As I had mentioned in the earlier post that Knapps Narrows is a tough place to get into from the Bay side. There are tricky shoals that seem to change with each passing storm. John talked to some of the local waterman and they said to not pay attention to the markers as you exit but to keep the red buoy on your right....in fact the opposite as would be the case when leaving port. The alternative is to add another three miles to our trip by going around the sound side of the island. We chance the shorter route and John exits slowly. "Bump," we are aground but able to back out. "Bump" again, as we approach the buoy. John has a good feel for the boat and once again head down the channel. My common sense is telling us to stay right of the marker, but we go left.....and the watermen were correct! We clear the marker and head for open water.
The leg to Bohemia River will be a long one, some 60 miles. The weather is bad with rain expected most of the day. We don our rain gear and sit back as the rhythm of the diesel lulls me to a certain laziness. I read, nap some and talk to John of world order and complacent politicians.
It doesn't take long to reach the Bay Bridge just outside of Annapolis, MD. I've been over this bridge many times when working on an old Columbia sailboat in Oxford, MD. It's a connector for eastern Maryland to the main land. Passing under this bridge is symbolic to me that in fact we are coming close to the end of our journey. Two more stops then Cape May, NJ our destination and my departure.
Did I mention the restaurant in Knapps Narrows and how good the food was? Probably ate more than I should have with a beer or two in the light of a Detroit ball game and an otherwise empty bar. Great way to end the day, right? Well, that meal was on it's own natural journey through me and for the first time on our trip I had to REALLY use the head....talk to the President as they say and this will require a little paperwork.
I excuse myself from the tiller and tell John I must visit the head.
"You can't. The toilet is not hooked up to the holding tank." Are you kidding me!
"What about a backup system, what am I suppose to do?" I realize my own system is backing up quickly.
"I don't want to get the holding tank dirty. I'll have to clean it" I wonder what a holding tank is for if not to get dirty.
"You know, this would have been information you needed to tell me before I agreed to come on this trip!"
"Look, I'll get you set up in there and you'll be fine," he says as he disappears into the cabin. I take the tiller and wait. He returns a minute later, "Go ahead and use it. Throw your toilet paper in the bag I set aside. It all good!"
"But it doesn't flush, what do I do with.....well, the doo?"
"I'll take care of it, don't worry about it." John's a good guy and I figure he has a plan.....and I gotta talk to the Pres.....NOW!
After my visit to the head we continue on for about another 3 or 4 hours. The weather never really lets up and we find a slip at the local marina, in fact a free slip. One of the patrons of the marina wasn't using his for the night and said we could use it....nice guy.
"Well," John says, "You gotta clean out that toilet. I've got some different size measuring cups to use."
I'm dumbfounded! Is this his plan? I could have just gone in a bucket to begin with and be done with it."You want to do it or you won't me to do it?" It's my property but the idea makes me gag.....a measuring cup, how many ounces will this be?
"Look John, I'll do it but you need to hook up the holding tank."
"It'll get dirty and I'll have to clean it!"
"Hook it up." I am defiant as I hold the tiny measuring cup in my hand
"You're a good guy Rob, I'll do it for you because you are good guy." John is a good guy too and I take him for his word. But just in case, I'll eat light tonight.
Once the task is done (no details please) I shower........ and shower and shower then take a relaxing walk around the marina. I love marinas, especially sailing marinas. Perhaps it's the sounds, that clinking of halyards against masts, a fog horn on a foggy night....maybe just the sound of water lapping against the hull. What ever it is I realize this trip will be over soon and I will miss it.
