It felt good to be cruising again after COVID lockdowns. We tried to make the best out of our time at home and Thor certainly appreciated all the TLC. Being 10 years old, it was time to check all the systems and refresh any aging components. Years of experience have shown us that this attitude pays off and saves you from breakdowns underway. We did have a bit of a smile when we brought up this treasure after a quiet night on anchor off Key West. A very heavy rusty 12” steel pipe had caught our anchor. Florida, does not want to let us go! Again, oversized anchor gear has paid for itself. A standard anchor winch would have not brought this weight to the surface, and we would have had to go for a dive to cut it loose.

Climate change is all around us and the impacts can be profound. On our voyage, we experienced large carpets of seaweed. When under engine, this can cause blockage in the cooling water system, causing the engine to overheat. Luckily, our oversized Groco intake strainer could deal with it, but we still had to clean out the basket several times a day.

No one can fault Charleston’s lovely old town area and waterfront. However, it is so very disturbing to think of horrors and suffering of the slave trade, especially recognizing that it is the foundation of the wealth in the area. It was good to see this history was recognized throughout the city.

The effects of the Pandemic were still visible across the larger ports of the eastern seaboard. Each of these little triangles on our GPS screen represent a large cargo ship at anchor waiting to discharge their cargo. In a more typical year, one or two cargo ships would be on anchor. For non-sailors, a transmitter called an AIS sends and receives vessel position and direction signals. Especially in poor visibility, the AIS cheap and effective safety device to avoid collision at sea. While Thor also has Radar, we find the AIS often more useful in dense sea traffic.

You cannot beat the gentle warm breezes and lovely ports on the Cheaspeake. Visits to the historic sites, charming little marinas, and quaint towns brought us together with the friendly folks in the area. It was also nice to be back to our old cruising grounds of Annapolis again. Back in 2000, midway through our circumnavigation, we spent a couple of years in the area to fill up our cruising kitty.

Beautiful weather all summer, but one last challenge before pulling into Charlotte Bay on the west coast of Florida. A mighty gale welcomed us back to our home port.