Wednesday morning, October 10, gray, gray, gray, and I’m not feeling terribly perky.  Headache.  Oh c’mon, the cat gets to get sick, Bob gets to feel bad, so I want a turn.  Oh well, we are headed to Solomon’s Island and have a somewhat long way to go today, so after a light breakfast, we are “on the road” at 8:45 a.m.  The couple we met in the anchorage yesterday has already left, but we wave to them later as we pass them leaving the Wye River.  And then – the sun comes out!  Happily, it is an uneventful cruise to Solomons – not much in the way of any marine or wildlife sightings as of yet – only two mischievous crows pilfering twigs from an abandoned osprey nest.  We arrive at our destination at 2:15 p.m., decide to completely fill the boat up with diesel and are finally anchored in Mill Creek by 4:15 p.m.  Sunny and warm!

            Thursday, October 11 – beautiful morning.   We have another long day – 50 miles today to get to Reedville in the Great Wicomico River.  We listen to the weather, as we do every day, and we start to think twice about tackling a long day – 15 to 20 knots of wind with gusts up to 25.  We sort of have this rule that we don’t go out in over 15 knots of wind, but it’s beautiful and the wind is supposed to be from the north so we decide to go for it.  All seems to be well until we pass completely out of the lee of Solomons – the waves are hitting us broadside which causes major uncomfortable rolling.  In addition to hearing crash, bang down below, I am wondering if the cat is going to get sick.  So, unhappy that the weather is not cooperating, we decide to turn around and maybe go up into Saint Leonard’s Creek for the day.   However, halfway back, the waves seem to change direction, and Bob and I decide to go for it again!  Good choice!  We had a beautiful “sail”.  With the strong winds, a following sea and the auto pilot letting us surf over the waves, we did 9 ½ knots and got to Reedville in about five hours!  Sunny, warm, not a cloud in the sky – just a perfect day!  We are anchored in another creek named Mill Creek which happens to be another of our favorite anchorages – except for one little incident last year. 

            We were motoring to meet up with the Grand Banks club we belong to for the annual October “rendezvous” being held in Deltaville, Virginia, and since we were going to be gone over a week, we took the cat (oh yes) with us.  And since it was fall, we thought the boat would look nice with a chrysanthemum on the back deck.  Now Lucy had been on the boat with us before then, but not for this long a time, and she’d never stuck her little nose outside.  However, it was a beautiful calm evening, we had the doors open, and twilight was descending, and Lucy thought she was brave enough to do a little exploring.  So, gingerly, one paw went out, and then another paw, and then she saw the plant.  Well – manna from heaven!!!  She made a beeline for that plant and starting chomping before I could get to her, scoop her up, and put her back inside and slam the doors.  Now anyone who’s reading this knows that chrysanthemums are poisonous to cats, right?  Right!  (Well, I didn’t know it at the time).  And before long, poor little Lucy was sick – all over the boat sick…for the whole week.  Are any readers starting to wonder why the cat and I are still alive and haven’t been keel-hauled?  We learned our lesson and have now become avid believers in plastic plants – none of the live stuff anymore.

            But, seriously, things are getting better!  Right now the cat seems to be fine, Bob isn’t sneezing anymore, we’re already in Virginia, it’s sunny and warm – life is good!