We started the new year of 2022 quietly, with Katya, Peter and I at home and Matthew just departed for Phoenix to spend a few weeks with his girlfriend Sheena before returning to England in late January. Peter and I were delighted to join our good friends Mary and Bill at their lovely home in Bodega Bay for the Valentine's Day weekend along with our mutual friends Karen and Bob. We attended a wine mixing and luncheon event at a local winery, did some hiking along the coast and enjoyed downtown Sebastopol on a weekend morning for shopping and lunch. On the way to and from Bodega Bay, Peter and I visited Olompali State Historic Park, the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, and the Lachryma House in Sonoma as well as downtown Sonoma. 

Mary, Karen, Bob, Bill, Sherri and Peter at Marimar Estate Winery

Peter and Sherri enjoying the sunset on a trail in Bodega Bay

The winter was dry, so hiking replaced skiing as an outdoor activity. We particularly enjoyed hiking locally and at Mount Diablo State Park. Katya and I loved the spring wildflowers in the Sierra foothills. I visited San Francisco to see our friends Paula and Andrew a couple times and Peter joined me for one of my city trips. 

Sherri enjoying a bean bun in Chinatown in early April

Katya on the Olmsted Loop trail near Cool in mid-April

In mid-April, Peter and I departed for the East Coast. I stopped in Charleston, West Virginia, to visit my dad and other family for a few days before flying to Washington, D.C. to visit my friend Lori. Peter went directly to Oxford, Maryland, to begin getting Mantra ready for a season of sailing but met me in Washington for the weekend with the intention of our both returning to Oxford. However, Mantra was not in the water yet, so I chose (with great delight) to remain in Washington for another week because there are always exciting things to do and see there, and I enjoy spending time with Lori. 

Sherri and Peter at the National Arboretum

Sherri at the Hirshhorn Museum

I joined Peter in Oxford in the beginning of May, as a couple of weeks of preparation to sail became six weeks; we spent the entire month at the marina there. Peter was busy working on the boat, and I had too much free time after I did a deep clean of the boat, which had accumulated quite a bit of mold and mildew in a year, but enjoyed the spring flowers in the lovely gardens of old Oxford homes. Lori, Germán and Elizabeth joined us for a weekend, and we went out for a day sail, bicycled and explored Oxford. Peter and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary with a superb dinner at the Oxford Inn. 

Lori and Elizabeth

Germán at the wheel

Peter and Sherri celebrating our anniversary

Peter's view of Mantra from the top of the mast

Peter cleaning the spreaders

Finally, we began sailing on May 30. heading north on the Chesapeake, down Delaware Bay and up the east coast to New York Harbor.  We enjoyed staying at Liberty Landing Marina across from Manhattan and then exploring the lower portion of the Hudson River. In mid-June, Peter's brother Rob and his wife Susan joined us in Brooklyn and sailed with us in Long Island Sound, taking pleasure in great days of sailing and wonderful explorations on shore.

Peter, Susan, Rob and Sherri at a restaurant in Brooklyn

Peter, Sherri, Susan and Rob at Billy Joel's motorcycle museum/garage in Oyster Bay, NY

Peter's other brother Mike and his wife Louise joined us in Mystic, Connecticut, and we were also joined for a day sail with our friend Ali, whom we met on our Grand Canyon trip in 2021, and his wife and youngest daughter. 

Peter, Tess, Ali and Jess sailing on Long Island Sound

Peter, Ali and Sherri

The three Brown brothers and spouses enjoyed the three-day Wooden Boat Show at the Mystic Seaport Museum.

Rob, Peter, Sherri, Louise, Susan and Mike at Mystic Pizza

Rob and Susan left us in Mystic, and Mike and Louise stayed on board until we arrived in Boston, MA. 

Mike, Louise, Sherri and Peter at Block Island, RI

Mike and Peter sailing 

They departed from Boston on July 3, and Peter and I stayed in the city to enjoy exploring Boston and attending the fireworks and the Boston Pops concert on the Esplanade on the night of Independence Day (July 4). From Boston, we continued north along the New England coast, enjoying anchorages, small towns, sunsets, rainbows and kayaking in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine before reaching Casco Bay, where we were joined by Katya, who flew in from Sacramento, and our friend Enis from Florida. Katya arrived to drive with us to Maryland for the annual Rodgers family beach vacation and Enis had agreed to boat sit during our 10 days away. 

On the way to Ocean City, Maryland, Peter, Katya and I broke up the trip with a stop in New York City to walk around the beautiful Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park in upper Manhattan. 

The beach vacation was a wonderful reunion. Unfortunately, neither my dad nor Matthew were able to come, nor was the Powell branch of the family there because of a new baby and a recent move to Sanibel Island, Florida. However, Lori, Germán and Elizabeth were there. My brother Terry and his wife Karen had to leave early because my dad became ill. But the weather was great and we enjoyed our time together relaxing, playing games, eating too much, playing putt-putt golf, fishing, digging in the sand, and swimming in the ocean. 

Katya playing games with two cousins and an uncle

Peter and other family members enjoying the balcony in the evening

Katya, Sherri and Peter playing a trivia game with family members

The putt-putt golf crowed

Family photo

We dropped Katya off at JFK on time for her flight despite horrible traffic and continued north to Vermont, the last US State for me to visit to bag all 50. We only spent a couple days traveling in southern Vermont and New Hampshire and then returned to Mantra and Enis in Casco Bay, ME. 

Sherri and her 50th State

Enis stayed with us for a week, and we had great fun sailing and island hopping.

Sherri, Enis and Peter at a lobster shack in Rockland, ME

Enis and Peter sailing from Matinicus Island to Rockland

Kayaking at Matinicus

After Enis' departure, Peter and I continued sailing north, enjoying kayaking and exploring islands on our own and admiring spectacular sunsets. On August 16, friends from Gold River, Floyd and Maryann, joined us for two weeks of exploring the Maine coast from Camden Harbor to the shores of Mount Desert Island and enjoying Acadia National Park.

Floyd, Maryann, Sherri and Peter with the carnivores enjoying lobster

Maryann, Floyd and Peter in the pilothouse

For the month of September, we were on our own again and hopped among the bays, islands and lobster pots from eastern Maine to the Bay of Fundy. 

Peter and Sherri on Roque Island

Sherri enjoying the sunshine and crisp weather on the Kennebacasis River in New Brunswick

Peter dressed in layers as we sail through the fog

Sherri at the helm in winter clothes in late September 

For more photos and narrative on our adventures on Mantra, you can see our sailing blog:  https://thebrownsmantra.blogspot.com/.

On the first of October, we arrived in Portsmouth, Maine. I departed for warm and sunny California a few days later while Peter remained there in the boatyard to work on our boat. In early November, with a crew of four guys, he set off for Florida, arriving at Jensen Beach right before Thanksgiving. Mantra is on a mooring ball there, awaiting our return in January.

Katya was happy to have me back, although she had a companion to keep her company in our absence--Carolina, the cat she adopted in the spring. 

Carolina helping Katya study animal anatomy and physiology

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with most of the Rodgers family in West Virginia, delighted to have Matthew join us. The four of us are now at home in Gold River, enjoying time with friends and each other.

Sherri, Peter, Sherri's dad, Matthew and Katya

Katya and Carolina in front of the tree

 

We feel very fortunate to have had many wonderful blessings this year. However, we all continue to be saddened by the death of our very good friend Andrew in mid-October. 

We hope that you are enjoying the holiday season and wish you peace and joy in the new year.

Love,

Sherri and Peter