Just some random thoughts as we look back at our 2020 cruise
Cruising
In our wanderings on the Chesapeake Bay, we made 15 overnight stops in 13 locations, some for one night, some for 30 days. We covered roughly 600 statute miles underway. We accumulated about 70 engine hours and 25 generator hours. Average fuel consumption was 1 mpg. We're looking forward to being more direction- and destination-focused next year as we begin the Loop in earnest. (And perhaps learning to manage our speed=fuel consumption balance a bit better,
People
Having a canine Admiral/Ambassador and a Spokane, WA hailing port proved two wonderful conversation starters. We met people with so many different backgrounds and stories its difficult to categorize them all. Lookieloos and wannabees, Loopers, retired Navy and merchant mariners, local weekenders, life-long sailors, long term liveaboards, world travelers diverted to the Chesapeak by COVID, first-time boaters, experienced dive and delivery captains. Some we saw every day for a month. Others we chatted with for 10 minutes on a dock. To a person, they were willing to catch a line, loan a tool, offer advice, give a ride, take a walk, suggest a stop, and share a beer. With all the division and derision in our country today, its good to be reminded that most folks everywhere are just folks.
Fuel Prices
It was interesting to see the wide variance in fuel prices, sometimes within a few miles of each other. Our careful purchases ranged from $1.70 to $2.45 per gallon. The spread we observed was from $1.70 to $3.36. There seem to be two schools of thought on this.
- One view assumes that the higher-priced fuel is somehow "better". Maybe it comes from a more reputable supplier? Or perhaps it has additional additives or is prefiltered for water or other contaminants? Beats me......
- We subscribe to an alternate view that the cheaper fuel is preferable. Not just because it is cheaper, but also because it has likely spent less time in the marina's storage tanks. A marina with a lower price is apt to sell more fuel. Time is the enemy of diesel fuel. Lets undisturbed for long periods, it can begin to break down into tarry particulates or can acquire biological contaminants that can congregate in your fuel filters and injectors. And we can buy our own additives.
Weather
We were blessed with extraordinarily nice weather both on the highway and on the water. (Except for that hurricane and the tornado, of course.) We were cautious navigators, monitoring weather conditions and forecasts from multiple sources, and also simply looking out the window from time to time (what a concept). Only once did we venture out and turn back when conditions got too rough. We did however alter our schedule a few times to avoid negative forecasts. As fellow Looper Ernie Rivard from Huntsville. AL once told us, "The most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule." Words to stay alive by.
COVID-19
COVID was our constant companion on this journey. While we safely navigated the pandemic, it intruded on the quality of our journey every day. In all fairness, most of our snarky comments (except about those Volvo oil filters) should be viewed somewhat in the context of COVID restrictions. We just hope our country gets things under control (And that Mr. Trump and Monsieur Trudeau settle their differences) by next year.
Commissioning Costs
It's obvious that we underestimated what we would have to spend to make Irish Lass Loop-ready. (There, I said it. Happy now, Mike?) The combination of delayed deliveries, unforeseen repairs, and our own naivete taught us that everything takes longer than predicted and costs more than estimated. And we will expend even more over the winter on some repairs (both planned and otherwise) and some big-ticket maintenance tasks. In round numbers, by next Spring, we will have spent an amount exceeding half to the downpayment we made on Irish Lass. (Your mileage may vary.) On the other hand, many of these were capital (i.e non-recurring?) expenditures that give us a better-prepared vessel for The Great Loop.
And, the lessons learned are priceless. We now know more about our vessel than many boaters we encountered. And we were capable of many fixes ourselves. For instance, who knew that cleaning and tightening electrical grounds can do wonders for starter performance? And no, we have still not installed the "priceless" new starter we purchased in July. But we're ready when the time comes. Live and learn.
EarTec Ultra-Lite Headsets
They don't call then "marriage savers" for nothing. The. Best. $375. We. Spent. Period. Not only do they allow us to communicate calmly during docking and maneuvering, but they also kept us in touch during maintenance tasks that require one of us below decks and one at the hotel or on the dock. A word to the wise, however: Everything you say, mutter, exclaim, pray, profane, or yell at the dog goes into your spouse's ears. 'nough said?
Driving
Not counting local errands, we drove 6,300 miles to accomplish this adventure. We touched 15 states and four time zones. The vehicles with which we were provided were almost new and were trouble-free. Hernando delivered 21 mpg and Freedom Bird turned in 26. Not bad considering our load and our driving habits. Let's just hope Alamo and Budget don't start to footnote their definition "Unlimted Mileage" before our next trip. Sheesh
Going Dormant
We are settling in for winter ashore and this will be our last post for a while. But look for more updates after the first of the years when we begin actively planning the next Voyage of the Irish Lass.
Have a happy and safe winter,
Wade and Kathleen.,
