First Port: Annapolis, October 2009

Coming or going, we always find ourselves spending more time than planned in Annapolis, and for good reason. This time was no exception. Whether it’s recovering from the pain the Pusser’s painkillers deliver, hanging out with Chris and Kim (the Tyrrell sisters) or staying one more day to go sailing with friends, it’s always time well spent.

This year’s stop almost felt like a repeat of last year. Spent hours at Chris and Kim’s place again – although this time just for drinks and a good meal, as we have become more efficient at getting laundry done in town. Can you believe these girls saved my pair of panties left behind on the last laundry visit? That’s what I call a true friend.

And this year, we are returning the favor by saving Brigitte’s very cute VS thongs that got mixed up with our laundry last time she stayed on the boat. Brigitte, is this a subconscious ploy to get Stephen in enough trouble that I don’t take the trip with him? What a funny scene…Stephen discovering another girl’s pair of panties in his pile of laundry, no less – and in the middle of the Laundromat with a captive audience. “Oh, look Tar, I washed your panties for you.” “Those aren’t my panties.” Stephen got on the phone to Brigitte right away to clear things up.

We always make it a point to hook up with Chris and Kim Tyrrell who have lived in the area most of their lives and who know Annapolis inside and out – where to go for the best happy hour, where to get the best sushi, or where to hang out late night for the best music and club/lounge.

These two should definitely open their own resort or B&B at the very least. They are always stocked with a full bar and entertainment (music to movies and Digital TV). They’ll put you up in their guest room and make you kick ass meals whether its brunch or dinner. The salmon in capers and white wine lemon sauce with homemade garlic, cheese mashed potatoes was awesome. Yes, we loved every bit of it, even if we will be eating a lot of fish at sea. Kim stated just before dinner, “Damn, we should have prepared a land meal since you guys are going to eat nothing but fish.”

We had to take the next day off to recover and get the boat ready to move farther south. We had been watching the weather report, and knew that we probably weren’t going anywhere until Monday, so I was preparing for a couple days of quiet when Stephen sprung the best surprise on me right before bed….”Guess who’s coming tomorrow?” He covered up the name associated with the text that read, “I’ll bring the vodka and the bloodys.” Unfortunately, knowing our group of friends, that could be anybody. “I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out…”

“Adriana!” So happy to see her again before leaving. She and her sister had taken her mom to Cairo – her dream vacation of a lifetime, and wasn’t able to participate in the Bon Voyage activities. While I knew that pirate parties don’t compare to Egypt and time well spent with Mom, I knew there was a chance I would not see her again until an unknown time and place far away from home.

We took Adriana and Will out for a Sunday sail in the bay, just by the Annapolis bridge which is always super busy with boat traffic, but not of the commercial kind like in the Baltimore harbor. The weather was perfect - warm and sunny with light winds. Just enough for us to do some sailing while still enjoying countless bloodys and mimosas. With each drink we got more confident, a little rowdier.

A man was single handing his sailboat in the bay and was having trouble starting his engine. Stephen kept calling out, asking him if needed a tow, but he declined each time, even more determined to start his engine. He certainly wasn’t going to accept help from the likes of us and I don’t really blame him.

Everytime we’re in Annapolis, we meet other cruisers. Last year it was Mike and Nicole, and this year we met Stanley (photo above), singlehanding his boat and John & Barbara of Mojo. Stanley, diagnosed with Baird’s disease a couple of years ago, quit his job immediately to pursue his dream of traveling to “50 places to see before you die.” Now in remission, he has seen all 50 places and plans to get to Cuba as he is hopeful it will be open to Americans by the end of the year.
John and Barbara reminded us of what a small world we live in, as they have also traveled to the San Blas Islands (Panama) and knew “JC” (Jean Charles), our captain aboard Thai Phou. “He helped coordinate our friends’ wedding,” John told us. John and Barbara have been sailing for about 30 years, losing one boat to a fire before Mojo. Like most cruisers we meet, they were very generous and helpful, exchanging information and giving us new things to consider… like getting a Wifi booster and spending time in Cartagena, Colombia – an island we hadn’t considered and among their most their favorite places.