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The end of June found us anchored in Deltaville VA on the Chesapeake Bay, a new
port for us. The hot weather has broken, celebrations for the 4th of July have begun
and we are in a very sailor friendly harbor, making new friends. We started to leave
one moring but saw elephants (sailor talk for large waves) on the horizon with many
boats returning to the harbor after sticking their noses out in the Bay. Elephants
became horses in the afternoon so we ventured out and headed to Mill Creek, a very
lovely, quiet anchorage. Early up, off to Solomons with a crowd but there was no wind
and the current was against us. The auto pilot is not performing well but Annapolis is
next and repairs should be easy. We arrived in Spa Creek before the masses and
tied up next to "Final Frontier", our friends Bill and Ann's work in progress.

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Travels of the Viking Rose

Vero Beach FL to New London CT

We spent the first months of 2007 in comfortable Vero Beach, with family, good old
friends and many new friends. We had planned to venture to the Bahamas but it was not in
the cards this year and our decision to stay stateside was a wise decision. The weather
turned glorious through February and March and we accomplished many boat projects as we
saw friends sail off and then return. After Richard's mothers 90th birthday celebration
with a wonderful reunion we headed north on March 20th with Spring in the air.

Penny's brother Mark joined us for our first venture out of the harbor in months.
We moved north to Titusville, a familiar port, then onward to Daytona and St
Augustine, where Mark left us, returning to Atlanta. We had seen white pelicans,
many dolphin, manatees and a bald eagle on his photo journalism sabbatical. It was
great to have him aboard and the travels were much the same as last year. We
carried on without him to Fernandina, St. Simons, Kilkenny Creek and Savannah, back
to our first port of Isle of Hope. It was good to be back "home" but the no see 'ums
were glad to see us, too.

We moved on quickly north to Beaufort, SC, always hospitable. Then Charleston,
where we visited brother Reg briefly. After 2 city days we needed a quiet respite
and went to Minim Creek. AAAAAAHHHHH! Delightful! A great way to recoup and
begin the month of April. The next few days we moved along to the familiar ports of
Bucksport, Southport, Wrightsville and Swansboro, SC on our way to New Bern, NC.
The mainsail furling system decided to quit as we headed up the Neuse River. It's
always something! Unfortunately and shockingly, we had also found out that my
sister has Leukemia. Our sails were definitely not full. We were glad to come to
port amongst friends in New Bern. Our other concern is Richard's mother in New
Hampshire, where we are headed for the week. We plan on spending the month in
New Bern for canvas work, repairs and family travels. Richard also spent a week
attending U.S Coast Guard Captains Training and is now a graduate.

The end of May unfortunately found us grieving the passing of Richard's mother,
the wonderful Eleanor Beesley. She had put up a grand fight against the adversity
of cancer but moved on gently with her children close by on May 26th, 2007. We
all gathered in Exeter, NH to send her on her new journey. Spring was in the air
and the hummingbirds she loved came back to visit as always and will probably
continue to do so. She is sorely missed but we carry her in our hearts and show her
our new found joys every day.

On our return to New Bern with some time to gather our emotions and direction, we came back to, as
always, many projects that needed our attention. Cedric was working on our canvas reconstruction, the
hull needed polishing and the varnish needed a few refresher coats. The furler motor was rebuilt and
installed thank you to D.I Banks Electric Motor Repair and our friend, David Lark. The bowsprit was
rebuilt also thank you to our friends Roger and John in 96 degrees. Sweat equity! By June 11th we were
reprovisioned, buffed and ready to go. We set sail on June 14 from beloved New Bern, headed north.
Sails were up as we moved along doing 8 kts down the Neuse River until......BANG! .....we lost our
steering. Our first tow experience was into Oriental to Sailcraft Services with the wind on our nose
and building seas. Richard on the emergency tiller, Penny shouting and Tow Boat US laughing. The next
few days were dismantling the steering system, reordering cables, reworking binnacle and re-adjusting
the mind to another week at the dock. Entertainment was luckily shoreside within dinghy range with
Art on the Neuse, M&M's and The Bean. Laundry was close, waxing topside was completed and the
stainless looks better for the time spent ashore. The cable arrived on Monday which we spent the day
installing, successfully. We prepared the Rose to be hauled out while we are here to complete the
process. We need a rudder inspection, through-hull inspection and while we are at it we decided to
throw a coat on the bottom...in 96 degrees! As the Rose is on the hard we spent one night ashore at a
B&B, in AC with showers.....LUXURY! But we are dirty and sore, tired and green with paint.....the
dedication of owners.

June 23, 1 year and 1 day later than last year, we again are headed to Belhaven and the ICW . We
actually had a beautiful two full days of sailing! This year we will take the Virginia Cut as we did last
fall. Many people prefer the Dismal Swamp route but we have only found it boring. We continued in
unusually hot weather through Coinjock, then Great Lock and into Norfolk with horrendous
thunderstorms, just like last year! We hurriedly put up our new enclosure but not soon enough to keep
from getting soaked. The auto pilot was acting up, the lightening clashing down around us, waiting for
lift bridges and dodging submarines and barges added up to a stressful afternoon. Hot and cranky we
settled into Hampton for shrimp on the barbee and a cold bottle of wine. We stayed for 3 days with a
visit from brother Reg, enjoying the Virginia Air and Space Museum and the Cousteau Society exhibits.

The 4th was a wonderful celebration at Ann and Bills looking over
the harbor and the fantastic fireworks emitting from the Naval
Academy. What a view and the best fireworks display ever! A few
chores and reprovisioning and we are off the next day to points
North. Havrre de Grace was a new stop and then back to
Chesapeake City on the C&D Canal, Cape May, and a successful
overnight to Atlantic Highlands, Our stop in Atlantic Highlands
allowed us to catch up with Charlie and Kathy of "My Time Too".
We celebrated Charlie's Birthday in Sea Bright and had a great
ride on a Hacker Craft upriver. From there we continued as
before thru the Big Apple and into Long Island Sound. We carried
on to New London, arriving on July 17, with a rainy day to read and
wash off the decks which was a welcome respite.