day twenty-four - light winds on the Chester

I wake in darkness, wondering where I am.  Rolling over it is clear that I am in a sleeping back, and that means I am on the boat.  I find myself wondering where the boat might be.  A brief moment then it comes to me.  Ditchers Cove, that's where I am. 

7:50 sails up and under power on calm Queenstown Creek.  Cold and clear, fall leaves brilliant in the morning sun.  Just a tease of a south wind.

8:20 leaving Queenstown Creek and I can see ruffled waters out on the Chester River.  A single deadrise works a trot line.

The forecast is for light wind and proves to be all too accurate.  Under power on the Chester.  Put out a trolling line.  The river is quiet, no wind, no birds feeding, no hits on the lure.

10:20 a patch of wind off Reed Creek.  10:50 sailing at 2.0 and tacking slowly up the river.  10:20 tack at green marker "1" off Grays Inn Landing.  Wind fills in across the Chester River, light but steady.  12:30 3.1.  

1:20 tack towards Corsica River entrance.  1:40 turn towards Reed Creek.  Finally some decent wind and make a series of short tacks towards Gordon Point.  2:35 short tacking into Reed Creek.  Surprised to find the Skipjack IDA MAY tied up to a pier at a farm.  3:15 anchor down near the tree-lined shore on the southern edge of Reed Creek. 

 18.22 NM

day twenty-three - invited, windless

Morning comes with an invitation to visit friends on the farm.  How nice.  I sleep in.  After tucking away the sleeping gear, I straighten up the boat, relax and read.

The trees around the cove are alive with the sound of birds.  I open an app to identify the birds.  In seconds the page is populated with a list of avian calls.

Mid-morning I motor to the dock on the old farm.

It's a pleasant morning with friends, sunny and warm, croissants and tea.

And a walking tour of the farm.

I cast off and motor to the town dock in Queenstown, looking forward to lunch at the local pizza joint.  I find it is closed, having forgotten that it is a Monday.  Instead I walk up to the highway for a gas station sandwich, fries and a cold drink.  Not a great lunch, but what can I expect from a gas station.

 Windless as I can off.  Passing the mouth of Queenstown Creek I see the Chester River is glass calm.  I motor back to Ditchers Cove, put out the anchor and set up the boom tent for shade.  It is an enjoyable afternoon.

day twenty-two - a favorite cove

Sunrise comes with a fog that creeps across Shaw Bay.  It is a light, low-hanging fog that hovers on the eastern shore, then moves towards SPARTINA and completely surrounds us.  

Blue skies above, the fog envelopes Bruffs Island.  We motor around the dark shape of the land.  Clears skies on the far side.  

On the Miles River at 8:10 with glassy calm water.  Under power.  8:40 see a wind line to the west.  Parsons Island ahead off the port bow.  9:00 the lightest of breezes, stay under power.  

9:40 near Kent Narrow, radio the bridge tender for 10:00 a.m. lift, as does a large ketch nearby.  Three catboats coming up from behind.  Moving up against the opposing tide I tell the ketch I will follow them through on the lift.  They don't realize the lift has already begun and it happens quickly.  They turn away from the bridge and end up in the wrong position, so I just go through first.  

10:20 out of the Narrows and sails up in light winds on the Chester River.  Making a slow drift towards Hail Point.  Not a could in the sky, the water reflecting the blue above.  Beautiful, but windless.  Wake from power boats make for an uncomfortable drift.  

12:50 jibe at Hail Point towards Queenstown.  1:45 motorsailing.  Outside of Queenstown Creek round up and bring down the main and jib.  

Motor into the creek and turn to port.  

Follow the creek north.  Anchor down Ditchers Cove 2:30, one of my favorite anchorages on the Bay.  

 16.31 NM

day twenty-one - caught again

7:55 cast off from Knapps Narrows Marine.  Clear skies, cool, light north wind.  8:00 sails up on Poplar Island Narrows, spotty wind, under power.  

8:30 sails up in a light breeze, making 1.9.  8:55 motorsailing.  A deadrise passes by, collecting pots as the crabbing season ends, friendly wave from the captain and crew.  9:40 sailing, cast to some feeding fish but no luck.  

 

10:55 tacking north at 3.5.  11:45 less wind and under power.  I am surprised by a text message from friends Harold and Anna.  They are driving up Tilghman Island and through the trees catch a glimpse of a Pathfinder on the water.  They wonder if it is me.  Small world, again.  

1:40 Tilghman Point, hinds of wind on the Miles River.  Try to sail but the wind fails.  2:20 motorsailing across the shoal at the Wye River entrain.  

Finally a little wind on the Wye, making 3.4 for the last little bit of the days' sail.

Anchor down Shaw Bay.

20.49 NM