We're in the Chesapeake!

August 1 & 2

On Monday morning, Labor Day, we pulled up anchor and headed down the C&D Canal. It connects the Delaware River to the Chesapeake. It's only a 12 mile crossing, which wasn't bad at all. VERY exciting to be in the Chesapeake. First impression??? CRAB POTS! They are EVERYWHERE!!!!! I don't think a poor crab could wiggle a leg without getting caught in one. And it makes boating a bit tricky because you don't want to get the lines caught on your propeller or wrapped around your rudder. I sat on the deck to point out where they were and we did fine maneuvering around them.

The first night we anchored in a port called Harve De Grace. It's a small town with lots of boating traffic, especially on a holiday weekend. As we were pulling up the anchor the next morning, Bill got his hand caught in the chain! It wrapped around his hand, pinning it against the anchor windless (the machine that pulls the anchor up). He grabbed a metal bar that he uses to release the chain and luckily did not mangle his hand. He put it on ice immediately and repeated icing it several more times. It's swollen a bit, but luckily, no serious damage (at least that we can tell so far).

The second night, we anchored in a secluded bay on the Sassafrass River. LOVED it! So quiet and peaceful. During the day, we took a dink ride upriver to Georgetown, a HUGE boating community. There were way more boats than homes. We found a little spit of a beach surrounded by woods that had a lot of honeysuckle-type flowers growing among the branches. Smelled so sweet. We sat and listened to all the birds, crickets, squirrels, etc. Felt good to be in a wooded area again. I was really beginning to miss my walks in the woods every morning at home. We had dinner at a marina then whisked back to the boat as the sun was setting. Absolutely gorgeous. We listened to the crickets as we watched the stars come out and the moon set... the perfect ending to a perfect day (well, except for the hand accident).

This morning, Bill pulled out the divider board he had in the anchor well, to cut it down and move it over so hopefully the chain won't get caught up again. We are heading towards Baltimore. We're going to anchor out on the river leading up to it tonight, then will stay in Baltimore at a dock over the weekend since they are predicting bad weather from Hurricane Hanna.

As always, I'll keep you posted...