The nor'easter arrives with rain at 8:45 on day fourteen, a light but steady rain. Gusty, swirling winds arrive at noon.
I struggle to get a cell connection, when I do connect I see the storm is bringing wind and rain to much of the East Coast.
A more detailed look tells me I will be tucked into Rollins Cove for a couple of days.
It is a day of hot tea, granola, napping, reading. The air is filled with moisture, I wear my dry suit to stay warm and comfortable. I am pleased with the idea of wrapping a rope around the main mast. It has eliminated that bit of water that trickles down the mast into the boat.
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Day fifteen, more swirling winds in the early morning hours. 11:00 rain and gusts.12:00 heavy rains. I sort and repack food for the next few days. Clean up and organize the boat. Read, nap, relax.
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Early morning day sixteen an elusive cell signal brings me a weather alert. Gale warning expiring at 8:00 a.m., small craft advisory through tomorrow morning. Less moisture in the air and I don't put on the dry suit. Hot tea, hot breakfast. I am not going sailing today, but the idea of motoring to Kent's place on the next cove is a possibility. I send Kent a text.
There is no reply from Kent. Late morning the rain has become a light mist, I decide to motor over to Kent's dock. What's the worst that could happen? Tuck away the boom tent, under power at noon.
I tie up at the dock and walk up the hill to Kent's place, a beautiful home on a wooded point up above St. Leonards Creek. There is a ship's bell for a door bell, I ring it twice. After a few moments the door opens and there is Kent. I caught him off guard a bit, but after realizing who I was, he welcomes me into his home.
Kent, it turns out, is a very interesting guy. A retired EPA scientist, he has studied Chesapeake Bay for a couple of decades. He is a life-long sailor, has a PHD from Rutgers and was a long-time columnist for the Bay Journal. I suspect few people know Chesapeake Bay as well as he does. He brings out books and magazine articles that he has written, and tells me about the research he is doing for future projects.
He takes me upstairs to an office where there is a bookshelf maybe a dozen feet long, filled with his sailing logs that date back to small boats in his native New Jersey and include the thousands of miles he sailed throughout his life. The logbooks are extremely detailed, with beautiful sketches of is experiences, hand-drawn maps and data that only a scientist could love.
Kent has some work to do, so after a tour of the house he goes off to a desk to write. I get a very welcome hot shower, do my laundry and then sit by the wood stove. Just a wonderful break from the storm.
Mid-afternoon Kent tells me he needs to run to the store and I am welcome to join him. A nice chance to resupply with some fresh fruit and a few other items.
4:30, after thanking Kent for his hospitality, I walk down the hill to the dock and cast off. 4:50 anchored back in Rollins Cove.
1.2 NM
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