Sunday and Monday, May 8 and 9, 2011

Calvert Marina, Solomons, MD:  Not much happening.  Exploring the area and getting caught up on our itinerary.  We are up to the Erie Canal.  They postponed the opening of May 1st due to high water.  Last we heard it would not be open until May 23rd.  Our plans will get us there by June 1, 2011.  With a little bit of luck the water will be down by then.  It looks like we will be leaving here early tomorrow morning and heading for Annapolis, MD.  We plan on taking an extra day and do some sight seeing.  Last night a couple from Wyoming came in.  We met them for the first time at Port St. Joe on the Gulf in November and they were planning to start their loop from there in January.  The 2 of them made their own boat.

CO's comments: How would you like to be in 4 foot seas in the yellow, homemade boat pictured below.  The Captain of the boat told me that the seas got so rough he had to go close to shore and anchor because he could not make any head way.  He was almost going in circles and decided to wait out the seas.  They finally made it in late Sunday. 

View of marina from gas dock-this marina has a least 15
docks and is stretched out over the north side of "Back Creek"

Our dock at Calvert Marina-new floating docks for transients

The rest of the marina has been here a long time. Even thought it is older,
they keep it up and it is clean.  This is the main dock heading toward marina office.

"On Watch"
(in park by marina)

 

"Lollygag" registered in Yankton, SD because that is where
 they got married but they are from Wyoming

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.

Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 & 5, 2011

Dozier's Retagga Point Marina:  Not much to write about.  We are spending our 4th night here.  NOAA is still giving out small craft warnings for the area and we would rather be safe than sorry.  We will try again tomorrow.  Keith said the wind has to be 15 knots or less before we will leave.  It is no fun out on Chesapeake Bay with 20 knot winds. 
For all you Looper's behind us; if you stay here, don't get pizza from Dano's.  Keith got terrible heartburn during the night and I am sick this morning.  Evidently we should have asked ahead of time because the dock hand this morning said that is a common occurrence.

Dozier's Regatta Point Marina

Rough water on Rappahannock River taken from the marina

Sunset at Dozier's Regatta Point Marina on 5-4-2011

CO's Comments:  It is a shame to see an old "Woody" neglected like this old Chris Craft below.  I have seen many on this trip in the same or worse condition.  It is too bad because people would pay good money for something like this.  I have been warned about the seas on the Chesapeake.  I have been told by some that they would rather be on the ocean than this bay. 

Monday and Tuesday, May 2 & 3, 2011

Norfolk, VA to Deltaville, VA-Doziers Regatta Point Marina:  We got going early again and had about 50 miles to go for the day.  It was slow going out of Norfolk; it took us an hour to get to Hampton Roads and then another hour to get to our first way point in Chesapeake Bay.  After that we were traveling about 2500 rpm's.  On our way out we saw a Warship preparing for departure from Norfolk and we also saw another one coming into port.  It wasn't too bad of a day to begin with.  We had seas at our stern.  By about 11:30 or so the winds picked up some and seas were about 3' but still on our stern.  We got to our marina in Deltaville just before the winds really picked up.  It looks like we might be here for a while.

Day 2 at Deltaville:  We got up at 05:30 to get an early start to the day but it was very windy and NOAA had small craft warnings so we stayed here for another day.  Doziers Regatta Point Marina has a real good rate for Looper's; $1.25 per foot.

CO's comments:  We passed Warship 1 as she was getting ready to depart.  About 1/2 hour after we passed her, she was on the radio warning all mariners to stay clear.  If they didn't, they would be met with armed response and possible prison time.  She must have been loaded for bear.  I went to the Post Office for Bobbie today and there was a hand written sign stating they were our to lunch.  This is the first time I have seen a US Post Office out to lunch.

N37 33.580
W76 18.762

Leaving Norfolk, VA

Warship coming into port