Leaving the Chesapeake

Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Thu 28 Jun 2012 03:49


 

Our position is: 39:31.562N 75:48.446W

 

We took Marshall, Susan and Joe out to Mike’s Crab House for a farewell dinner and all enjoyed rending shellfish limb from limb with our bare hands, but all good things come to an end and on Thursday it was time to say goodbye to the peaceful dock on Crab Creek and the Steeles and head North again. We were up early as we needed fuel and a pump out at the nearby marina before going under Chesapeake Bay Bridge and heading for the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

We had hoped that the day might include more sailing than the previous week had offered but it was not to be. We spent the whole (hot) day motoring, sometimes with enough wind to fill the jib and sometimes not. At least we could keep the sunshade up as there was no point in deploying the mainsail.

Our destination for the night was Chesapeake City, which is about half way along the canal. The pilot book promised a free dock but on arrival in the harbour there was no sign of this, only signs along some rather dodgy looking pontoons saying no public docking. However there was a marina and an area for anchoring. The marina looked full and there was loud music emanating from its buildings. We inquired of a man on an anchored motor cruiser and he said there was a party at the marina and it was fully booked but we could anchor where there was space, which we duly did. As the evening progressed many motor boats arrived and proceeded to raft together (noisily) – it seemed the party was the maritime equivalent of a gathering of Hell’s Angels!

We stayed peacefully on board and fortunately the noise did not go on too late, and didn’t seem to disturb the many ducks and geese inhabiting the park at the edge of the harbour.

 

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Fighting with shellfish at Mikes                                                                                                                                                        It was hard to say goodbye to this peaceful spot and new friends

 

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One way to move gravel                                                                                                                                             I think the netting is a nesting deterrent as well as indicating the colour of the mark

 

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Ducks and geese ashore  by the Chesapeake City anchorage                                                                                 Not everyone lived on the land

 

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Looking towards the full and partying marina before the additional hoards arrived and filled the anchorage.