Lapidus is For Sale!

We were underway before we thought to look back and take one last picture of Washington, DC.  DC is a great city and we will miss it.   It offers so much:  So many museums, art galleries, memorials, and sculpture gardens, most with no admission charge.  A great pedestrian city with beautiful landscaping to enjoy every season.  Massive buildings with incredible architecture. Neighborhood Farmers' Markets most days of the week featuring organic and sustainably grown foods and meats from grass fed livestock.  Not to mention, it is the Nation's Capital.  We will surely miss all the good people who have become our friends.                                  

Our four-day sail to Annapolis, MD was pleasant and a nice 'last' sailing trip.  Of course, the wind was mostly on our nose, no matter which direction we were going as we followed the turns of the Potomac River and then turned north toward the Chesapeake Bay.
   

Lapidus is now on the hard at Port Annapolis.  She is listed with Bernie and Kate at Rogue Wave Yachts.

We plan to land cruise for a while: Oklahoma, Texas and California are where we plan to hang out for a while.

Seasons Greetings from DC

We are enjoying DC.  Museums are free, architecture is amazing, parks with fountains and sculpture are many, the metro (subway) takes you all over in minimal time  -what's not to like.  Plus, so many great restaurants.

Larry's work continues at the National Gallery of Art; the huge project is planned for completion in early 2013. 

Pic:  The White House Christmas Tree on the Ellipse.


Kenya was just here for a visit; of course, the eight days flew by, but we managed a trip to New York City to chat and dine with friends and to see the fabulous Rockettes.                                          

Pic:  Eloise Tree designed by Betty Johnson at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan

I loved having her here to explore DC. One highlight was The Washington Ballet Nutcracker.

We wish you all peace and happiness this Holiday Season and throughout the year.

We're in DC!

After three+ days sailing down the Chesapeake and up the Potomac, we arrived in DC Tuesday morning, August 23, just ahead of the earthquake. The docks shook and bounced  and the water was filled with tiny bubbles -like champagne. But that was all. We learned about the hurricane from the radio.

While damage to the area buildings and the Monuments was being assessed from the earthquake, NOAA was forecasting Irene as a Category 1 hurricane. Later changed to a Tropical Storm, Irene brought heavy rain and wind. With Lapidus secured with extra lines and canvass down, we rode out the storm.

Larry began working on the National Gallery of Art project in June.  The exterior wall is 3 by 5 foot, three inch wide marble pieces. In the shop built for the renovation, they are re-gauged, mended, re-anchored, and then  reinstalled. Larry is a foreman and operating equipment in the shop. Smithsonian buildings are considered works of art; you can imagine the directors, architects and project managers all over the place.  

We're in a marina on the Waterfront of the Washington Channel.  We can walk, or take a bus or metro everywhere.  Larry walks about a mile to the job. In Mayo, driving, riding the commuter bus and waiting added up to nearly five hours a day.

No earthquake or hurricane now, just 80 degrees of gorgeous weather.  

It's Spring!

DC's 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival

The weather has been chilly, windy and rainy but we finally had a breezy warm day to enjoy the trees at their peak viewing time.  Hundreds of trees encirle the Tidal Basin; others present a spectacular floral background for the Lincoln and Washington Memorials. 

So..... we made it through the winter while living on a sailboat in Annapolis, Maryland!  Actually, we did just fine.  Our diesel heater warms up the boat quickly; plus we have an electric oil heater and a small electric heater that we use when we don't need the diesel heater.  The weather was cold; infact, it was below average temperature in December, January, February, and March.  We had several snow storms, but our area always seemed to get less snow and ice than everyplace around us, lucky for us.  Our boating neighbors shared stories of 2010's snow storms that left snow boat high on the docks and a snowed in marina.  But this year was nothing close to that, but, again, it was cold and windy and that damp, cold air just cuts right through a person.

When the temperatures fell and taking walks was not fun anymore, we joined a Fitness Center.  Like most people, we have a Love/Hate relationship with the gym.  But we've become regulars in the yoga and pilates classes and like how we feel from doing the practices.  Hanging out on the elliptical and treadmill takes care of that needed aerobic exercise.   Plus, going to the gym got us off the boat, even on the coldest days.  Of course, after we finished at the gym, then we might go to the movies, buy groceries, eat out, etc. Now that the days are warming up, we're walking outside again, still my favorite way to exercise. 

In February, we drove to Oklahoma to celebrate Mom's full life of nearly 89 years.  A vibrant, multi-talented woman, she practiced living each day to its maximum and in her own way.

Left, on Trent's Harley.

Kenya shared these fitting words:  Vegas, Riverboat Casinos, Retail Stores, and Elks Lodges will never be quite as glamorous without her.

Season's Greetings from Annapolis, MD

The blizzard that has buried much of the east coast treated our area pretty nicely.  From as far south as North Carolina and up the Coast to Maine, snow falls were counted in feet.  The Annapolis, D.C., and Baltimore area only received four inches or so. We're not complaining.  We did get the wind that was forecast, and we're still getting gusts in the 30's. 


We cooked Turkey and dressing and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving, but for Christmas we chose true Maryland fare, Crab Cakes using local Blue Crab.  We started the day with one of the only family traditions we've been able to keep, a grog type drink that we call Milk Punch.  Drinking the Ice Cream/Milk/Bourbon concoction from our Pusser's cups lent a Caribbean touch to the chilly, snowy day.

We stay busy adjusting to living aboard in a cold climate.  When the water was too cold for our Reverse Cycle Central Heat to work, we serviced our Espar diesel heater and started it up.  The boat's first owner had installed it and we had never used it before (not much of a need).  We were amazed at how toasty it kept the boat. But, alas, it clogged up and stopped working.  Until it is cleaned and repaired, we are using two electric heaters, plus one small electric heater in the engine room.
 
We wish you all peace and happiness this Holiday Season and throughout the year.

New York City

Our first trip to Manhattan!!!!!

The cool, crisp fall days were perfect for miles of walking and sight-seeing.

The Amtrak train ride is about three hours from the BWI station (30 minutes from our marina) to Penn Station in Midtown, close to Madison Square Garden and within walking distance to our hotel and so many 'must sees.'  Trains are the best way to travel.  No hassle  --none!  Just buy your ticket, pick your comfy coach seat, and relax and enjoy the view.  Of course, commuters use Amtrak, so sometimes the trains are crowded.

But our train was not crowded.  On a train, there's much more legroom, the seats are wider, and the aisles are wider than on a plane, plus the windows are bigger.  Very enjoyable.  Passengers do have to pay attention to ensure they depart the train at their chosen destination!

The fall colors have been gorgeous, and Central Park's fall foliage was reported to be so as well.  And that it was.  Our three day, two night trip included many hours within the one-half mile wide and two and one-half miles long Park, and we still only covered about half of the area.  In addition to meandering trails accented with granite boulders, forests,a reservoir and several lakes, the Park is home to restaurants, gardens, museums and a zoo.



The Imagine Mosaic in Strawberry Fields, John Lennon's memorial in Central Park.







Remote Controlled Sailing!





We walked everywhere as we located other sights we wanted to see.   The New York Public Library, the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, Fifth Avenue  -- oh what fun.
So much we didn't see, but that means another visit!

A few other favorites:



Top of Rockefeller Plaza - What a view
 

Remember the
Soup Nazi
from Seinfield? 

But it was not yet open!




Beauty and grandeur in the New York Public Library, as well as extensive collections.  I love libraries (and parks).

St. Patrick's Cathedral
Historical, Gothic-style
Cathholic Church

Rockefeller Plaza
We also were on the Plaza while the Today show was taping, but we were cold and too hungry to wait for Matt and the other anchors to join the crowd outside.

Grand Central Terminal
Transports thousands of commuters daily.
Lots of high-end restaurants and shops.





In the lobby of The Plaza Hotel, on our way to The Oak Room  - martini time.

Fall on the Chesapeake

Hard to believe it's late October.  In between long days of boat cleaning, maintenance, and repair, we've been exploring the area, sampling delicious fresh crab and seafood, and attending local festivals.  The numerous  festivals held throughout the state celebrate Maryland's seafood, its wine, and its harvests.

A small state, Maryland provides a bounty of food, wine and seafood. Our veggies and most of our produce are chosen from several Farmer's Markets and local produce stands.  Maryland has over 40 'Direct Farm & Pick Your Own' markets.  We purchase very fresh seafood from a local shop.  Yes, we are enjoying the area.

We've even been cruising! This last weekend, we left our marina in the Rhode River, sailed up the Bay past the South River, past Annapolis, and turned into the Severn River where we met other Valiant Sailboat owners for a fun outing. We rafted up for  a while for pictures.  Lapidus is between the two red 50' boats.  Our organizers and hosts, Bernie and Kate of Rogue Wave Yachts, own a beautiful home on the Severn and keep their Valiant, Mahalo, there.  We appreciate their hospitality. 

The Bay is crowded on the weekends, especially around Annapolis.  A beautiful site, but maneuvering through all the boats out racing Sunday afternoon was a challenge.