34:43.840N 076:40.288W
Another very grey and murky day .
Tricky exit from the marina in the face of tide, current, wind and not a lot of turning room all handled superbly by Mike on the helm with the expertise of the dockmaster performing a neat trick with the lines on one of the wooden piles that helped to get Tashi Delek’s nose round in a tight corner.
Almost immediately we had a bridge to deal with. Call up the bridge controller on the radio and request an opening then watch the traffic stop, listen to hooters sounding and the bridge sweeps up as you approach. Cheery wave to the man at the controls as you go through and on to the next one.
We were in a side channel making our way from the marina and two minutes after our first bridge we had our first (and so far only, touch wood, fingers crossed) grounding. Oops. Some calm manoeuvring on the throttle and rudder by Mike and we were off. No need for Tow Boat US just yet.
We saw dolphins – two tiny specs bottom left of picture……. |
And chugged along the first part of the waterway. Cloud Nine came up behind us at quite some speed intending to go day and night because they had a deadline. Rather them than us; it is a tricky place to navigate at night in spite of all the channels being marked and lit.
The waterway is very busy with sport fishing boats, cabin cruisers, sailing yachts and professional trawlers such as this one…… |
And barges pushed by tugs…. 
We kept going as long as daylight would let us and found a suitable anchorage. Next to nothing under the keel but a thick, sticky mud that clamped the anchor down in seconds. (Not so much fun when pulling it up and trying to get the mud off) This was Ross and Loren’s last night so we opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate their first ocean passage only to learn that it was also Ross’s birthday the following day. |
The channel markers make a convenient perch…… |
Not every bridge requires a conversation or arriving at a particular time but we still hold our breath as we go under. Even though the chart says we have about 10ft of clearance it never seems like it as you approach. |
