Day 14, Year 1: Strangers in the Night
Date: Monday, October 31, 2005
Weather: No Wind, Warm and Sunny
Location: Chesapeake City, Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

We did it! We pulled away from the Town Dock in Lewes at 10:15 this morning and arrived here in Chesapeake City in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal 12 hours later. The transmission fix-up was very successful and got a good work out today as we had to motor all 12 hours. It was a warm, sunny, short sleeves, no shoes day, but there was not enough wind to sail. After more than a week of very cool weather, the warm, sunny day was gift. There will be plenty of other days for sailing.

The sun slipped beneath the horizon at 5:00 today, just as the Delaware Bay started to narrow. There had been a fair amount of ship traffic all day, but in twilight going into darkness, the traffic increased. One after another we spotted the light patterns, identified shapes on the radar screen, and then quietly, one stranger after another passed by us. This continued until we made our turn to enter the canal. Traveling by night in busy traffic lanes is not my favorite thing, but I am glad to be on the way again.

We hope to hear confirmation in the morning that our new engine will arrive next week. That will be welcome news indeed. If all goes well, we will still leave Norfolk for Bermuda well before Thanksgiving. For now, I’m just hoping for another warm and sunny day tomorrow.