Chesapeake Bay Crossing

After a longer than anticipated stay in Rock Hall MD due to some minor engine repairs and an angry Chesapeake Bay, we departed yesterday morning at 0830hrs heading further down the Bay to Solomon's MD.  The day started out with the crew's usual excitement to be underway again. That feeling was diminished quickly around 1300hrs. The wind forecast, we knew, was to be a breezy one. However, it also was scheduled for late afternoon and we fully intended to be quite close to our destination before any uncomfortable-ness set in.

 

Father Neptune came calling to test our resolve around 1230hrs howling out of the South West like a mad man. After an hour of getting punished we were able to hug in close to the Western shore of the Chesapeake. This provided minor relief, enough that the girls were able to be rocked to sleep in our new salt water soaked interior. I've gradually learned over this trip the girls can sleep through just about anything!

As the girls slept I tried to sop up the sea out of the interior thinking that the worst of it was behind us.....not so much. Neptune came calling again as we tried to make our approach to Solomon Island. The girls were up!!

At 1630hrs we made it into our protected harbour for the night. A tired, beaten up crew with a lot of work ahead of us. We were soaked!  The team responded very admirably with all members getting to their jobs. Grace's favourite and probably the toughest job, is the freshwater wash down of the exterior of the boat. Brandy and I are thankful that even still at this point of the trip she's quick to get out on the deck with brushes and hose in hand. 

We finally were somewhat put back together around 2000hrs. I'm sure I was drooling on the couch by 2010hrs.

 

We're up and at it again today for what they're calling a "breezy" morning. We're all hoping that Neptune doesn't misread "breezy" for "windy" as we have a 72 mile run ahead of us. Thankfully, after today we will have the bulk of the Chesapeake behind us. We're expecting to be comfortably tucked away on the inside ICW at Norfolk Virginia on Monday.

 

Thanks for the pics Jo Tucker!