Friday and Saturday, May 6 & 7, 2011

Dozier's Regatta Point Marina to Solomons, MD, Calvert Marina, Friday:  The weather looked good and by 06:45 we were finally on our way after 4 days.  The waves were not too bad for most of the day.  We started across the Potomac River and entered into Maryland and at this time the waves picked up some but we have seen a lot worse.  We encountered several crab pods today.  They seem to run in spurts.  There are a lot in one area  and  appear to have a pattern; but then all of sudden they are all over the place.  Then they quit and you think you are safe and one pops up and you go through the whole ordeal all over again.  I think everyone should use the red colored floaters on their crab pods as they are easier to see.  Unfortunately, today a lot of them were white and it was really hard to tell then from the little white caps on the bay but we made it safely to our marina.  

Saturday:  Did the usual; re provisioned, cleaned boat, and washed clothes.  Had dinner at the "Back Creek Bistro" and it was very good.  Every one told me to wait until I got to Chesapeake Bay to try the crab cakes so I had them for the first time.  They had very large lumps of crab in them and were alright, but a little too spicy for my taste.  I think I will stick with shrimp from now on.

CO's comments:  I believe that an early departure is key.  One boat that left 2 hours after we did and encountered very rough seas at the mouth of the Potomac.  We had drinks with another boat that came in just after we did; a 48 footer with stabilizers.  He crossed the Potomac about an hour after we did and encountered a violent roll of about 45 degrees.  He thinks that it was so violent and swift that one of his stabilizers came out of the water.

N38 19.946
W76 27.434

Tug pulling a barge full of containers in Chesapeake Bay

Containers stacked 4 high,(some had 5 high) 7 long, and 10 deep
for a total of 290.  We saw two of these today-5-6-2011

"Lookout Point Lighthouse" on Chesapeake Bay
where it meets the Potomac River Mouth

Flashing Marker "Point No Point" on Chesapeake Bay.
It looks like at some point these markers were manned; they even
have an outhouse sticking out the side which dumps right in the the bay.