28June2013

I was honored to present Spencer with his graduation certificate as he entered the Coast Guard.  He has joined a long family history of service to this great nation – I am very proud of him.   Master Chief (USCG) Dan Boe and his bride Heidi, Corey Triplett (USN), Samantha Fulgham and her father Pat (ret USN) and several other friends of Spencer were on hand to congratulate him on a job well done. 

Sean, Spencer, Tamera and me

Spencer and his support team

       

A newly minted Guardian, the guy he is replacing, Pat Fulgham and daughter Samantha





  SN Spencer Kelly, MCPO Dan Boe & CWO4 William Kelly

 

26 June 2013

I know… I have not been keeping up with the blog very well, but here goes…  We departed Solomon around 10:00 AM and header towards Annapolis – with no bow thruster. We arrived at Bay Bridge Marine on Kent Island – across from Annapolis, MD after a beautiful day on the bay moving approximately 50 miles. Very nice marina – there was a calypso band playing at the open air bar as we dined on the fly bridge.

Welcoming committee at Bay Bridge Marina

 

27June2013

 I spoke with the service manager first thing in the morning - to see if we could resolve the bow thruster issue.  We were hauled by 0830 and no surprising to me the prop itself was missing (you could hear the motor operate and the solenoids click in left and right).  Ironically my uncle Joe experienced the same issue several years earlier in Solomon – King Neptune must be trying to tell the Kelly clan something.  Parts were placed on order, Sea Chantey was left on the hard, we rented a car and off we went to Cape May, NJ.  Our son Spencer would be graduating from Coast Guard Basic Training on Friday 28 June.

Let's see what is going on with that bow non-thruster...

That's not right... isn't there suppose to be a prop in there?

 

 

 

Slow ride take it easy... mid Chesapeake Bay

 

 Our chauffer Sean taking us for an afternoon outing  

 

I have the deck and the con 

Point No Point, VA - another cool outhouse

 

Tam prepared a fabulous meal open our arrival in Annapolis, MD 

24June13: 
We arrived at Solomon's Island, MD with little fanfare... the ride was a little bumpy... winds out of the west... I think the crew is done with the Chesapeake they are not big fans of the chop that can pop up quickly.  As we arrived dockside the bow thruster failed - the motor is running but the prop ain't doing nothing.  A wise man - Frank Lanier, retired LT USCG, once told me ' there nice - like a girl friend, but don't count on them'.  The docks where fixed - so without much effort I placed a lengthy black skid mark on the port bow - lesson learned - don't count on the bow thruster. Fortunately the Admiral and Swab did an excellent job on deck keeping me from any serious damage.

 

22 June 2013 –   First off I have to say this no schedule idea/ thing takes some getting used to… but we finally departed Tidewater Marina Portsmouth, VA at 0925 on our adventure cruising the Great Loop.  The odyssey begins.

 

 

A Farwell loop cake - everybody loves cake

Sean finds a comfortable spot to chill-lax



 Honey Fitz Portsmouth, VA - JFK's presidential yacht

 

We went out with the tide at about 8 MPH… the weather on the Chesapeake was a little choppy for the first couple of hours but things calmed down and we arrived at Dozier’s Marina in Deltaville at 5:00 PM… about a 65 mile trip.  All systems run well, no casualties –

 auto pilot is most excellent.

 

 Yes... Tamera brought her sewing machine

 

 Wolf Trap light - check out the outhouse on the left, that's a real outhouse

 

 

As we approached the slip we were greeted by David Hoyt the Dock Master who assisted getting us situated, great marina, beautiful facilities, and friendly people.  And they let us uses this cool battle wagon - the "Road Master".

 

Portside to - Dozier's Marine

 

So the christening went off on 25 May for X-KISMET, now affectionately named SEA CHANTEY.   The usual suspects were rounded up for the event - we were honored that 'the doctor' was able to come up from South Carolina to take part.   A prayer was given, the gods of the deep were asked to strike the former name from the sea logs, all manner of the former name was properly removed from the craft, care of the vessel and new crew was asked for and King Neptune was appeased with countless libations and volumes of outstand food.

Tamera did the honors of breaking a bottle of the finest champagne money can buy (thanks to  Joe & Moira)  across the bow, asking for a blessing and all was right with the world.    

The next day – admittedly at a slower pace and with a lot less energy – the process of lowering the waterline continued – crazy amounts of stuff no one will ever use and for reasons I can’t imagine ever happening - stuff just kept appearing on deck. 

I see our fuel consumption going from 2 gal/hr to 6gal/hr.  Maybe while no one is looking I can get some of it back to the house before the movers show up.

*(Pictures to follow – when I find the camera in the rubble)  

Some photos - courtesy of Colleen.

Tamera showing some flare

Colleen and me

                                            Sean, Tamera, W.T, Moira, Peter & Joe Kelly

                                                Tamera doing her best Groucho Marx imitation    

“Hey, Kelly - What have ya been doing for the last 80 days?”

Let see…

·         Removed and resealed the fly-bridge canvas

·         Installed an additional VHF

      

·         Install new anchor rode

·         Added a WIFI antenna

·         Replaced anchor light

 

       

·         Installed new galley countertop, plumb galley sink

    

·         Installed new name boards

       

·         Installed a 110 /12 volt freezer

·Tammy made new covers for the fenders and freezer, throw pillows, table cloths and the list goes on...

• Completed a successful career  

·Hosted Kelly-palooza – Thanks to all who came by to wish us well during the 14 day party!  A special THANKS to DAN & HEIDI BOE of the HouseofBoe and my beautiful bride TAMERA - the success of my retirement ceremony and after party would not have been possible without your efforts and generosity – you guys rock!

          

 

 

 

 

· Buying lots of necessary and not-so- necessary stuff for the boat - Packed the boat

        

·Changed out all mechanical system fluids/ filters, clean sea strainers, etc.

·Clean boat bottom/ check zincs

Packed up household goods to go into storage

Went to Philadelphia to celebrate my sister Colleen receiving her PhD. 

        

·Attend the swearing-in ceremony of our son who has gone off to basic training with the U.S.C.G 

        

·Still chasing that irritating water leak on the fly-bridge (well above the waterline)

·Build mast pedestal / test out our ability to lower mast  safely
 

·Learning the boat systems i.e., electrical, plumbing, electronics etc.

 

So does that mean we are ready to go? … No, but we are going anyways!

The weather has not been very cooperative – lots and lots of rain. But we will be christening the boat Saturday 25 May anyways – may King Neptune give us good weather.   We spent several days loading stuff on the boat – I may need to raise the waterline several inches to compensate. It looks like everything is going to fit; of course we probably will have forgotten something very important. We are planning on leaving in less than two weeks.  The time is drawing near - as soon as the movers finish packing we will be on our way!