La Vida Dulce, Summer 2011

Our major cruise this year is taking two weeks in the beginning of June and heading to the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay. We'll hit Cuckold Creek on the Patuxent, St. Mary's City on the Potomac and then head down to Mill Creek on the Great Wicomico. We're planning to stay there 'till we can't stand it anymore and then we'll move across to the Eastern Shore and try out the Nanticoke and Honga Rivers. If we still have time we'll head up to the Choptank but I don't expect we'll make it that far. I'm feeling mighty lazy and really just want to hole up somewhere and read a book for a while. We have some new trolling gear and plan to dine on fresh fish as much as possible.

Since we're both still working we'll probably spend the rest of the year taking three day weekends around the Bay. Our goal is to explore every square foot of the Chesapeake over the next few years before we retire in 2014.

Couple comments on your float plan. Cuckhold Creek is a favorite of mine. If you go up past the marina (Blackstone) the speed limit is 6 mph so you will not see too many water skiers. Blackstone Marina has been less than friendly on my visit there. With regard to St Marys City. SMC is a difinite must to visit but I have found the holding in Horseshoe Bend questionable. I normally visit SMC during the day and then anchor in St Inigoes Creek for the evening. St Inigoes creek is much more protected and has good holding. Mill Creek is my get away anchorage. I live about 7 miles up river. There is a lot to do on the Great Wicomico River. Reedville, on Cockrell Creek, is an interesting town. There are two good restaurants and its home to the Reedville Fisherman's museum an easy walk from the Crazy Crab. You can catch a ferry to Tangier Island from Buzzard Point marina. There are three creeks with good anchorages on the River. Horn Harbor, Tipers Creek and Barretts Creek. There are two more for the adventours, Wharehosue creek and Cranes Creek. I'll be cruising north in the Bay in early June. Drop me a note if you have any questions about this area of the Bay

Bob, thanks for the great info. Speed limit so no water skiers...where else could you get such great information? We'll be sure to add your comments to our notes. The details that you've provided are just really great. Muchas gracias.
-Tom

Note to all members - This kind of local knowledge can add so much to a cruise. The "Groups" part of this web site is the perfect place for this kind of information sharing. It'd be great to be making plans for a trip and log in, look up the area you're going to and find info, and even pictures, all about it. I'm planning to do a short blurb about each place I go.

Inspiring plans.
Down farther south out of Deltaville, we're heading for Windmill Point Marina for Saturday night. Ordinarily, we wouldn't be caught dead in a marina on a nice weekend but they've got a good Tiki Bar and a terrific band for Memorial Day. It's possible that alcohol may be consumed so the better part of valor is to be tied to something that doesn't move. Sunday, we'll try to move up to Little Bay between Fleets Bay and Antipoison Creek (beautiful white sand beach and great holding, protected from everything but North winds). Back to the Salt Mine on Monday.
Jim Maher
Misneach
IP35-179

Jim,

We're planning to hit a marina every five days on this trip. It sounds like the Windmill point Marina might fit the bill. We were also considering going to Antipoisen Creek, mostly because of the Capt. John Smith history thing. It sounds like you have a nice weekend planned. Have a great time and thanks for the additional info on the area.

-Tom

tom, Windmill Point Marina has great entertainment but I'd suggest Deltaville Marina on Jackson Creek. Nice showers and laundry and a truly excellent boatyard. Well protected from all directions. Good holding in the creek. Courtesy car and free bicycles. Also quick access (approx 15 minute) back to bay. Fishing Bay is also a great place to anchor for all but southerly winds. Have a great cruise.
Jim and Carol Maher
Misneach
IP35-179

Radeen,

We do plan to visit St. Mary's City. I've never been there and it sounds like a great place to visit. Thanks for the suggestion.

-Tom

Jim + Carol,

Thanks for the suggestions. We plan to spend most of our time on The Great Wicomico and will be sure to check these out too. It sounds like a great spot. This is going to be our longest planned trip on the boat to date and look forward to exploring the area

We'd like to thank everyone for all the input. This has turned out really great, very helpful. I hope some day we can return the favors and, in fact, meet you all out there.

-Tom

Perhaps we will meet up with you. These posts are valuable – thank you everyone.

We are working our way north for the summer, the admiral and ‘boat boy’ return to pick up Moondance in Little River on June 1 and will work our way to Norfolk with short stops planned in Beaufort and Oriental along the way. Weather dependant, we hope to spend a week in the lower Chesapeake before heading back to the mid-west on the 15th. Current plans include Deltaville and Onancock areas.

We’ll keep an eye out.

Dale & Merna
Moondance IP420

Dale,

We're planning to be on the Wicomico between 6/5 and 6/10, probably around Mill Creek for most of the time. We'll look for you out there.

Tom + Cheri Ward
La Vida Dulce

When you cross over from the western shore to the Eastern, you might want to stop in Tangier for an overnight; it's a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily living, take some pictures and see life the way it used to be. The entrance from the bay is easy; the eastern passage to Tangier sound isn't difficult, just keep a good watch and don't do it at low water on a minus tide. Tip plan it for a mid week, not weekend, and call ahead for a slip.

If you do get into the Choptank, and want a berth, send me an e-mail and I'll reserve one for you at the Cambridge Yacht Club.

Enjoy your cruise; harbor hopping around the southern bay is a great way to spend a vacation.

PS--you will need several lifetimes to see "every square foot of the Bay"; supposedly there is more coastline here than on the west coast

Jim Campbell
IP32 South Wind
Cambridge, MD

Spent Saturday night at Windmill Point Marina. Channel was pretty shallow but we made it. Band was good. Showers were terrible. Deltaville Marina would be a better choice if you're going to stay a few days.

Hi Tom & Cheri,

As you are aware we didn't connect (sorry) - our schedule was 'in sand at low tide' and we didn't arrive in Hampton until the afternoon of the 10th. We spent the remaining time exploring the area and 'lost track' again. We left Moondance in Hampton and will return late Aug for another couple weeks in the Chesapeake.

Hope your adventure was wonderful.

CHEERS

Dale & Merna
Moondance IP 420

Thanks Dale. We had a great time, had some good sailing, did some fishing, saw some cool places, met some great folks. I'd call it a success all around except for not meeting up with you guys. Schedule in the sand? I ran aground 4 times on The Great Wicomico. One time was my fault, fer sure. OK, OK, maybe 2 times. No, mighta been 3. One time was definitely not my fault, I'm pretty sure. Our schedule was also kept loose. We never did make it over to the Eastern Shore.

I do hope we manage to cross paths some time. If you're ever close to mid-point on the Chesapeake let us know and we'll come out and chase you down.

Tom + Cheri
La Vida Dulce IP 420-35

Tom,

Interested to know where you ran aground on the Great Wicomico. After years of sailing on the river I have run aground twice since I bought Liberty (increasing my draft from 3.5' to 4.5'). Also is one of your pictures from Horn Harbor anchorage?

Bob

Hmmm, let's see. On Mill Creek I ran aground after rounding G3 because I was unable to find R4 in the heavy haze. I was looking through the binoculars when we drifted into the mud. The next place was in Cockrell Creek while turning around in Buzzards Neck(?) Creek and then 15 minutes later when I ran down the wrong side of R2 further up Cockrell Creek. Just totally fazed out on that last one and it was like hitting a wall. My wife came up topsides to see what happened and when she saw that we were on the wrong side of the marker she asked me if I was OK. It was smokin' hot out and the stench from the processing plant was overwhelming. The fourth place wasn't really running aground, just bumping over the sandbar going into Horn Harbor. And the real fourth time was further up Horn Harbor where the chart said we had 7' and we came to an abrupt halt. Got out of all of these by flooring it in reverse and saying the Grounding Prayer over and over again.

You're correct....the picture is from our anchorage just inside the entrance to Horn Harbor. Beautiful spot.

I think our draft is 4'7". Two of our groundings were from neglect on my part although one of them was because I was under the influence of fish oil. We did pretty well considering that our depth gauge wasn't working for most of the trip. We've gotten really good at running aground and always manage to pick the softest spots.