Oxford, Maryland

Bunnies are everywhere in Oxford

We are late for the best of the spring blooms, but there are still flowers to delight the eyes

Here in Oxford, we are winding down for the season, getting the boat ready to be stored until we are ready to sail again. We arrived here on Friday afternoon, and as soon as we were tied up at the dock (helped by our local friend Ted from the Ocean Cruising Club) and had turned off the instruments, we headed into town. The Scottish Highlands Creamery used to be located right by the boatyard, but Ted informed us that they had relocated to the main street. The brand new location is much bigger and offers more than the window service of the previous place. There is indoor seating, and the shop is right across the street from the town park and river views. The ice cream is unchanged, still flavorful and creamy, and we enjoyed two-scoop sundaes on a sunny bench outside the the museum next door. On the next block is the Oxford Market, and we dropped in for milk and fresh asparagus. 

On the way back to the docks, we stopped in the small museum (and storeroom) of Cutts and Case boatbuilders. The shipyard near the water was founded in 1965 by yacht designer and builder Eddie Cutts Sr. and John Case, an IBM executive and computer pioneer. The firm, which designs, builds, restores and maintains boats, is run now by Cutts' sons. The side of the main building facing the street is all glass, showing various shiny custom boats. There is no formal entrance, no admission and only a couple of signs with information. We wandered in through the large sliding barn door opening. Inside are an electric array of not only boats but furnishings (sofas, dressers, bookcases, etc.), shells, lanterns, a very old battery, boat engines, compasses in wooden boxes, sextants, antique motorcycles and parts of Christmas displays. The wooden boats include two rowing shells, a custom-designed rowboat, and the motor vessel Foto, famed America's Cup photographer Morris Rosenfeld's 33 foot, 1929 yacht which he used for capturing his shots.

Shipyard sign

Shiny, perfect brightwork at Cutts and Case

Two custom built boats

M/V Foto

Row boat commissioned by a local woman as a birthday present for her husband

Racing scull

Life-sized nutcracker in the rafters

Jobs large and small were waiting for us back on the boat, and we got right to work. I gathered up four loads of laundry and went to the marina clubhouse to use the washers and dryers and also take a shower. While I like taking a shower on the swim platform in warm climates, I always look forward to hot water pouring down on me from a fixed shower head. 

There were sailboat races on the Tred Avon River at 6 p.m., so Peter and I took a break to watch the competition. It was partly cloudy but warm, and the wind was great for sailing. Ted and his wife Ann were sailing with friends in their boat. They won since they were the sole boat in their class!

Racing on the Tred Avon River

Boats of different classes

On Saturday (May 20), we awoke around 6 a.m. and then decided to stay in the warmth of the bed and slept some more until after 8. It was a productive day. I cleaned the entire cockpit so that it is pristine and scrubbed the navy blue flexible seats which are usually aft of the wheel, where they collect a lot of salt spray. Peter started getting the sails ready to be removed, hoisting the staysail and leaving it to dry in the sun. 

The mainsail on the deck

The genoa drying in the sunshine

We took a break from our work to attend Safe Harbor's annual May picnic. An abundance of food was available. We sat on the deck of the clubhouse with three other people, Jerry, Karen and Greg, from Delaware. Both men had careers as engineers, mostly with DuPont, one specializing in polymers and the other in fibers. Jerry's wife Mary had died about a decade ago; the two couples had been the closest of friends for decades, sailing, going on cruises and camping together throughout the years and living only three miles from each other. Jerry and Greg are extremely knowledgeable engineers, and Peter was delighted to discuss engines and boat systems with them. After we had finished our food, Karen and I excused ourselves to go elsewhere to talk of other things. 

The picnic included games, and Peter won the bottle of wine on our table, and both of us (well, actually, everyone) won a free shirt. I got a lightweight hoodie and Peter has a new red long-sleeve T-shirt. We also got to chat with other boaters, which was quite enjoyable.

And then it was back to work. Luckily, the wind was negligible and the sun was shining, so we were able to remove and fold up the staysail, the genoa (also washed down and dried) and the mainsail. Jerry and Greg came over to help us with the main, which is large and heavy. Peter and I have taken it down and folded it ourselves, but it is much easier to handle with help. Peter was gone quite a while when he went to fetch them and, as I suspected, had spent time looking at their boat, an older Hunter. After we finished with the main, they came aboard to see our boat, and the three men talked more about engine mounts, shafts, hydraulics and the Tiny Pilot we use as our autopilot. They actually understood all the programming and the mechanical elements and could read the data on the screen for the autopilot (What is gain?), and Peter, I'm sure, was delighted to have an intelligent conversation with people who actually understood at least as well as him, if not better, what he was talking about. (I simply nod my head and pretend I comprehend when he is forced to talk about electronic or mechanical issues with me because I am the only one available.)

The chatting delayed us a bit, so the no-see-ums were flying in my eyes and up my nose and taking nips at my skin by the time we were folding up the genoa at dusk. While Peter gathered up tools and tidied up the deck, I made pasta primavera. After doing the dishes, it was time for bed for me, and Peter quickly followed.

Again, I awoke before 6 a.m., but it was warm snuggled in bed, so I allowed myself to sleep for another couple of hours with Peter. The sun is shining now, but the breeze is chilly. I have made a schedule for my work over the next five days and am happy to be working inside today. Since we arrived, we have been able to access continuous public radio broadcasts of classical music, which I missed when we were in the Bahamas.