LEAVING ANNAPOLIS

JUNE 25, 2016

LIFE IS GOOD IN THE CHESAPEAKE

 HOT COFFEE AND FULL ENCLOSURE

TEMPERATURE IN THE LOW 60'S

THE SASSFRAS RIVER

We left the mooring field in Annapolis, Maryland about 6:30am headed for the C&D Canal.  It was a foggy, overcast morning, the water was flat and there was a slight breeze as we motored out of Spa Creek back into the Chesapeake Bay heading north.

 

WATCHING THE STORM

As the day progressed the clouds built and storms were all around us.  By afternoon a large storm was brewing south of us and the waves were building in the Chesapeake.  We soon decided we would have a short day and turned into the Sassafras River to find a protected spot to anchor for the night.  Just as we dropped the anchor in 15ft of water the winds picked up and the thunder boomed.  The rain began to fall and tornado warnings were announced on the radio.  The storm looked much worse than it turned out to be, it slid by us to the south.  We were soon settled in for the night, tomorrow will be a long day.

THE C&D CANAL

By 10:30 the next morning we were entering the C&D Canal.  This waterway is 14 miles long, connecting the Chesapeake Bay to the Delaware River.  Everything from large container ships to small pleasure craft use this canal.  As It's Perfect entered the canal our timing was perfect.  The current was moving our way and our speed quickly went from 5 1/2 knots to over 7.  Then we sat back and enjoyed the ride right into the Delaware River.

CHERNOBYL ????  ON THE DELAWARE RIVER

As we turned into the river the water was calm & flat.  There was a steady stream of cargo ships and tow boats pulling barges coming and going.  We saw few sail boats or other small boats on that part of the waterway.  By early afternoon the wind had kicked up and the tide turned.  The waves were soon crashing around us and our speed had dropped to 4 knots.  It was time to find a spot for the night. 

After another 10 miles we wound our way out of the shipping channel and thru the shallows behind Ship John Shoals.   The wind was blowing hard and the shallow water was churning around us as we looked for a spot to anchor.  All of a sudden we were surrounded by crab pots, the one place you do not want your boat to be is in the middle of a field of crab pots.  If a crab pot line wraps around your prop you are dead in the water.  We quickly retraced our track out of danger and dropped our anchor in 15ft of water. 

 About 5:30pm the anchor was down, the wind blowing us one direction and the current was pushing us the opposite direction.  Our first couple of hours were very uncomfortable.  The good thing was we were well off the shipping lanes and it was time to make dinner. 

SUNSET SHIP JOHN SHOLES

We waited out the bumpy ride till almost sunset when the wind began to die down.  Our new Rocna anchor was dug in deep in the hard sandy bottom.  After a long day with the water much calmer it was time for a hot shower and a good nights sleep  We will have an early departure in the morning.  It is 30 miles to our anchorage in Cape May, New Jersey.