Trawler Trip South to Florida: The Chesapeake Bay Revisited

Heading north through the Chesapeake Bay felt like home. We are somewhat familiar with the Bay and her moods and waypoints. We also feel like this is the home stretch, and are starting to look forward to being home on solid ground.

Our first stop was Mobjack Bay. We arrived after a day of angry seas on the stern quarter coming in from the SE - under/over the bridge/tunnel from the Atlantic. We surfed into the bay and found shelter on the SW branch of the Severn River (not to be confused with the Severn in Annapolis). The Bay is large, and has several creeks that feed into it. There are no large towns so it is very quiet. We have also found that we are a bit early for boating season here this year. Lots of boats still on the hard, and marinas are just getting up to speed. BUT the azaleas, dogwoods, iris, and many other spring flowers are in full bloom.

Mobjack Bay

Remote anchorage - very sheltered

The next day we took off intending to make it to Solomons Island because the weather was OK, and would be windy the next day. As we were motoring along, I smelled diesel, not the kind that comes from the exhaust pipe, but fresh. I looked in the engine room, and saw a leak under the forward end of the engine. Here is where we got lucky. We were just off Deltaville, VA where we have had work done before, so we called and went on in. The next morning the mechanic found and fixed a pin hole in the fuel supply line before the high pressure pump. An easy fix once he found where the leak was coming from.

Sunset in Deltaville

Deltaville docks

We saw several container ships passing in the shipping lanes. It is fun to follow them on the RADAR and anticipate when they will turn based on the charts, GPS and RADAR

The ride to Solomon's was relaxed. This passage can be truly "lumpy" as we discovered when we brought the boat home 3 years ago. This time the Bay behaved. We dropped the hook on a lovely afternoon in the sun. When we turned on the generator it over-heated and shut off. The next morning we tried to get the Zahniser's mechanic to look at it, but they were busy with preparing boats for the season. Since the weekend was coming, we made arrangements to get a mechanic aboard in St. Michael's on Monday. Since the wind was whipping, we went to the dock to plug in and stayed to shop and visit the Calvert Maritime Museum in Solomon's Island.

The Lighthouse at the Calvert Museum. We were able to go up and see inside.

Zahnhiser's Marina from the anchorage.

NOAA boat across the harbor

An historic Chesapeake Bay boat that takes people for harbor rides from the Calvert Museum.

The cliffs on the west shore with a fishery area.

Our next stop is one of my very favorite places - Oxford, MD. It is quiet and beautiful with gorgeous homes and spring gardens. We stopped to look at the display in the window of the Cutt and Case boat works. They design and build wood boats as well as doing restoration projects. They have several models and small boats on display. Everything was open on this sunny spring day so we went inside and took a look around. The boats were better than the museum boats. Several had already been launched and were at the docks to admire while the wood hulls were getting used to the water again. We also had to eat dinner at the Robert Morris Inn - Absolutely delicious!

Cutt and Case Boat Works - wooden boats - restored and new.

Many beautiful homes and gardens

Every street that ends on the water has a public bench to sit and relax and enjoy ...

... the passing boats

Sunday we took the boat around through Knapps Narrows and into St. Michaels. It was another lovely sunny afternoon, and we walked around town and into the Maritime Museum. They have an interesting collection of historic work boats both inside and out, some are being restored, others preserved "as is".

I finally saw an alligator. Gracing a lawn in Knapps Narrows ... I had hoped for a live one.

Robert on Higgins Marina docks in St Michaels

A lovely home - St Michaels

The church bells were ringing all morning.

Covered bridge in St. Michaels

Pictures from the Maritime Museum:

This kiddie park is all set for playing "pirate"

A replica of the ship used to explore the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1600's. The crew spent over 120 days sailing and rowing up the bay and into the major tributaries.

Chesapeake Bay fishing boat

The old rail and chains used for launching boats.

Work and tug boat

Monday AM the mechanic arrived as planned, found a hose end that was rotten, sucking air into the impeller, which disintegrated from the heat and friction. He was able to replace the parts, and all is well. We left as soon as he was done and found a lovely anchorage on the Wye River in the rain and wind.

Wye River Light

Wye River shore

This morning we got up early and set off in more rain and wind to go through Kent Narrows and up the channel along the East shore to Sassafras River. We are now anchored in a protected spot listening to the rain patter on the roof. The clouds are dramatic and the shoreline is peaceful. Tomorrow we will leave the Chesapeake Bay and enter the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal - the final stage of the journey. We will wait there for a good weather window to go down the Delaware, around New Jersey and up the Hudson River.