LAT: N 38° 19.3'
LON: W 76° 27.3'
SLOW TIMES happy the heat
wave is over
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Chesapeake Cruising

Slowly For Sale

It's hard to say goodbye, but we know she will give a new owner a place to live or cruise, pride and projects!
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Fun Facts

Poker runs seem to be a popular activity if you own the right vehicle (it even has it's own magazine: Poker Runs America Magazine). While we were anchored at Solomon's we saw a slew of cigarette boats coming in to a dockside bar for their last stop on the "ROAR from the SHORE" 2006 Patuxent River Benefit Poker Run. A poker run is an event where there are designated stops and everyone has to get to them all in a pre-determined time frame and pick up a card. At the end of the run whoever has the best poker hand wins. It often seems like a race too since usually it's done on fast boats, bikes or cars.

Arggg... Aye love me Slowly apron.


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A bright cigarette boat cruises in.

From One Island to Another


40 Mile Days Are Okay By Us


Tangier Island was as quaint and beautiful in the morning as it was in the evening. With a short day ahead, we dawdled around the boat a bit in the morning. The winds seemed to be settling down a bit too, which motivated us to hang around. At about half past nine, we set out. The Chesapeake had around 2-3 ft seas and the wind was about 10 - 15 knots out of the NE. It made for a bit a sloppy start, but not too bad. Mostly, the head wind got the boat pretty wet and salty as we splashed through the waves. Luckily, as we made out way north up the bay, it settled down more. There wasn't much to look at except for an old ship that gets used bombing practice, and the odd cluster of jelly fish and rays. At around 3pm, we arrived at Solomon's Island on a bustling Saturday afternoon. Loads of boats were coming and going from the little port. They were of all varieties as well, including big fishing boats, sail boats, loud cigarette boats, little go-fast boats, and jet skis. Everyone was out. The anchorages are plentiful but we wanted to be closer to the action so we found a spot in the main harbor. It can be a bit difficult finding a good place to be out of everyone's way. There were many boats going in and out of the marina and docks there, so we chose a spot out of the way but may have been a little close to the channel. It's always good to remember that the first time you drop anchor might not be the last time. Though in a packed boating community like Solomon's Island most people know how to navigate a crowded harbor.

We were tempted to row in to shore and take part in a festive Saturday night, but chose instead to save the money and take care of some projects aboard. We managed to do a bit of sanding, and stopped in time to enjoy a simple dinner and some warm red wine on the fly bridge. We finished the day off with a little "Spaceballs," a newly acquired DVD from Food lion.


Animal of the Day

Cow nosed rays, Rhinoptera bonasus, are common in the Chesapeake. Too common for some oystermen and clammers who find the rays pesky because they are voracious eaters of invertebrates. The rays have an amazing set of teeth plates that make it easy to chomp on hard shells. There has been talk of trying to save the oysters by putting rays on the menu instead. They can get up to 38" wide and have a brown back and whitish belly. They often swim in schools and put their wing-tips up which can be reminiscent of a shark's dorsal fin.

On the Monterey Bay Aquarium site we read: In 1608, Captain John Smith, an East Coast settler and explorer, learned about the nature of a cow nose's sting. While Smith was spearing a ray with his sword near the Rappahannock River, the ray defended itself by stinging Smith in the shoulder. The pain was so terrible that the crew were convinced Smith was dying, so they dug a grave for him. But John Smith overcame the pain and felt well enough that evening to eat the ray for supper. The place where this happened is still known as Stingray Point.

Grub Report

Small Cheese Ravioli (can't remember the company!), Johnsonville New Orleans Sausages, yellow onion, garlic, Santa Sweets, The Authentic Grape Tomatoes.

Wine Review

Terra Australis, 78% Cab Saul/22% Shiraz, S. E. Australia, 2003. This was quite warm when we had it as well as spicy, peppery with a light taste of oak. It is always nice having wine at sunset on the flybridge...this gets a 3.5 prop rating. (We should have more variety in our ratings but usually it takes some mental effort at the end of the day to remember to jot down notes on the wine!)


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