Jack and I previously sailed together, initially aboard Naval Vessel Ticonderoga (CG-47) in 1983 and a little later (1990) onboard my bass boat on the Rappahannock River. After 20 years it was time and a treat to share the water with he and his family!

* Children and young adults should not view the previous images!

He, Kathy and the girls boarded and we were quickly underway.  Aeolus (god of wind in Greek mythology) thankfully offered us sufficient wind to raise the sail and provide a respite from the Mid-Atlantic heat.

“Yes girls, this is just the way your dad and I did it, back when ships were wood & men were steel!” (They were not believing)

This “Captain Thing” is hard work, have to slip in a break when you can!

After a nice sail out to Smith Point Lighthouse we anchored Magnolia in the quiet waters of the Rhode River and share a marvelous dinner aboard.  Truth be told it was so hot I fired the generator and turned on the air conditioning, something we rarely do when away from our slip at Galesville.

After a full day of sailing the entire crew (6 people) got a comfortable nights sleep aboard (of course with the air conditioners going)!

My cousin Sheridan and her husband John were able to make a somewhat unexpected visit to Magnolia while visiting the east coast from there home in Scottsdale, AZ. Both were in town to attend a friends wedding in Herring Bay. At the onset of the trip they had no idea they would be in such proximately to Magnolia at Galesville. With our Cousin and Crewman Dan Mc Andrews on hand we celebrated an impromptu reunion onboard.

Annette makes sure Magnolia is appropriately attired!

Able Crewman Dan makes sure John boards safely!

We celebrated Annette’s birthday on board Magnolia on not one but two weekends. Last weekend Carol & Tony Haager joined us for an afternoon sail and lunch underway.  As you can guess we had a full house.    This weekend we were joined by Carol & Barry Reid, Lori & Mark Ragan plus Meg & Tripp Davis.

In-spite of the high temperatures,  the whole gang seemed to have a great time though!  We look forward to sharing Magnolia with more friends and family soon.

We were finally able to assemble the crew (Friend Jill from Pentagon Sailing Club and Cousin Dan McAndrews) of Magnolia for our shake-down cruise. The initial plan was to head over to St. Michaels, MD (eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay) for a late lunch and be back to our homeport of Galesville MD before night fall.

Unfortunately the wind did not cooperate as well as we hoped so we came up a bit short of St. Michaels. None the less we were able to find a pleasant little cove in the Eastern Bay which made for a great temporary anchorage to Barbeque some lunch.

Of course there needed to be a post cruise celebration. Unfortunately, Jill the responsible one needed to go and study for her doctorate exams or something. That simply left Dan, Annette and I to celebrate our conquest….which we did!

I am completely jealous! On this BEAUTIFUL NOT A CLOUD in the sky day with a slight breeze,. I just got into a car with family in route to NYC. Enjoy!

“Magnolia is Underway and Bound For Sea”, well for a ride on the bay atleast!!!

Have a happy and safe 4th, plus one wooooo-raahhhhh for our service members.

A**2

Wow, we really are boat owners! Some might be scratching your heads saying, you just figured that out? Well the truth be told we were so busy with the purchase of Magnolia and working with Greg & Maria preparing to bring her home that you don’t have time to consider such mundane thoughts. Throughout the entire spring my mantra had been “I will relax when we get her home.” Happily Magnolia is home, I am relaxing and my dear wife still tolerates me. Truth be told she enjoys being a boat owner as much or more than I. Last weekend was really our first underway period without having the much more experienced Greg & Marie (adult supervision) onboard. They left us in good stead and we did just fine. It was a simple out and back to Thomas Point Light but it was good! This weekend we will be taking my cousins Dan, George & Julie McAndrews for a sail on the bay. Looking forward to it! In addition we will be moving “Blossom” our Dinghy off the forecastle where she has been resting since Florida to her home on the Davits at the stern. We will be shorting Magnolia a little time this weekend in favor or going to Arizona to see my grandfather Emerson (101 years old) and a brief visit with my cousin Sheridan  before returning to Tucson for a week of Missile Monkey time. Have a great week!

I read this earlier today and thought you may enjoy or at least cause for thought:

All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream at night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.

from “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”
T. E. Lawrence

Be Safe
Anthony & Annette
(A**2)

Magnolia is home…..

Well sorta….Magnolia is anchored at the mouth of the Potomac at Pt Lookout in Cornfield Harbor. Will update track later this evenning. Have a 40 mile run to Galesville tommorow. Will stay aboard thursday evenning. Vessel and crew well.

Magnolia is anchored in the shadow of Ft Monroe. The track at www.a2baker.com, Magnolia, has been updated. Vessel and crew are well.