I slept in a little the morning I transited the canal to wait for the favorable current. It was a gray, misty day and you are not allowed to sail through the 14 mile canal so I motored along in the 3 knot current making about 7 knots total. The whole canal was pretty uneventful. I’m sure the scenery would have been nice during the warmer months but everything was pretty gray and brown. It was neat knowing that huge ships use this route to travel between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. However, I was very surprised that I didn’t see one ship en route. I came to Chesapeake City, MD towards the end of the canal. It was like a little oasis town decorated for Christmas with some really neat sailboats, tugs, and pilot boats around. I wish I could have stopped to explore but I really wanted to cover a lot of ground and get to Annapolis. Soon after I passed by the city I came to the head of the Chesapeake bay. The scenery was beautiful even in the gray, misty weather. The waterway began to open up and the banks took back their natural uneven shapes compared to the straight and narrow canal. The landscape seemed greener with rolling hills and woods all around. I heard shotgun blasts echoing from what I guessed were duck hunters (how far do those shots travel?)
There was no wind so I continued to motor and with my little two cylinder volvo diesel running strong my faith in the engine grew a little. Darkness fell and with it the feeling of loneliness… again! I knew I would get to Annapolis soon though and that would be a good accomplishment and there would be people there! I passed two large ships but I was well outside the shipping channel and they were far away so it didn’t make me too anxious. Passing under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was a surreal feeling. I haven’t seen so many cars and lights or even a highway since Atlantic City, which I guess wasn’t too long before but it FELT like a long time!
The lights of the US Naval Academy athletic fields came into view and I headed for Spa Creek in the Severn River. At the mouth of the creek I started to see some amazing boats docked in the surrounding marinas. The bascule bridge opened and I motored into Action Cove. It felt like Christmas with lights on the houses and condos all around glimmering off the glassy water. With the mirror-like reflection I couldn’t tell where the edge of the water stopped and the land began. I anchored in the calm cove and rowed to shore. It felt so good to be in such a neat town and around people. I grabbed a cup of coffee and explored for a few hours.
At one point I turned a corner and noticed about 15 glowing lights floating up and across the sky. It was magical and I can’t even describe the feelings I felt that night with all the beauty around me.
I stayed in Annapolis for three days and explored as much as I could. I got to workout at two crossfit gyms, I checked out the Naval Academy and the Maritime Museum they had, and I admired all the amazing boats in the this sailing capital.
Chesapeake City, MD
Chesapeake City water tower
Pilot boats in Chesapeake City
Ocean tug in Chesapeake City, MD
Scenery at the head of the Chesapeake Bay
Awesome cruising sailboat. I though this was the Pardey’s boat when I first saw it.
Cool passenger tug in Annapolis, MD
Model ship in US Naval Academy museum
