With the summer heat, it was time for the guys to get summer cuts. We set up shop on the sugar scoop of the boat, heads over the trashcan and plenty of extra power cord on the buzzers. After each cut, the boys would just jump in the water to rinse off.
Ever since we bought the boat last year, the compass has had a bubble in it. That bubble has bugged Brian to no end. He finally got to the point of wanting to fix it. He figured out how to take it out of it's spot in the end of the cockpit table and learned from our new friend Bill Bowman at the Boat House Marina that you can add mineral oil to fill in the bubble. He went to the Rite Aid store and bought some oil and we came back to pour it in the compass. It was trickier than he thought it would be. And the bubble was still there. He and I went back to the store for more mineral oil. We ended up finding it for less at the Family Dollar and bought 2 more bottles. Back at the boat, he tried again. As you know, oil is a slippery mess. We ended up spilling most and got a nice polish on the table. The old compass had seen the end of it's days. Brian ordered a new compass through Bill the next day.
Wednesday, June 24
Wednesday morning was spent playing scrabble with the boys and after lunch we hiked to the grocery store.
Thursday, June 25
Brian and the boys worked on filling the water tanks. They did this by putting the two jugs in the dinghy and going over to the docks and filling them from the spigot. Our two jugs each hold 7 gallons. Our two water tanks on the boat each hold 70 gallons. We work off one tank at a time and when it gets low, we switch to the other one and refill that one. So to fill one tank is about 5 trips back and forth.
We took a picnic lunch to the beach then went to the library. The library became one of our favorite spots to hangout. It really was one of the nicest we have been to.
Friday, June 26
Brian and I got up and took an early morning walk. After breakfast, Bill took Brian to buy supplies for installing the new compass and to get one of our propane tanks filled. We were really impressed that one tank lasted three months, with being used several times a day for the stove and oven. Back at the shop, Bill cut out the base for him. That afternoon, Brian installed it.
That evening we had a date night and went to a Chinese Restaurant called Hunan. I made the mistake of wearing cheapy sandals instead of my Keens to dinner. They were crumbling and falling apart before we even got to the restaurant and just got worse as the evening went on. Before getting back in the dinghy to go back to the boat, they went right in the trash.
Saturday, June 27
All week we had been seeing banners around town advertising an event for Saturday. A Bluegrass Gospel group and kids activities to be held at a local park. We got up had breakfast and went to hang out at the library until time for the event. We had packed a lunch to eat, but did not end up needing it.
It was cloudy and cooler and we wondered if they would still have the event. We stopped by around one and only saw a few people. We asked if the event was cancelled. The singing group was, but they fed us sandwiches, the balloon guy made everyone something, and we met a couple who would become friends.
Carl and Brenda set up the event and we asked if they were part of a local church. They were. On all of our walks we had passed by Colonial Beach Baptist Church several times. Brian noted an early service. We had already decided to attend the service the next day. This couple was from that very church! We told them we planned to attend the next morning and they were very excited. It rained all afternoon and into the night.
Sunday, June 28
We first thought to go to service, slip out and head on down the river. Once at church we were invited to come back Wednesday evening for a pre fourth potluck and prayer meeting. Not having set plans and learning that Colonial Beach puts on one of the best fireworks displays, we decided to stay through the fourth of July.
After church, we went back to the boat and did laundry. Brian and Luke had been researching a new operating system for the laptop. They decided to go to McDonalds for the free wifi and install it. They took the dinghy to the top of the bay and only had to walk a few blocks. They came back a few hours later with success! No more slow computer with endless pop-ups.
Monday, June 29
Brian took Luke out to lunch as a thank you for his work on the computer. The rest of us went to the beach.
Tuesday, June 30
Back at the library again. Luke needed to do some tweaking on the computer and install plug ins so we could watch movies. That evening we walked to a local gas station and had some of the best fried chicken for dinner. Back in Onancock, our friend, Paige, had told us that gas stations usually have the best chicken, she was right! Then we went on to Family Dollar and got cookies for dessert. Have you noticed how frugal we are yet??
Wednesday, July 1
Brian and the boys went to town in the morning and I stayed on the boat cooking and reading. That afternoon we loaded up our potluck contributions and headed back to hangout at the library until time for church.
We love pot lucks. Such a great variety of food and visiting. We visited more with the pastor and learned that he and his wife home school. They go to the local Classical Conversations group. Although we have never done that, we have many many friends who have and do. Brian gave him a bit of our history and told him that we are wanting to serve and share the Gospel as a family as we travel around.
After dinner was the prayer meeting. We have been to plenty of prayer meetings over the years, but this one was extra special somehow. The pastor read Scripture and then would open up the floor for "popcorn prayer" Whoever wanted to pray could. At the end, he shocked us by asking if they could pray for our family and our journey.
Thursday, July 2
In our new effort to find ways to serve, we were invited to come to the churches food closet. They do not just hand out bags of food to those who come, they also have a room where the people can come in and be prayed for before leaving. We were honored to be in the prayer room and not only join hands with those receiving prayer, but hearing the stories of all of the answered prayers from this.
During our stay in Colonial Beach, we got a temporary library card and had been checking out movies and documentaries. Our evening were usually spent in that way. We learned about whaling, pirates,and Lincoln. We, mainly the boys, watched superman, Stranger than Fiction, and To Kill a Mocking Bird.
Friday, July 3
We were getting low on bread stuffs, so I made english muffins for breakfast and tortillas for lunch. Brian and the boys took a final trip to the library to return our movies. Later in the afternoon Caleb, Luke, Brian and I took the dinghy back to the top of the bay and walked the few blocks to the store to reprovision again. We came back and put everything away and had taco salad for dinner.
Saturday July 4
Earlier in the week, when we told Bill at the marina we were staying through the fourth, he invited us to the marina potluck Saturday evening before watching the fireworks. He had been so good to us during our stay, we couldn't help but say sure! Plus you know we love a good potluck!
I made a pan of brownies that morning to take. Brian had dropped the boys off to walk around town. Once the brownies were cooling, we went walking as well. back at the boat, we made a quick picnic lunch and went back to find the boys and eat and people watch. Colonial Beach is usually a population of about 3500. On the fourth, it more than doubles.
From as early as 9am people started claiming their spots on the beach.
After lunch we walked to the store for, you guessed it, more ice cream! We also stopped by a farm stand and got some tomatoes. The guy was so nice. He gave each of us a free peach and several more to take with us as well.
We stopped by all the antique shops. Brian was on a mission to find a plastic crab for decoration on the boat. He didn't find his crab yet, but got a small blue fish. Nathan was thrilled to find the first three Star Wars dvd's for $7 at one shop.
Back at the boat, I made another pan of enchilada's for the pot luck while Brian and the boys scrubbed the waterline of the boat.
It started to lightly rain as we were heading over to the marina. No big deal, they just moved it inside.
In addition to grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, people brought all kinds of delicious salads and sides. As with most boaters,we met some of the nicest people. One couple started and run the largest farmers market in Richmond and have just started one in Colonial Beach. They gave us a watermelon at the end of the evening.
Back at the boat, the rain had let up, and we got to see fireworks shows from other marinas,the camp ground and some of the main show over on the beach.
Sunday, July 5
It had been just shy of two weeks. the longest we had ever stayed in one place. Time to load the dinghy and get ready to head on.
After some major scrubbing first.
The chain and anchor were just as bad. We got the anchor up by 8am and were on our way. Last stop on the Potomac River was Kinsale. A tiny village with a big history. We put the anchor down at 1pm and Brian, Luke, Caleb and I went exploring.
While wandering around the town park, a lady stopped her car and asked if we wanted to see the museum. The hours were only for Friday and Saturdays, but she offered to open for us after she dropped someone off at their house.
Kinsale had a tiny museum but Lynn made it come alive with her animated, friendly story telling.
We anchored near this house, which turns out is a major part of the town's history. It is called the Great House. The following is a brief history from the Kinsale's 300th Birthday Celebration booklet.
" In 1667, the General Assembly ordered a fort on the Yeocomico River for the defense of the Potomac. That same year the original Great House was built by Stephen Bailey.
During the war of 1812, the U.S.S. Asp was attacked by British forces just off shore the Great House. Her commander, midshipman James B. Sigourney, was killed defending Kinsale. His body was brought ashore and buried in the Bailey cemetery."
Now to the museum director's great story telling.
The house was destroyed and by the Civil War was just finishing reconstruction. The Yankees were coming to attack and were planning to burn the Great House. The lady of the house begged them not to, but they would not listen. Then the woman's little girl took the commanding officer to the cemetery and showed him the grave. The officer had a complete change of heart. Why?? The officer's name was James B. Sigorney. The only loss the Great House suffered that day was that of their Christmas goose.
Another bit of history recently discovered is that of a son of Kinsale who was in WWII. Clarence Kaufman Douglas, a/k/a "Grinzer" was in the same group of soldiers as Louis Zamperini; recently made famous from the book and movie, "Unbroken". Clarance's own grandson played him in the movie.
The night of the fourth, Kinsale's fireworks had gotten rained out, so they rescheduled for the following night. So we got to see yet another show.
Monday, July 6
Brian did a semi oil change and then he and the boys raised the anchor and we were off for the Solomons. We had been on the Potomac exactly one month, 31 days. Time to get back onto the Bay.
We sailed all day and got to our new anchorage at 5:45pm.
Tuesday, July 7
Brian, Jacob and Caleb kayaked in the morning. Jacob and Caleb came back in but Brian stayed out. When he did come back for lunch, he said he had been asked to be a part of a commercial for the Maryland Department of Tourism being filmed. They shot him kayaking around the marina.
After lunch we put the kayaks away and put the dinghy back in the water. We took the swim ladder to a marina for a quote on strengthening the steps. Then we grabbed a free map and set off for town.
Brian finally found his crab in one of the many shops. The picture will have to wait for the next up date.
We picked up pizza for dinner and enjoyed a quiet evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment