Thinking Positive

On Monday, we motored against a 15 knot north wind on lumpy seas -- my stomach did not like this -- for 9.5 hours and anchored in Deltaville.  The next day we rested and cleaned the boat.  Cousin Jon arrived late in the afternoon.  He drove us down the main drag where we saw the damage done by an April tornado.  One huge brick church had the entire mid-section scooped out.  Unbelievable.  Broken tree limbs and damaged roofs in a path.  

Jon joined us on the boat and stayed over night in the forward cabin.  We had a very pleasant dinner in the cockpit where it was cool and chatted into the evening.  The next morning we went to the nearby marina to arrange for someone to look at the rudder.  Jon treated us to breakfast at Moo's Deli then made his way back to Richmond.

Whilst in Deltaville, we motored around the point to Zimmerman's where a mechanic assessed the problem - needs new packing, but also another slight freshwater leak - but could not do the work for a couple of days as he was too busy.  He said it wasn't urgent so we could carry on north to find someone else to do the work.  They were very kind at Zimmerman's letting us stay at the service dock overnight for free.  We were able to charge the batteries and fill the water tank, too.

Something's Fishy in Idyllic Reedville

On Thursday afternoon, we sailed to Reedville with a lovely 15 knot south wind behind us.  Reedville is home to a menhaden plant.  This is a non-food fish (vitamins, fertilizer) plant that processes 100,000 metric tons per year.  Imagine what 100,000 metric tons of processed fish smells like.  Not a pretty picture, er...odor.  Fortunately the wind was in our favor at our anchorage so we only got a whiff as we passed the plant on the way in.  It rained and thundered that night ,but we were able to leave the next morning.  Unfortunately we did not get to go ashore to try the famous crab restaurant. 

We motorsailed to Solomons Island (or Solomons) in Maryland on the Patuxent River.  The wind was from the south, but nearly non-existent so we kept the motor on as it was 51 miles, and we wanted to be sure to arrive before dark.  We noticed other sailboats motorsailing or else giving up on sailing and just motoring.  We anchored just off of the Calvert Marine Museum, which is one of the best we've seen.  Rays and skates swam in a circular tank, and the information and especially old photos and film of the local story of boatbuilding and fishing were interesting.  A working boatbuilding shop run by volunteers restores and builds wooden boats.  Several of their creations and projects are on display both in and out of the water.  One was a sailing canoe that was a work of art.  The docent there said that, if we'd like, they would show us how to build a simple wooden boat in two full days. 

Best of all was the lighthouse that was relocated to the museum grounds.  It's called a screwpile lighthouse because the posts are screwed into the earth.  It has three floors including the living space.  I was intrigued by old photos of the lighthouse keeper and his four children.  I couldn't imagine six people living in a small place like that just off the coast.  Although over time, the coast silted in so eventually they were able to build a walkway from the land to the lighthouse.

Screwpile lighthouse at Calvert Marine Museum as seen from our anchorage

The town of Solomons is basically one main street with businesses and homes interspersed with each other.  It also is home to the Chesapeake Biological Lab, a part of the Environmental Center of the University of Maryland.  The lab was founded in 1925 for the research and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.  One theme that has been pervasive as we've traveled not just in the Chesapeake but also in the ICW is the decline is fish over the years.  The trend was to have a huge peak in fish harvest at the turn of the last century, then a marked decline afterward.  We've learned that the main reasons are overfishing and high concentrations of nitrogen most often from fertilizer run-off from farms into the rivers that feed the Chesapeake.  And offshore we hear about huge trawlers from other countries just off (and sometime in) US waters.  Ironically, I understand that the 1972 Clean Water Act is being chipped away as I write.  What will happen to our fisheries?

Dave feeds cracker crumbs to Mama and her babies

Recently while Dave and I were on the Riverwalk along the Patuxent, I picked up a free magazine called "Southern Maryland Woman" and read an article "Happy for No Reason" written by a counselor and professor.  The three main points:

- When something "bad" happens, say, "Perfect."  Then say, "What am I supposed to learn from this situation?"

- Avoid all negative thoughts to the best of your ability.  Present ideas in the positive.

- List and think often of the things in your life for which you have gratitude.

It's as if this magazine came into my hands for a reason.  After all the mechanical and other quirks on the boat, I was beginning to become very negative and then unhappy with my emotional reaction to each glitch.  And though he's been extremely patient, I know Dave was less than happy with my reactions.  But the last couple of weeks, I've been taking things more in stride.  Dave says he notices the difference.  Even though things still go wrong, it's not such a big deal now.  And this article points out the importance of treating each experience - negative or positive - as a point of learning.  We're now waiting out the weather for the second day on the boat here in Solomons.  Lots of rain and north wind.  It could be frustrating, but I'll choose to see it as a time to relax, clean up, do minor repairs, read, catch up on the blog, do crossword puzzles, and play gin rummy with Dave.  Also the temperature is wonderfully cool - a needed break from the heat and humidity.

Next we'll head to Annapolis, a day's motor/sail away (or an hour by car!).

Oh, and I want to send healing thoughts to Sylvia Timmons, Ben's mom, who is in the ICU recovering from a lung transplant operation.  Part of one lung is not functioning well, so she went back into surgery yesterday.  Stay strong, Sylvia.  We love you!