Chesapeake City, Cape Charles VA; Solomons, Cambridge, Rock Hall, MD; Delaware City, DE; Cape May, Atlantic City and Sandy Hook, NJ. April 26- May 6, 2018.

We got underway at first light on Thursday morning and travelled with Sherri and Randy (Priorities) destined for Cape Charles on the eastern shore. 

Approaching the Great Bridge bridge (not a typo, it is the bridge in Great Bridge, VA) on the way to our last lock for quite some time.  The Erie Canal will be the next ones.

Passing through all the warships at Norfolk.

We had been listening to a securite' broadcast that warship 87 was leaving pier 6 at 8:30.  Just after we passed pier 6 she was backing out.  No machine gun escort for us today!  Good timing!

As we crossed the bay we also heard a broadcast about using caution when traversing the anchorage area for cargo ships.  Note all the AIS targets on the screen....all anchored large vessels we navigated through.  It was nice to confirm via AIS that they were not moving as large ships move MUCH faster

than they appear.

She is anchored.

We pulled in expecting a very nice marina with laundry, pool, etc.  Well, you cannot always trust a cruising guide!  Docks were nice floating docks and the harbor master was right on the dock awaiting us.  Got all my gear out to wash the salt off the boat and....hey, where are the water spigots?  Hmmm.  Went to check in and asked about laundry...well yes, we have a washer and dryer but they are not hooked up.  We hope to get water by Memorial Day.  Pool?  He laughed Wow, that is a misprint!  But the harbor master told us all about a great hiking trail, all the activities coming on Friday night

and was a great ambassador for the city. 

On our walk through the forested dunes.  Reminds one very much of the Michigan dune trails.

At the art work on the harbor.

Downtown.

It used to be a bustling terminal for the railroad where cargo in rail cars were loaded on a barge and shipped across the bay to Norfolk.  Passenger care ferries too.  But then came the trucking, bridges and tunnels and you guessed it, town died in the late 50's early 60's.  They have refocused and are now catering to tourism and there is a lot of remodeling of homes and businesses underway.  It was a fun stop.  
And the charter boat Usher has Cape Charles as a regular stop too.  Check them out on Google
https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-22763/usher.htm    Only $200,000 a week.

We also attended a wine tasting at a local shop and bought a few craft beers and a bottle of wine from the establishment. Oh, and some yummy cinnamon raisin bread made by a local.

Here are some photos from the Blessing of the Fleet festivities right at our dock at the marina. 

First a blessing by a number of clergy.

The wreath being taken to sea in memory of those lost in the pursuit of their livelihood. 

Some of the fleet.

Crab pot shaking competition.  Boat started around the corner, slammed it in reverse upon arrival at the crab pot, snagged the buoy, winched the pot aboard and shook out the contents into the boat hold.  Oh, the contents were a dozen beers.  The "shaker" was a person at the event who bid the highest at the charity auction to ride and compete on a particular boat.  About 6 boats participated and the one who won had a woman who really shook that pot and actually burst one of the beers as she did!  Fun!

Setting up for the boat race.  The Thomas Jaiden won.

The wreath then laid at a memorial they are building.

More festivities.  The band was really good but cut short due to an unfortunate rain shower.

Sunrise from our slip.

Saturday, we wanted to take advantage of a calm Bay and ran to Solomons MD. 

It was over an 80 mile trip and we started out at first light (6 AM) on perfectly calm seas.  As the day progressed it got windier, but the waves were astern, so it was a very nice ride.  Had to dodge crab pots and a couple large ship on the transit as we were crossing the winding shipping channels a couple times on our straight line toward Solomons. 

We arrived around 2:30. The wind had come up pretty good as predicted but it pushed us into the T-head docks we were assigned.  We actually found water on the docks to wash off the salt!  Julie did a few loads of laundry as well.  This will give us all day on Sunday to explore and get to the grocery store.  Spring is in bloom here.

The marina provides a free shuttle to the Weis Markets grocery store about 2 miles away. This is a very nice marina and town.  We had a great dinner at the CD Café, thanks for the recommendation Betsy and Dave (Frye Daze). We stayed in Solomons through Monday as the windy weather continued.
The full moon in April, the Pink moon.

On Tuesday we left Solomons and headed 42 miles to Cambridge.  Here we are leaving as the moon is setting.

And the sun is rising

We hoped to get on the free wall there and were successful.  What a quaint town.  We took a walk around the downtown area and out to the replica lighthouse. 

We also visited the Harriet Tubman Museum.  It was very well done and we enjoyed hearing more about the Underground Railroad she was famous for. 

We also found a seafood company with a small sign directing us down to the waterfront.  We found a small sign stating “Office/ Retail”.  We bought a pound of lump crab and Julie made some fantastic crab cakes.  Had to have some Maryland crab before we left the state! 

The replica lighthouse.

We also got some great news while at Cambridge.  Our youngest son Brett informed us he and Natalie are engaged to be married!  We are so happy!  
We are still travelling with Sherri and Randy (Priorities) and we did some longer term planning.  Given the forecasted weather we decided to keep moving and try to reach NYC by Monday May 7.  Two of the travel days are outside in the ocean so winds and wave forecasts are key. Our next stop will be Rock Hall.  We stayed in a slip and Sherri and Randy dropped the hook in the bay just north of us.  Rock Hall had all we needed… a grocery store, West Marine, Walgreens and the Hairnet, a salon owned by a local. This was another really cute town and we enjoyed our short stay here.

Washing the boat...check out the yellow pollen washing down the boat...we are chasing Spring up the coast.

Leaving Rock Hall at sunrise.

Next stop was the anchorage just outside of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal near Delaware City.

It was protected from the strong SW winds we had (25 knots) but not from the large ocean going vessels sailing up the Delaware River to Philadelphia.  The swells were quite large and did wake (pun intended) us up a couple times during the evening. 

But an anchorage is so easy when one is on the move.  No dock lines, electric cords or check out routine.  Just a lifting of the anchor and off we go.  Oh, and the price is right too!
Leaving at first light to beat the predicted afternoon winds in Cape May.

A little commercial traffic along the way.

And a nuclear plant along the Delaware.

Next stop...

Entering the cape May canal.  Note the car ferry pulling out just after we passed....great timing!

We stayed at Utsch’s Marina, a family held marina started in 1952.  The docks looked like it too, but you could not ask for a friendlier place.  Help with fueling, help into the slip, a welcome bag full of goodies, maps, etc, and clean facilities. 

We took a walk to the downtown section of town, the beach area and had ice cream. 

The famous Governor's Hall Hotel.

Julie and I had dinner at the Lobster House, an iconic old restaurant on the harbor. Great seafood, outstanding warm onion bread and good service.

This is definitely a town we should spend more time in, but the weather report is calling us to keep moving.  We will definitely explore this town further at another trip through in the next couple years.

Saturday, we left for Atlantic City. 

The NOAA weather forecast was for 3-5 foot swells from the SE with a 7 second interval.  Doable, but not great as the waves will be on our starboard quarter.  If the waves are 3ft we will be OK. And it is only a 40 ish mile trip.  It proved to be a bit rolly but bearable.  I saw a huge pod of dolphins playing / feeding in the ocean on the way.  It was by far the most I have ever seen in one place.  Sorry no photos, the photographer (that would be Julie) was lying down fighting the effects of the wave action.  Fortunately she does feel better by doing so.
Heading out the Cape May channel.

Atlantic city in view.

Julie and I took a slip at the Farley State Marina and Sherri and Randy opted for an anchorage across the inlet.  We did laundry, a pump out, refilled water tanks and washed the boat. 

I took a walk through the casino at night but found it too smoky for my liking.  We wanted to walk the boardwalk, but it was chilly, cloudy and the work day took longer than expected.  I have to say this marina was not worth $3 a foot.  Pump out did not work on the dock so we had to untie and go to the fuel dock.  And no attendants were available at the docks when we arrived or at the fuel dock.  Codes they gave us for the bathrooms did not work.  Wifi was so weak it was unusable.  Seagull and other bird droppings were on the docks.  One bathroom/laundry was closed for renovation, so we had to walk clear to the other end of the facility.  We realize the “season” has not gotten into full swing here, but I would not recommend the facility.

Leaving Atlantic City.  That is the Golden Nugget Casino at the marina.

Sunday, we planned to meet Priorites in the channel about 5:45 for the 90 mile trip to Sandy Hook where we plan to anchor for the night.  When we called Sherri and Randy we learned that they had gone aground leaving the anchorage and were trying to contact Tow Boat US.  They insisted that we keep going as we do have commitments in NYC on Wednesday morning and Monday is not going to be a travel day out on the ocean.  We maintained periodic phone communication with them and they were on their way shortly after 8:15.  So they will arrive about 3 hours after we do in Sandy Hook. Remember, it is not if you go aground, but when. We’ve been there and done that twice now (only one needing a tow).  Very frustrating. 

It was a fairly nice day on the ocean with 2 foot swells, cloudy and not a lot of wind. 

The beaches and waterfront real estate is phenomenal along this stretch.  A bit early in the season for the beach but we did see a lot of walkers considering the dreary cool day it was.  We arrived at Sandy Hook about 2:30 and Randy and Sherri around 5:30. It is hard to believe we are this close to NYC and in such a remote anchorage.  If it weren’t for the occasional ferry boat swells one would not realize where they are!  That is the Verrazano Narrows bridge in the distance.

So why the rush to get to NYC?  Well, our daughter Sarah is coming to stay with us for a few days! She will be a great tour guide as she and son in law Joe lived in the area for three years.  We used to love to visit them in the City and are so looking forward to seeing her again.  Her work schedule "cooperated", so she can do this but unfortunately Joe will be working and will not be joining her.  We are so looking forward to her visit! 

After Sarah's visit we will slow down and enjoy the cruise up the Hudson and on over to the Erie Canal (which does not even open until May 15 so no hurry!)  More soon….

April Statistics:

Miles travelled:  Month: 668 / Trip to Date: 10871

Travel days:  16 / 235

Engine hours: 76 / 1240
Locks:   1 / 57
Bridges opened:  7 / 97

Days on hook or free wall: 7 / 104

Gallons of diesel:  512  / 8766