June 2025 – Exhale on the Water

Thank you, Willis Carrier

Willis Carrier (1876-1950) was an American Engineer who was the inventor of, drum roll please, the air conditioner. Oh yes!! Carrier was from Buffalo, NY [that’s for you, Holly!]; in 1902 he invented the first electrical air conditioning unit.

It all traces back to Carrier’s place of work, a printing press at Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing & Publishing Company of Brooklyn, New York. It was so humid in the summer – especially indoors – that paper grew and shrank, a mess for the color printing process that involved running the same piece of paper up to four times, each with a different color ink.

Carrier’s invention stabilized the ever-fluctuating humidity. Eventually, his invention was applied to modern day homes and work places. So, when you adjust the HVAC in your home, up or down, you can thank Willis Carrier.

If you want to learn more, check out Carrier’s igloo-shaped pavilion in the 1939 New York World’s Fair – it gave visitors a glimpse into the future of air conditioning.

Annapolis, MD

Yes, we are still in Annapolis, a rare occurrence for us to hold still so long. In the midst of a heat wave across the north east, we appreciate Carrier’s brilliance.

This week there have been a plethora of boat projects completed. And a few good naps taken.

Road Trip – Cambridge, MD

Thanks to David and Gail Bernstein we have been exploring by land. On Friday, the heat was quelled for one day – giving us a great reason for a road trip without the need for A/C in the toasty rental car! Today’s stops included Cambridge, MD plus a few other towns. We will provide more photos in the next post.

About 13,000 people live in Cambridge, MD. The historic feel of downtown is adorable – with a delightful number of local businesses (check it out – keep scrolling, the list is long).

Here are just a few introductory photos, beginning with an early tiny home.

tiny house, with an addition in the back.

Local flowers with pollinators, for Alisha. See you soon, Mija.

Dorchester County is the proud birthplace of Harriet Tubman.

Born Araminta Ross, Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) was a brave inspiration to many, and a beacon of hope. Tubman was her married name.

As shown on the map below from National Geographic, the Underground Railroad spanned from the Gulf of Mexico (an official map) to the Great Lakes of Canada, relying heavily upon good souls who hid, protected, and fed the passengers (enslaved persons).

National Geographic: Underground Railroad Map

People’s homes or businesses, where fugitive passengers and conductors could safely hide, were known as “stations” along the railroad.

Fun Fact: Enroute to Canada, there were stops in New York, including a special place in Albany, where one good samaritan couple was none other than William Henry Seward (1801-1872) and his wife Frances Adeline Miller Seward (1805-1865), who constantly pressed Seward to support the immediate emancipation of all slaves, even going so far as to instruct him to quit Lincoln’s cabinet if anything less was settled on.

Bravo Frances!!

In case your Civic History is a little fuzzy, Seward was the former Secretary of State under Lincoln – the brilliant guy who orchestrated the purchase of my home state, Alaska, from Russia in 1867!

former US Secretary of State William H Seward, 1863. Image courtesy National Archives.

To learn more about Seward, click here.

Fresh Tomatoes on Board

Thanks to Linda Palmer, one of our tomatoes ripened beautifully. Do these tomatoes remind you of running lights? One is now bright red while the other seems destined to be a fried green tomato. True colors, there are no filters on this photo.

Thanks to a major transplant to a larger container, plus a little gardening trick from Capt. Rick, we will soon have more tomatoes to share. Watch for updates :-)

Celebrating Milestones:

Anniversaries June 27, Jamie and David Hendry; July 3 Capt. Rick and Mary; July 4, Tanja and Jason;

Birthdays July 1, Becky Weaver Browne; July 2, grandson Leo Perez is 16! July 5, Gail Doyle

What’s Next: St. Michaels, MD for the long 4th of July holiday.

Annapolis, MD – Time to Chill

For the first time on this journey we are holding still, it’s time to chill, time to unwind.

Buttercup says thank you!

Annapolis is the capital of Maryland. For many, it is a lovely, walkable, historic district.

It is also the home of St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis, Maryland. The Catholic co-ed school has a total enrollment of ~500; it’s known for its rigorous academic program and its phenomenal 100% college acceptance rate for graduates. BRAVO!

Annapolis is also home to the United States Naval Academy.

But, did you know the academy isn’t the oldest college in town? That distinction belongs to St. John’s College, a private liberal arts school founded in 1696 – originally known as King William’s School.

Inquiring minds ask, who was King William?

The school was probably not named after King William I, also known as William the Conquerer, since he was better known for bastardly stuff [son of the unmarried Duke Robert I of Normandy and his mistress Herleva]. Oh, and he died in 1087.

Another unlikely namesake was his son William II, aka Rufus (seriously!), who died in 1100 – shot in the back with an arrow and killed while hunting in the New Forest in Hampshire. The incident was probably an assassination, orchestrated by the king’s younger brother, Henry, who promptly seized the English throne as King Henry I. Brutal family history.

Most likely the school was named after William III, aka Prince of Orange, who died in 1702 – not long after the school was founded. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. By the way Number 3 was married to his cousin, Queen Mary the II. If you have too much time on your hands, here’s a Britannica link to history of William III, King of Scotland, England and Ireland.

Don’t feel bad if you have never heard of the school, recent student enrollment was only 450. Fun facts: Four of the college founders signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, namely Charles Carroll of Carrollton, William Paca, Thomas Stone, and Samuel Chase. George Washington visited the school in 1791, and Abraham Lincoln walked the grounds in 1865.

Happy Juneteenth.

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln as of January 1, 1863. His action freed more than 250,000 people in Texas, officially ending slavery. It is scandalous that more than two years had elapsed.

Now a Federal Holiday, we hope you get out and enjoy the local parades and festivities. Here are a few shots from Annapolis (thanks, Gail!)

Something fun, and personal:

Comments Encouraged: Shoe Survey – How often do you replace your shoes? Do you write a start date (or perhaps a retire by date) on your shoes? Roger B?

For everyday shoes, a good rule of thumb is to replace them every 8-12 months, or when they show signs of wear and tear. For walking shoes, you might want to replace them every 3-6 months or 500 miles. Sort of like an oil change.

Worn soles? Look for flattened or uneven wear on the outsole. Inconvenient holes in the sole – that invite small pebbles – are also a very good clue …

Capt. Rick has a tough time letting go of his shoes, but he finally said a sad farewell to well worn friends.

Celebrating A Legend:

If you read our post about the Alaska Legend, Dan Seavey, consider joining in on a Zoom Event to honor his family.

June 21 – Celebration of Life for Alaska Legend, Dan Seavey – Join the Zoom call today (Saturday) at 1pm AKST/2pm PST/5pm EST

If you are in Seward, the live event will be at AVTEC – Alaska Vocational Technical Center519 4th Ave, Seward, AK 99664

Details of the Seavey Zoom Event:

Who: The Seavey family invites all members of the Iditarod Nation to join online in honoring Dan Seavey’s life and legacy.
What: A celebration of life to honor Dan Seavey, recognizing his deep love for sled dogs and his passion for the history of Alaska’s Last Frontier. His contributions to the sport, culture, and the Iditarod are described as immeasurable.
When: Saturday, June 21st, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. AKST / 5:00 p.m. EST.
How to Join: The event will be held online via Zoom.
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81722975799?pwd=mpcKnXUU3F7QrbTOQjmoklzJb9J21W.1
Meeting ID: 817 2297 5799 Passcode: 886026

Celebrations:

Sending a heartfelt shout out to Dana, Larry, Charles, and Alvin! Thanks for re-connecting Dana.

June 15 – Belated Birthday Wishes to Aussie friend, Heather Rutherford

More Birthdays: June 22, Ann Hughes; June 23, Mike Gillespie; June 24, Dan Bittner; June 26, Joe Occhino;

Anniversary: June 27, David and Jamie Hendry

Next up: Another week in Annapolis! Perhaps with some side trips.

All Hail to the Navy!

Portsmouth, VA

Founded in 1752, Portmouth, VA is home to the oldest, continuosly operating, naval shipyard in the US, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard – originally known as Gosport Shipyard. Established in 1767 under the British flag, it was scorched (shelled and then burned to the ground) during both the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War, then rebuilt, twice, shortly thereafter.

During World War II employment at the shipyard surged to nearly 43,000 workers – mostly women – as the navy built and repaired numerous war ships. Thank you ladies for your service! And Thank You Ray and Caryl.

Stock Photo by US Navy: Rivet heaters and passers.

Today the yard specializes in repairing, overhauling, and modernizing warships, including nuke subs. When you visit by boat or in person, look closely – as destroyers, oilers, cruisers, subs, frigates, aircraft carriers, and even an amphibious assault ship might be found in the Naval Station Norfolk.

Stock photo by Shelby West: USS Toledo (SSN 769)

As we floated by at 8 knots we saw aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush (CVN77) and USS Harry S. Truman (USS75).

Stock Photo by Shelby West: USS George H W Bush CVN 77

Stock Photo by Shelby West: USS Harry Truman (CVN 75)

and to give you perspective, that’s Slip Away approaching the USS Carter Hall (LSD50).

We also saw a training Rescue Operation with a very skilled helicopter pilot.

Tidewater Yacht Marina, Crawford Bay, Portsmouth

Construction on the docks at Tidewater is done! In celebration of the annual Harbor Fest, we got to enjoy a low country boil. Sorry I did not take the photo sooner – the grill was originally overflowing with fresh corn, potatoes, sausage, crawdads, clams, shrimp and so much more. Boater’s: Click here to learn more about the Marina .

Port Haywood Lighthouse – Wolf Trap

We enjoyed smooth waters on our run from Portmouth to Deltaville.

Deltaville, Norview Marina

Found at the heart of the Chesapeake Bay, year round population is a paltry 1,100, yet, Deltaville has over 25 marinas!

Stingray Point

Ready for a fishy fable?

Sometime during the 17th century the english explorer Captain John Smith was fishing off a shoal at the tip of Deltaville. Yes, it was the infamous dude who reportedly loved Pocahantas; but not all historians agree on that report.

A young Pocahontas. Photo by Angela L. Daniel.

Sidebar – John and the Indian Princess met in 1607, when she was only 11. At 14 the Princess married Indian warrior Kocoum. In 1614, Pocahontas was kidnapped in a power move to end the first Anglo-Powhatan War, her husband Kocoum was murdered. Raped by her captors, the pregnant princess was later married to Englishman John Rolfe. Here’s a link to more of her story.

Notice it was the “first” war; just 8 years later the second war begins.

Continuing the Deltaville fish tale, Capt. Smith caught a large ray, that promptly stung him. Turns out a Cownose Ray has a venomous sting, leading Smith to believe death was imminent.

https://oceana.org/marine-life/cownose-ray/

Miraculously, after the application of a “snake oil,” Smith survived – and then ate the offending ray, most likely sauteed in more oil. And that’s how the location earned the moniker Stingray Point.

Thank you to Tom and Pat for spoiling us at your summer respite, Norview Marina in Deltaville.

The dinghy ride was fun! Thanks for letting Capt. Rick relax as a happy passenger. Here are a few photos from our ride.

We spotted another Sea Trek for B and B! This boat is in rough shape, but the name is very special.

Wondering what an Oyster boat looks like? This is Wolf Trap.

Lighthouse time!

Oyster Heaven

Roughly 30 minutes from the marina you will find Topping, VA. the location of the Merroir Tasting Room. This time we ordered double the oysters for the 4 of us – two dozen! Half Rappahannock River Oysters and half Olde Salts Oysters. Pat and Mike you were right – it was the Best oyster bar, so far! Curious where the oysters are from? Check here.

Virginia is the top oyster-producing state on the East Coast. 2023 was a record year, with over 700,000 bushels harvested. A little easy math: a bushel is about 100 oysters, so that’s 70 million oysters! The Rappahannock River in the Deltaville area is a key oyster-producing area; oh so delicioso.

Fun Facts: The maximum daily limit per commercial vessel is equal to the number of registered commercial fisherman licensees on board times eight bushels, with a cap of 24 bushels per vessel, per day, or 200 dozen oysters – far more than Tom and Pat and Rick and I could consume – although I think Mike, or Michelle might be willing to try! Apparently they also have limited fishing hours from Monday through Friday; giving the innocent oysters a relaxing weekend without the fear of being chilled and consumed.

Solomons, MD – Calverts

This stop was new to us.

The family run marina is BY FAR the best docking rates we have experienced. Ready? Transient docks are $1 per foot per day (yep) and power is $10. For our 52 KK, that was a total of $62. Hey Dave Lubs – the monthly rate is $14 per foot, plus power! I think that is better than Crisfield, MD.

There is a lovely pool, that appeared to be empty, until you zoom in to see one user enjoying the clean water :-)

There are fun places to visit nearby Calverts, like the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art’s Center, plus numerous other spots on Solomon’s Island, easily accessible if you launch your dinghy. We will explore more on our return journey.

A special Lighthouse for Caryl

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse was built in 1875 and is still an active Beacon of Navigation. 150 years strong, it’s the only screw-pile lighthouse still standing at its original site. Isn’t she a beauty!

As we approached Annapolis I noticed this cargo ship – from this angle it appears a collision with the bridge is imminent. Capt Rick says it’s an optical illusion …

Given the history of this area, it gave me pause. Remember Baltimore, where the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024. Click here for an update on that fateful event, one year after the crash.

Annapolis, MD, finally!

Nearly ten weeks have elapsed since Tonto’s Reward departed Fort Myers – Reunited at last, Buttercup was VERY happy to see Gail.

After a long slow journey from Southwest Florida to Annapolis, Exhale will be decompressing in Annapolis for a short while. It’s also time to look for a dog groomer for Buttercup.

Looking a little shaggy, Peanut Buttercup

Celebrating Milestones

June 14, Happy Anniversary Paul and Celeste – Celebrating 50!

June 15 – Happy Father’s Day

June 17 – Birthday Harrison Wilder Bishop is two!

And now a word from the Captain:

Our previous travels on the Chesapeake have been rough [2018 once, 2021 twice and 2023 twice], souring our impression of this area. Each time, weather was NOT our friend, thus we did not experience the “magical allure” of the Chesapeake, as touted by so many of our boating friends.

To our surprise, the last three days of travel on the Chesapeake have been delightful, with calm waters and no more than the lightest bit of rain. We did have a bizarre “hatch” of ticks launch a full scale attack on the boat, but the ever vigilant efforts [of Capt. Rick] won out – as the pests were banished by a strong stream of water.

So far, our 2025 journey on the Chesapeake has softened our perception of this area. Perhaps there is a valid reason there are sooo many boaters here. Here’s to Fair Winds and Smooth Sailing.

Capt. Rick

North Carolina – The Tar Heel State

Did you know the term “tar heel” was originally a literal reference? The phrase stems from laborers in the naval stores industry who distilled turpentine – from the sticky sap of pine trees – and burned pine boughs to produce tar and pitch. Many of the workers went barefoot during hot summer months, collecting tar on their heels. However, back then if you called someone a “rosin heel” or “tar heel” you were being less than nice.

Moving forward in history to the Civil War, Robert E. Lee turned the tide as he dubbed the North Carolina soldiers “tar heels” – making it an expression of pride. The term quickly spread, and North Carolina became widely known as the “Tar Heel State.”

Sometime around 1880, when the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill began competing in intercollegiate sports, the school adopted the now beloved “Tar Heels” as their official nickname. There you go Gary Ralph! So proud!

Carolina Beach, NC

Located at the north end of Carolina Beach, we tied up across from “The Barge.” Open 7 days a week from noon to 9, the very popular floating bar is actually 3 recycled cargo containers, riveted together on a barge! Made in the USA.

Inside the ground floor cargo container you find yet another recycled beauty – once a gorgeous wooden boat named “Myralu”, it is now brilliantly repurposed as a bar!

Fun Fact: You can buy a 20 foot, 30 foot, or a 40 foot container, fully equipped as a tiny house, available on Amazon. For real. check it out!

Wrightsville Beach, NC; Bridge Tender Marina

This is the BIGGEST fresh water lobster! This young man was a proud lobster dude.

Hello again to Linda and Mark Cardone – thanks for the tomato plant!

Swansboro, NC; Church Street Town Dock

In the past we stayed at the Casper marina (hello to Craig Adford and Sideways). That marina is convenient but it has dreadful fixed docks. Thanks to a tip from a new friend this time we enjoyed the floating docks at the Swansboro town docks!

Boaters Tip: Transient Boaters – 26 ft. or larger have priority at the Church Street Town Dock. click here for more from the city dock page; Beware: During tidal transitions, a strong current runs parallel with shoreline, making it a challenge to dock.

Incorporated in 1783, the small town was originally spelled Swannsborough, named after politician Samuel Swann who was a Speaker in the North Carolina House of Commons. Sometime later – presumably well after he died – the name was changed to Swansboro.

The town grew over 40% in the past decade – officially measured at 3,744 residents as of the 2020 census. Personal comparision – the coastal community of Seward, Alaska boasts a total of 2,735!

The swan theme caught on, as you see them all around town.

These birds are a bit bizarre, but worth a photo.

New to Swansboro? You will find abundant dining options highlighted on the city website.

Morehead City, NC

This adorable city is known for it’s fishing tournaments. The most famous is the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. In 2024 there were 302 boats participating – you read that right!! Fishing teams were competing for a staggering total purse of $7,562,700. By the end of the tourney the top three teams each won over $1.8 million! The winning marlin was 516 lbs. Look at this crowd – OMG.

internet photo lifted from TheBigRock.com

The 67th annual tournament is scheduled for June 6-15, 2025 (happening now!)

Here’s a fun project – artsy manhole covers for Caryl.

We made new friends, meet retired pilots Tom Matovich and Pat Clough.

That’s one dozen fresh oysters – about to be consumed.

They run a beautiful Selene 53, Slip Away.

Oriental, NC

Yet another quaint town on the ICW

Hello Capt. Rick, enjoying a familiar shady tree.

Belhaven, NC

Belhaven is one of my favorite stops. If you stay at River Forest the marina provides free golf carts. First come, first serve, you can take a spin around the town, get provisions, and go to the one of the many nearby restaurants.

– we found a new coffee shop on the main drag. What a great name :-)

Spoon River Artworks and Market, BelHaven, NC

Mark and Teresa own and operate my favorite farm-to-fork restaurant, Spoon River. Located at 263 Pamlico St, Belhaven, NC 27810.

Make your reservations early, they quickly fill up. Call, or Text your request to this Phone: (252) 945-3899

A unique opportunity for wine enthusiasts, instead of a wine list there is beautiful temperature controlled room; just pick out your bottle and take it to your table! You can also buy a few bottles to take home.

Coinjock, NC

We pulled away from the dock at 0605. Moan. The run was ten hours, a total of 76 nautical miles. For us, that’s a long day. We were meeting up with Slip Away and a gaggle of boats. As Pat Clough said, apparently the migration is NOT over!

If you are familiar with this stop you know they serve prime rib, which we typically enjoy. This time, to my absolute delight, the dinner special was soft shelled crab – possibly the best I have ever had! For Donna Wallace – the side was a baked sweet potato. Also delish.

Celebrating Milestones:

Birthdays: June 9 – sister Frances; Sandy de Heer; June 10 – cousin Debra McGhan

Speedy Recovery wishes to Holly Pilato-Scharnweber

Anniversary: Paul and Celeste Amish celebrating 50 years!

June 7 – National Donut Day; go ahead and indulge! Fun Fact: National Donut Day or National Doughnut Day – celebrated by the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK – is on the first Friday of June of each year. The Salvation Army established National Donut Day in 1938 to honor the organization’s Donut Lassies and Donut Girls who served donuts and other snacks to soldiers during World War I.

Next Up: Portsmouth, VA