The weather has begun to change. We’re seeing more and more days of 40 knot winds out of the north. Temperatures are getting down into the 30’s at night, and 50s and 60s during the day. Daylight hours are less. The jellyfish are disappearing, and those few that remain seem to float without purpose. Hot,…
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…Cat Maudy’s panoramic port side salon window develops a seismic crack. We love to meet people, work with them, solve their business and technology problems and walk away at the end of the day knowing that my clients are satisfied. Designing software business solutions is what we do for a living, and there is nothing…
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Departed the Baltimore Harbor at 9AM along with a fleet of Schooner Sailors – who were en route to the start of the annual Schooner Race, just south of the Bay Bridge on the Chesapeake Bay. We were accompanied by our friends salty sailor Dan, and professional photographer Randy Santos. The winds were light and…
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On a bright sunny day, the Patapsco river (a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay) glistens and begs you for a swim. But don’t be tempted, as the polluted waters in and around the Baltimore Harbor are filled with poisons and other dangers. Oh my! Every 6 months, we hire divers to dip below Cat Maudy’s…
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Dockside in Baltimore MD. It would be nice to enjoy some downtime after 30 days of cruising. But no. Since arrival into the port of Baltimore:Day 1: Skate 25 milesDay 2: Can’t move. Realize I was too outta shape to skate 25 miles on Day 1Day 3: Still recovering from Day 1…tho my new PINK…
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Solomons to Baltimore MD Chesapeake Bay Barring any mishaps, or significant changes to weather (like GALE force northerly winds) – we should be able to make it back to Cat Maudy’s home port of Baltimore today. We motored north up the Chesapeake bay to mostly calm seas – and a light northerly breeze. It must…
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Deltaville VA…and north to Solomons Island MD 4/22-4/23/08Boat Repairs in Deltaville VA We couldn’t have picked a better spot to have some down-time, while waiting for southerly winds. I can’t say this with any certainty, but Deltaville appeared to be the kind of place, where everyone knew everyone else in town. You could leave your…
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Norfolk VA…and north to Deltaville VA On the Chesapeake Bay 4/20-4/21/08 Sunday 4/20/08 Norfolk VA The lower Chesapeake Bay weather forecast was predicting east winds for Sunday 4/20 (which would be good for us). Unfortunately, the forecast was also calling for severe thunderstorms and even tornado warnings. Not sure I really needed to write another…
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North River NC to Norfolk VA Intra-Coastal Waterway (ICW)Saturday, 4/19/08 Up at the crack of dawn – only to see the hatches and boat completely covered with mosquitoes. Literally thousands of them. Ugh. Neither of us wanted to step outside until we were absolutely ready to bring up the anchor. Weather reports were showing clear…
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Hobucken to North River NC Inter-Coastal Waterway (ICW)Top Gun – Friday, 4/18/08 Sunrise on Goose Creek We departed our anchorage at Eastham Creek at 6:30am heading toward the Pamlico River. Today would be a pivotal day on the ICW. If we can get under the 64′ Wilkerson Bridge – we would be able to continue…
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Beaufort to Hobuken NCIntra-Coastal Waterway (ICW)4/17/08 On Thursday, 4/17 – the weather reports were still calling for northerly winds — but much diminished from prior forecasts. It was time to start moving north – via the ICW. We were expecting coastal flooding to be back to normal water levels by Friday — which would be…
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Waiting on Weather – in Beaufort, NC4/14/08-04/16/08 The quaint and historic town of Beaufort (pronounced “Bo furt”) became home for the next 3 days – while Cat Maudy and crew relaxed at dockside. Gale force winds out of the north – prevented any further northbound attempts. Our plan was to take the Intracoastal Waterway (the…
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Wrightsville Beach to Beaufort NC4/13/2008 “without fear. . . there would be no courage.” — Captain Blackburn infamous Pirate on Sailing Vessel Queen Anne Revenge run aground in Beaufort NC Inlet in1718 All weather forecasts were calling on 10-15 knot winds from the west-southwest. The only area of the forecast that wasn’t to my liking…
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Georgetown SC to Wrightsville Beach NC4/11/2008 We departed the Harborwalk Marina in downtown Georgetown about mid-day on Thursday — to set anchor at approximately 1 mile from the mouth of Winyah Bay. Georgetown was 90 minutes (at 6 knots travel speed) from the mouth of Winyah Bay — so our goal was to eliminate this…
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Tourists in Georgetown SC4/7/2008 – 4/10/2008 The Harborwalk Marina is a stone throw from downtown historic Georgetown. The grocery store turns out to be a few more stone throws from the marina — and just about everyone in Georgetown can provide you with confident & precise directions to the grocery store — which won’t actually…
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Sunday, April 6 — up at 5am to analyze weather information from about 5 different sources. It appears winds are light – they start south-westerly – and we may get 10-15knots of wind offshore. We decide to gamble…and see how the weather REALLY is offshore. We can decide to go back to Charleston if it…
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Our time is “up” at the Charleston City Marina – and we departed for the adjacent anchorage on the Ashley River — while we wait for the “right” weather window that will allow for northbound travels back to Baltimore, MD.Our plan, is to off shore sail / coastal hop – i.e. a series of day…
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On nearly a perfect sailing day with 15-20 knots of winds from the southwest, we departed the Charleston Harbor for a day of off shore sailing. A first for me…Captain Wuus. Ocean sailing. Deep breath here. OK – I can do this. The “O-C-E-A-N” word that is. Pat did a phenomenal job in selecting a…
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We have managed to experience some violent weather while dockside in Charleston. Let’s start with the tornado on Saturday, 3/15. Just prior, tornadoes had done some hefty damage further inland to Atlanta GA — but Atlanta seemed so far away from us. It just wasn’t on my radar. Born-n-raised in upstate NY — we don’t…
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I’m definitely no dinghy design expert. But here are some observations:1. buy the biggest and BEST dinghy (most likely to stay to stay afloat) you can possibly afford.2. your dinghy gets you back and forth to shore…so make sure it can handle some waves and wind eh? Now, go back to # 1 and repeat…
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It was a rare calm day, and Pat had to install the tri-color light onto the top of the mast. This light fell off (and broke) when Cat Maudy had a brief encounter with the top of a bridge along the intracoastal. Unfortunately, the NEW tri-color light, was of a slightly different design from the…
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The instruments were really reading up to 40 knots….Visualize how 40 knots feels. The boat shakes. It is very windy here — average winds in the mid 20’s, with gusts to 40! The winds are from the East – so they push the water up from the Atlantic Ocean…into the Charleston Harbor…and up the Ashley…
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Grace, is a Chris Craft steel hulled motor yacht – and is moored adjacent to Cat Maudy. Nick, the owner of Grace – is a lovely person who lives on nearby James Island. Nick’s son, who attends the Citadel (the “southern” version of West Point) – was hosting an afternoon spring break boat party with…
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Just 3 months ago while sailing offshore, Earl was on death row. But, he came back. With one of those 9 lives used up somewhere in North Carolina, Earl now rules Cat Maudy with a diet of 3-5 cans of wet food per day. He shares some of this with Soxy – our other cat.…
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Back and forth between Charleston SC and Silver Spring, MD — I packed as efficiently as possible, and still managed to have 3 large & heavy bags of stuff along with my tennis rackets. A suitcase filled primarily with Trader Joes food and specialty items only found at the local Asian food stores (gotta have…
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North….Two weeks back in Maryland – land-based, filled with work, work, work…taking care of my Dad, family stuff, hooking up with a few friends…and a swim debut.That’s right – swim. My least enjoyable sport. But, since I am in training for a sprint-TRI – I guess I need to find my way back into the…
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After 6 weeks of being land-based in Maryland, I was looking forward to finally rejoining Pat and boat life on Cat Maudy. The weather on Saturday 1/12/08 was perfect for my 9 hour drive from Silver Spring MD. The original plan was to take the Amtrak from DC to Charleston – but due to a…
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