Northern Chesapeake Cruise,
We just returned from a week long cruise of the northern Chesapeake bay . We anchored out a few nights the others we stayed in marinas. We covered about 240 miles. We started out from Duffy’s marina near Fredericktown Md. Nice quiet marina good launch ramp. safe parking for the tow rigs. We walked to a local restaurant called the Granary which was nice right on the water great food. The first day we ran eight miles out the Sassafras river to the bay and then down to Rock Hall about 40 miles south. On the way we toured Worton Creek and dropped the hook for a lunch break then on to Rock Hall. We stayed at Rock Hall Landing marina which is a nice facility who have folks waiting at the docks to tie your boat and hookup shore power if you require it. They actually took another boater to West Marine about a mile away and waited for him, and then took him to the local hardware store waited again and brought him back to the marine. Customer service at it’s best. We ate at the Bay Wolf restaurant which was ok but in hind sight we should have eaten at the Waterman’s Crab House. Our waiter might have been a distant relative to Adolf Hitler. Some of the food was good some no so good. Thursday we headed for the back side of St. Michaels. Leaving Rock Hall we headed for the Kent Narrows and on down the bay to Knapp’s Narrows into the little Choptank river and over to Broad creek and then up to the San Domingo creek. 48 miles for the day. We anchored up in pretty spot about a mile from the dinghy dock next to a park on the less traveled side of St. Michaels. We ate at the famous Crab Claw restaurant which was excellent. Friday we headed for Oxford only 21 miles away. We drove up the Tred Avon river to Tripp Creek and headed back down to Oxford proper. We gassed up at the Mears Marina and headed on over to Hinckley ’s Boatyard. Fixed docks and pilings out front. After getting tied up (not pretty) we found the folks there especially Charlie who runs the ships store to be more than accommodating. We were a little light on Propane charlie went to his own boat pulled out a spare propane canister and hand delivered it to our dinner area. Nice man! Charlie gave us all a nice reusable shopping bag with info on Hinckley yachts with a couple of baseball caps etc. Free use of bicycles. Oxford is small but very pretty. We barbecued some steaks on the hard right behind our boat. Showers and laundry just a few steps away from the boat. Saturday we left Oxford and headed across the bay to Annapolis 40 miles. We got a spot right on the wall on Ego Alley with the Annapolis city marina. Lots of boats come and go thru ego alley the people and the boats provide non stop entertainment but it’s expensive. Nice showers etc but about 76 dollars a night with shore power. We took a water taxi ($2.00 per person)over to Eastport which is just across the bay. Lots of dining opportunities in Eastport. After dinner a water taxi back to our boat. Pretty good thunderstorm with heavy rain Saturday night. The front hatch provided a window to the lightning show. Good to have sail boats around with tall masts on a night like that. Our camper top kept the back of the boat nice and dry. Sunday am after a shower and taking some pictures we headed for Baltimore . 40 miles later after a side trip up the Severn River which is beautiful by the way we were in Fells Point district of Baltimore at Henderson’ Wharf Marina. More nice people here whoa we are in the city. Lot ’s of liveaboards here. A very secure marine with great parking with a sliding electric security gate. Only about 41 dollars which included shore power showers etc. After getting settled in we walked thru the Fells Point area which has lots of side walk cafes etc. We walked to a section of Baltimore called Little Italy and after water boarding a few locals we decided on Ciao Bella which is a fine restaurant which we felt provided the best meal of the entire trip. After the meal we walked over and around the Inner Harbor area and back to the marina. More intense thunderstorms Sunday night. Monday after showers and coffee we headed out and took a spin around the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore . We headed back across the bay which was flat as a pancake to the Sassafras river and about four miles in headed up into Back Creek behind Knight Island and anchored out for the night. We barbecued some and warmed up left overs finished up what was left of our wine supply. More thunder storms Monday night. Tuesday morning we ran the remaining miles back up the Sassafras to Duffy"s Marina and pulled the boat and headed for home. Pictures in our album page five under Chesapeake 2011. Good seven day spin, we lucked out on the weather.
D.D.
We just returned from a week long cruise of the northern Chesapeake bay . We anchored out a few nights the others we stayed in marinas. We covered about 240 miles. We started out from Duffy’s marina near Fredericktown Md. Nice quiet marina good launch ramp. safe parking for the tow rigs. We walked to a local restaurant called the Granary which was nice right on the water great food. The first day we ran eight miles out the Sassafras river to the bay and then down to Rock Hall about 40 miles south. On the way we toured Worton Creek and dropped the hook for a lunch break then on to Rock Hall. We stayed at Rock Hall Landing marina which is a nice facility who have folks waiting at the docks to tie your boat and hookup shore power if you require it. They actually took another boater to West Marine about a mile away and waited for him, and then took him to the local hardware store waited again and brought him back to the marine. Customer service at it’s best. We ate at the Bay Wolf restaurant which was ok but in hind sight we should have eaten at the Waterman’s Crab House. Our waiter might have been a distant relative to Adolf Hitler. Some of the food was good some no so good. Thursday we headed for the back side of St. Michaels. Leaving Rock Hall we headed for the Kent Narrows and on down the bay to Knapp’s Narrows into the little Choptank river and over to Broad creek and then up to the San Domingo creek. 48 miles for the day. We anchored up in pretty spot about a mile from the dinghy dock next to a park on the less traveled side of St. Michaels. We ate at the famous Crab Claw restaurant which was excellent. Friday we headed for Oxford only 21 miles away. We drove up the Tred Avon river to Tripp Creek and headed back down to Oxford proper. We gassed up at the Mears Marina and headed on over to Hinckley ’s Boatyard. Fixed docks and pilings out front. After getting tied up (not pretty) we found the folks there especially Charlie who runs the ships store to be more than accommodating. We were a little light on Propane charlie went to his own boat pulled out a spare propane canister and hand delivered it to our dinner area. Nice man! Charlie gave us all a nice reusable shopping bag with info on Hinckley yachts with a couple of baseball caps etc. Free use of bicycles. Oxford is small but very pretty. We barbecued some steaks on the hard right behind our boat. Showers and laundry just a few steps away from the boat. Saturday we left Oxford and headed across the bay to Annapolis 40 miles. We got a spot right on the wall on Ego Alley with the Annapolis city marina. Lots of boats come and go thru ego alley the people and the boats provide non stop entertainment but it’s expensive. Nice showers etc but about 76 dollars a night with shore power. We took a water taxi ($2.00 per person)over to Eastport which is just across the bay. Lots of dining opportunities in Eastport. After dinner a water taxi back to our boat. Pretty good thunderstorm with heavy rain Saturday night. The front hatch provided a window to the lightning show. Good to have sail boats around with tall masts on a night like that. Our camper top kept the back of the boat nice and dry. Sunday am after a shower and taking some pictures we headed for Baltimore . 40 miles later after a side trip up the Severn River which is beautiful by the way we were in Fells Point district of Baltimore at Henderson’ Wharf Marina. More nice people here whoa we are in the city. Lot ’s of liveaboards here. A very secure marine with great parking with a sliding electric security gate. Only about 41 dollars which included shore power showers etc. After getting settled in we walked thru the Fells Point area which has lots of side walk cafes etc. We walked to a section of Baltimore called Little Italy and after water boarding a few locals we decided on Ciao Bella which is a fine restaurant which we felt provided the best meal of the entire trip. After the meal we walked over and around the Inner Harbor area and back to the marina. More intense thunderstorms Sunday night. Monday after showers and coffee we headed out and took a spin around the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore . We headed back across the bay which was flat as a pancake to the Sassafras river and about four miles in headed up into Back Creek behind Knight Island and anchored out for the night. We barbecued some and warmed up left overs finished up what was left of our wine supply. More thunder storms Monday night. Tuesday morning we ran the remaining miles back up the Sassafras to Duffy"s Marina and pulled the boat and headed for home. Pictures in our album page five under Chesapeake 2011. Good seven day spin, we lucked out on the weather.
D.D.