Taking Release south Sept 2014

     We are taking Release south to leave it for a while and return to  it in november. Jim Philbrook is helping me take her and Francie and I will go  in November.  We left Chipman point on Wednesday, and put the mast back up on Saturday.  

 Jim and I are making good time south with the Release. We have moved every day since leaving Chipman Point.  From our last missive at Dunderberg Mountain  we sailed a good way to Sandy hook NJ.  The following Morning we left before daylight and made it to Atlantic City NJ, though it was rainy and a little rough in the middle of the day.  After Atlantic City we made Cape May and all the way to Reedy Island on the Delaware River.  We slept in and left for the C & D canal the following day and continued to Dobbins Island at the Magothy River, a pleasant place to anchor.  Jim is very good as a mate and is learning the way we travel. He is very impressed with the anchorages I pick, but these are ones we use all the time.  From Dobbins Island, where we held off leaving till the wind died done a little, we made it to Solomons Island and were met by Brother Richard, and had hot showers and a great dinner with he and Nancy.  Thank  you both for a great evening and the use of your truck.  This morning after breakfast we went  to Solomons I so that Jim could get a look from the land side, and then grocery shopping.  We stopped to see Richard Hackett & Carol, but missed Carol.  After loading groceries ,we slipped the lines and headed south toward Norfolk. We did make Reedville and Cockerll Creek  after leaving Solomons Island and had a very nice evening and cocktails. There were quite a few others boats anchored there as well, although most were there for the weekend.  Sunday we left at 0600 for Hampton Roads.  We stayed at the public marina and managed to get our laundry caught up that day.  Monday once again we slipped the lines and off through Norfolk and the Dismal Swamp.  It was Jim's first time through the Dismal Swamp and we saw many great reflections on the water as we were first boat through.  We passed through the South Mills lock and down the Pasiqutank  River to Goat Island anchorage.  Tuesday morning we slept in and waited for a time to make the Elizabeth City Bridge opening.  It was a very dismal day and finding our weather was going to get nasty and a lay over would be needed, I decided to leave Release there as we needed to be back in Vt by Oct 1 and didn't see the point in continuing.  Francie met us there on wednesday about noon.  

Jim and I had taken the Bimini and dodger off on tue  evening and it was lucky we did as it started raining and continued nonstop until we reached Scranton Pa on thursday.  The car wipers ran on high all the way.  About Binghamton NY we saw the sun and noticed a lot of color in the trees for our ride the rest of the way to home.  We arrive here at 1630 and Jim's wife Chris for a great welcome home