Cape May and the Chesapeake Bay

The winds arose again and we spent an extra day in Cape May.  Our patience was rewarded with a perfect morning to depart through the three and one half mile Cape May Canal which leads to the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. 

 

A Beautiful Morning Departure

 

Entering the Cape May Canal

Perfect Conditions on Delaware Bay

Delaware Bay is wide and can become quite nasty in unsettled weather.  We felt fortunate to have such good weather for this transit.  Our original destination was Chesapeake City on the C & D Canal. 

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

The conditions were so good and we arrived so early in the day that we continued on to the Sassafras River which is on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay.  We were very glad that we did!  We had passed it on several occasions, this time we chose to explore this scenic river. 

The Sassafras River

Georgetown Yacht Basin with the Kitty Knight House Visible on the Hill

Our new destination of Georgetown took us several miles upstream, what a treat it was! Fall on the Chesapeake is gorgeous with the leaves turning to shades of red and yellow and the sky a bright clear blue; we thoroughly enjoyed the trip to the Georgetown Yacht Basin.  Brunch at the Kitty Knight House was yet another treat of this diversion up the Sassafras River.

Departing Through the Mooring Field

Fall on the Sassafras

Departing Georgetown we headed to Oxford to visit our friends, John and Janice Elerding.  The day was beautiful with a light chop on the water as we headed down the Bay.  

We Passed Under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Arriving in Beautiful Oxford, MD

Reaching Oxford we called John and Janice and had a great visit with them including a wonderful dinner in St. Michaels, another of our favorite spots on this part of the Bay.  We have had many weather delays so with October coming to an end we determined that if the weather is good, it must be a travel day.  With some regret and a good forecast we departed Oxford, our visit a little shorter than we would have liked.  Our next destination was St. Mary’s Cove, another favorite spot.  The winds on the Bay picked up as we crossed, completely unpredicted by any of our many weather indicators.  Wind on the Chesapeake can create a nasty chop because of the shallow depths.  We were soon encountering three foot breaking waves made more uncomfortable by the short distance between each crest.  With this change in weather, we changed our destination to a marina in Solomons Island.  By the time we arrived, the waves had subsided and the trip was quite pleasant up the Patuxent River to the harbor that is Solomons.  

Spring Cove Marina in Solomons Island, MD

We hated to miss the peaceful anchorage at St. Mary’s Cove but we enjoy Solomons and with uncertain weather it was a better choice.  Our next stop was Regatta Point in Deltaville, simply a convenient stop between Solomons and Norfolk.  The Bay had quieted and the forecast was good, this time the forecast proved more accurate.

Sunset in Deltaville, VA

Departing Deltaville, the fan belt began to squeal and Harry went down into the engine room to investigate.  Discovering the water pump was leaking, we returned to the Marina.  A few phone calls and a new water pump was on order, expected to arrive the next day. With the new pump installed we departed Deltaville once again.  The forecast called for two foot waves which on the shallow waters of the Bay can be choppy.  As we neared the southern end of Chesapeake Bay where the Atlantic Ocean, the James River and Hampton Roads meet the Chesapeake Bay, the confluence of these bodies of water made for much confusion on the water itself leading to waves as high as five feet on occasion.  

The Bay Was Getting Rough

Wind Driven Waves

Hali Took It All In Stride

We had a good salt water bath by the time we had turned into Hampton Roads and proceeded past the many military and commercial shipbuilding installations surrounding one of the world’s greatest natural harbors. The radio teemed with distress calls and “security” calls warning of commercial or military ships' movements.  It is always an interesting trip through this busy harbor.  Arriving at Waterside Marina in Norfolk we were happy to return to this vibrant waterfront. 

Waterside Marina, Norfolk, VA