"The Song Remains the Same"

'"Gonna Make You Sweat, Gonna Make You".......well......SWEAT!*

Have we mentioned that tidewater VA is HOT?  For the past week, we have endured temps in the high 90's and humidity-adjusted Heat Indexes of 105 or more.  So, we're not talking just HOT.  Not sauna-at-the-fitness-center HOT.  Not even 7500-Level-of-the-Star-Mine (Burke, ID) HOT.   We're talkin' overnight lows of 81 and good morning humidity of 70% HOT.  We're talkin' fog your glasses when you step outside HOT.  We're talkin' hose-the-dog-down-three-times-a day-HOT.  In short, we're talkin' DAMN HOT!

That is not to say we have been idle.  Since our last blog post, we have:

• Completed the weather interrupted cruise of Mobjack Bay.  Heading up the North River from
  
  Mobjack, we made it all the way to Edington, where the water got a bit skinny.  And where we saw several authentic antebellum plantation houses.   About 60 miles and 5 hours round trip.  And Commodore Kathleen took the helm for almost half the journey. 
• "Solved" the nagging battery alarm on the starboard engine.  In the end, we concluded it was a false alarm.  Both we and a local mechanic used our multi-meters to verify the correct voltage at every point in the process.   In multiple cruises, both engines have displayed the same voltage before, during, and after.  So.......... I pulled the starboard alarm "horn" out of the dash and disconnected it.  Our obligation now is to be vigilant on the warning lights as we enjoy the silence.
• Finalized the purchase of an inflatable dingy and outboard motor.   With inventories and supply chains disrupted by COVID and to meet our price point, we ended up purchasing from a dealer in Ventura, CA (yes, really),  and are anxiously awaiting delivery this week.  Plus Wade and Maggie
  
  made a trip to Nauti Nell's marine consignment store in Deltaville, bringing home a spare anchor for Irish Lass and a fuel tank for the new dingy.

• Took time to journey down the Colonial Parkway to visit the living history museum at Colonial Williamsburg and the archeological site of Jamestown, despite the stifling heat.   The docents
  
  there were heroic to wear their period costumes (with COVID masks) under these conditions.  Sheesh!

• Discovered a fascinating parallel between the shore of the Chesapeake and those of the Arctic Ocean.  In both, under extreme weather conditions, it is not uncommon to see folks simply leave the car running while they go about their daily lives.  Here, with the AC blasting, there with the heater on maximum.   Who knew?
• Repaired our # 2 water heater (broken wire), doubling our hot water capacity, 
• Made a second 3 hours cruise on the York River.  It began with a visit to Wormley Creek Marina
  
  for some fuel (our marina has a diesel pump problem), where we navigated a challenging entrance channel followed by an even more difficult path to the fuel dock.  This one ought to be on the Captain's test.  Sheesh

• Enjoyed the new dearth of jellyfish.  Perhaps they don't like the heat, either.  Too bad, so sad.....
• Encountered our first dolphins in the Bay (as we entered Wormley Creek).  Imagine our relief, knowing that we are no longer traveling without porpoise..................

Thanks for listening


(*With apologies to Robert Plant and Jimmie Page.)