Voyaging America's Great Loop Aboard Still Waters II

Tag: Delaware Bay

Cap the Week in Cape May
Hello virtual crew members and fellow adventurers!

We have had two new virtual crew members jump aboard in the past week by following the Blog. Welcome aboard Big Dave S. and Life at 5 mph!

Point Comfort Lighthouse

Summary of week:

The crew experienced good and favorable cruising weather which allowed them to put in 5 solid days of travel:
1. Crossed the Bay to Solomons at the Calvert Marina
2. Back to the Eastern Shore where they docked at the Jetty Restaurant
3. Continued up the Eastern side of the Bay to the Sassafras River where they stayed two nights to re-provision
4. Crossed thru the C&D Canal and anchored off Reedy Island
5. Cruised down the Delaware Bay and ended the week at Cape May in the Utch’s Marina
Click on the link to read the day-to-day travel log. This includes weather report, sea conditions, captain’s log, and a summary of the day’s experience.
The voyage of discovery did answer the following questions this week:
1. What is a Lucky Bone?
2. What day of the week did sailors never set sail?
At the Box Office

This week’s video shows Still Waters II journey up the Chesapeake Bay, Cross the C&D Canal into the Delaware River, and then cruise down the Delaware Bay to arrive at Cape May, NJ. Enjoy!

To see past videos, click on the link to the Still Waters II Vimeo site. The library contains videos of Still Waters II cruising America’s Great Loop.

Monday, June 18th

The week did not get off to a very good start. The skipper moved the boat over to the fuel dock so he could pump out the holding tanks. Unfortunately, when he got done and was putting the hose and nozzle back up, he broke the valve handle. This has basically rendered the valve inoperable. He went in the office and told the dock master what happened and agreed to purchase a new handle.

The fuel dock at The Wharf

With a blunder like that, one needs some comfort food. So the skipper headed up the street to the Corner Bakery to get some of their melt in your mouth donuts and donut holes. He consumed the donut holes as he walked back to the boat. After boarding the boat, the crew shoved off and headed towards the Solomons.

The cruise was uneventful, which is a first for this area. Seems that in the past, these waters have been particularly unkind to the crew. With light winds and following seas, the day turned into an enjoyable day on the water.

A hard days work at the office

Well, except for the heat and humidity. By the time the crew arrived at the anchor spot, the temperature had climbed to 90, and the humidity was in the 90’s also. The skipper looked at the weather and the temperature was not going to fall below 80 until about 0400. And then it would only drop to 78. The crew talked it over and decided that a marina with air conditioning sounded like a good idea. The skipper called Calvert Marina and secured a slip for the night.

Pulling into Calvert Marina

Tuesday, June 19th

The winds continued to be favorable, so the crew made way to Kent Narrows today. Along the way they saw numerous Sting Rays. Some were feeding on top of the water, while others were swimming in groups of two, three, and even five.

Sting Rays are hard to catch on film

Keeping an eye out for Sting Rays helped make time go by as the crew continued north on the Chesapeake Bay. The winds continued to be under 10 mph which made for some calm conditions.

The crew did not see much as they were crossing the Bay again and land was far off. However, when they entered the Eastern Bay they began to encounter a steady stream of boaters headed out to the main Bay.

One boater ran into some trouble though. The engine of the vessel in distress just stopped working. Once they lost their engine, they also lost their electric power so the radio would not work. To top off the trifecta, nobody on-board had a cell phone so they had no means to call for help. They did manage to wave down a passing vessel and get some help.

The skipper laughed when he heard the name of the assisting vessel……. Surprise.
After Surprise got the Coast Guard involved, Tow Boat US was called to pull the boat in distress to St Michaels. Listening to the radio transmissions, the skipper would not be surprised that the vessel in distress only ran out of fuel.

After listening and confirming that the vessel in distress was going to be ok, the crew made way to the Jetty Restaurant where they docked and dined. The restaurant agreed to allow the crew to spend the night on the dock, so the skipper plugged in the power cord and the Admiral fired up the air conditioning units.

Wednesday, June 20th

Late last nite, a fishing boat pulled in with two small boys aboard, perhaps ages 4 and 5. The crew watched them play on the docks as their Dad worked on the days catch. It appeared that the boat sold their catch directly to the restaurant and then spent the night on the dock.

This morning the fishing boat was prepared to leave about 0630. Only one of the boys was up moving around. The skipper noticed the second boy had managed to crawl to the doorway from the cabin, but was still laying on the deck. The skipper waved and talked to the man a few minutes. He said he would stay out today and fish, then be headed back home with the boys. He had been out since Sunday, Fathers Day.

The skipper asked about the sleeping son. The man mentioned that the boy had a hard time getting going in the morning, but once he got started, he was full throttle all day. The scene reminded the skipper of many fishing trips he took with his dad and brother back in the day.

The skipper (dark hair) and his brother on a camping/fishing trip, Circa 1967

The cruise today took the crew thru the Kent Narrows, Chester River, Chesapeake Bay, and then up the Sassafras River. This was the fourth day in a row with favorable cruising conditions and calm seas on the Bay. These could just be a record for the crew. Usually they have had more than their fair share of rough days on the Bay.

The crew stayed in Georgetown Yacht Basin on Thursday to take advantage of the courtesy car. They drove to Middleton, Delaware to re-provision for the next leg of the adventure. Stopping here and shopping in Delaware has the added bonus of no sales tax.

Friday, June 22th

The crew woke to a dreary grey overcast morning with the winds blowing hard out of the east. The run of fair winds has come to a stop. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. Because they would be travelling north along the eastern shore, they decided that they would go ahead and cruise even though the winds were 15-20 mph out of the east.

Turns out the shore kept the waves from building up and the crew had an ok day cruising thru the C&D Canal. When the crew first entered the Delaware River though they found some 2-3 foot waves. They made way south down the river till they found the marked gap in the jetty leading to the Reedy Island anchorage. They safely passed thru the jetty and the waters calmed down. They then pulled up along the west bank of Reedy Island and anchored to use the Island to block the east winds.

This was the first and possibly the last time the crew anchors at this spot. They dropped the hook here so that they would save an hour off their travels tomorrow. However, it was a rolly night due to the winds, and waves coming over the jetty at high tide. Also, their is some risk entering into the anchor spot due to the narrow gap in the jetty. Local legend has it that at least two boats are lost here each year because they run aground on the rock jetty.

The Ghost Rider on the rocks after tide went out, 2016. This link explains how the Ghost Rider came to land on the jetty and become a total loss.

Saturday, June 23rd

The crew woke early and passed back thru the jetty and headed to Cape May. The winds had died off about 0500; however, there is another storm which is supposed to blow in late in the afternoon. The crew wants to be secure in the slip before the storm hits.

Conditions continued to be dreary. Cloud cover was low and a light fog and drizzle kept visibility under a mile for much of the day.

Low cloud cover at the Salem Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant

Was a bit hard to see the lighthouse, but the fog horn was working well.

After arrival in Cape May, the crew went over to the Lobster House to have a late lunch and celebrate three years living aboard Still Waters II. After lunch, the Admiral went walking around town. She found a restaurant with an interesting story on the menu. The following is from the Lucky Bone Restaurant in Cape May………

The Lucky Bone traces its name back to the days when Cape Island was a whaling village and when superstitious sailors never set sail on Friday. These brave watermen would stow away good luck charms to protect them from the perils of the mighty sea. The Lucky Bone refers to the odd hook-like claw found only on the male horseshoe crab. It was worn by these men to keep them safe between the wind and the frightening mighty water, so they might return safely to their loved ones at home.

Horseshoe Crab

Boat Name of the week

Happy summer solstice.

Next Week –

The weather will continue to be an issue until the crew gets up the Hudson River. Wednesday looks like a no travel day up the Jersey coast with winds greater than 20 mph. Normally the crew takes three days to travel from Cape May to New York City.

The skipper is planning to make a 100 mile day on Monday and then complete the run to New York City on Tuesday so they can avoid the wind. They will then set their sites to at least make Hyde Park by the end of the week. If things work out well, they may even arrive at their summer cruising destination, the Erie Canal.

Loop On – Where the road ends, the water begins. The water goes on forever, and the adventure never ends.

Eric the Red
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June 24, 2018
Knot for the Faint of Heart
Hello virtual crew members and fellow adventurers!

Eric here with the latest travels of Still Waters II.

Yes, you saw that right. That guy just climbed 60 feet up that catamaran mast to do some work with no fall protection. Even carried his tool bag up with him. Hope he has the right size wrench.

Summary of week:

It was a short week with only two days of cruising. The crew left Cape May on Sunday and anchored in the Salem River at the northeast end of the Delaware Bay. On Monday, they crossed the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal into the upper Chesapeake Bay. They ended the cruise up the Sassafras River where they will wait out some weather.

Click on the link to read the day-to-day travel log. This includes: weather report of the day, sea conditions, log of the days travel, and a summary of the experience.

At the Box Office

This week’s video shows Still Waters II cruise thru some light fog in the Cape May Canal, overtakes two sailboats in the fog, stops in the C&D Canal to watch a large wooded sailboat cruise by, and then pulls into the Chesapeake Inn for lunch. Enjoy!

Cape May to Georgetown Yacht Basin from Still Waters II on Vimeo.

To see past videos, click on the Still Waters II Vimeo site. The library now contains 42 videos of Still Waters II cruising America’s Great Loop.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

The weather is predicted to turn bad with high winds and rain late Monday. It is only two travel days to the Georgetown Yacht Basin up the Sassafras River and out of the wind. To arrive safely on Monday, the crew left in the fog on Sunday. There seems to be a little irony in that.

After five hours of fog with varying degrees of visibility, the fog finally lifted. The cruise to the Salem River then became routine. This was actually the smoothest cruise on the Delaware Bay to date. Sure beats the three foot waves the crew normally encounters here.

After arriving at the designated anchor spot, the skipper noticed these two raccoons eating berries in the top of the tree.

However, when they finally were done eating, the skipper counted three raccoons climb down out of the tree. Two of the three are on the way down in this pic.

When the skipper was looking at the first pic, he noticed the third raccoon staring back at him in the top right corner.

After being entertained by the raccoons, the crew enjoyed a peaceful sunset.

Monday, October 23, 2017

The next morning, the skipper enjoyed the sunrise on the Salem River. Hard to believe the wind will be up over 20 mph later today, when it is this flat calm in the morning.

While making way out of the anchorage to the Delaware River, this Bald Eagle took off from the green navigational aid and flew right across the bow of the boat.

The fall color was great along the C&D Canal, and the skipper noticed a Bald Eagle admiring the beauty.

The skipper also noticed a large sailboat was sneaking up on them from behind. In the distance, it appeared to be a pirate ship. The skipper slowed to allow the pirate ship to close in, then suddenly, the skipper made a U-turn in the middle of the canal and faced the pirates down. The pirate crew gave a friendly wave as they passed by. With the pirate threat resolved, the skipper pulled into the Chesapeake Inn for lunch.

After lunch, it was another three hours to the Georgetown Yacht Basin where the crew will sit and relax for a week.

The skipper did ask the dock master about the tides in the marina. The dock master said that they had two foot tides and they were presently at low tide. The water level was about four feet below the boards on the dock.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The crew woke to some unusual surroundings. The rain poured most of the night, and the wind howled all night. The wind was out of the south east and blew up the Sassafras River. The wind actually blew water out of the Chesapeake Bay and up the Sassafras River. Along with the rain and water runoff, the river reached flood level. The dock office at the end of the pier was in about 8 inches of water. Remember, yesterday the water was four feet below these docks.

The water continued to rise until the crew’s dock was several inches under water. This pic was taken about an hour before high tide, and the water rose another few inches after the pic. It took the rest of the day for the waters to recede.

Boat Name of the Week

The Wall Street Journal published a list of boat names this week, from the Coast Guard database, with a financial theme. Some favorites:

Broke But Tan,

Broke For Shore,

Float’n-a-Lone,

Fueli$h Money,

Floating Interest,

A Loan @ C,

Knot Cheap,

Debtors Delight.

Next Week –

The winds are predicted to be less than 10 mph on Tuesday, so the crew plans to shove off and head south down the east side of Chesapeake Bay. Hope to make Cape Charles by the end of the week.

Loop On – The water goes on forever and the adventure never ends.

Eric the Red
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October 29, 2017
Sweetness, Four in One
Hello virtual crew members and fellow adventurers!

I would like to offer a hearty Welcome Aboard to Jen and Mike O. of Atlantic City, our newest virtual crew members.

John Wooden often said that you will be the same person five years from now except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read. This past week, the crew met many very interesting people who have enriched their lives.

Milton Hershey and kids

Now, the latest travel update of Still Waters II.

Summary of week:

Monday, the crew took a road trip thru the Amish territory around Lancaster on their way to explore Hershey, Pennsylvania. Wednesday, the crew sailed thru the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and enjoyed a night on the hook in the Salem River. Thursday, the crew made it down the Delaware Bay and pulled into Cape May, New Jersey. The fourth state they have visited this week. Friday saw the crew out in the Atlantic Ocean on their way to Atlantic City.

Click on the link to read the day-to-day travel log.

Still Waters II VIMEO site

At the Box Office, this week is a three minute video showing Still Waters II negotiating 2-3 foot swells with a five second period. The crew got to enjoy this rock and roll motion for five hours, lucky them.

Click on the link to visit other videos at the Still Waters II Vimeo site.

Monday, July 24, 2017

The crew took a road trip today to Hershey, Pennsylvania to visit the birthplace of the mouthwatering milk chocolate Hershey Bar.

Milton Hersey’s story of failure and success was very interesting. He went bankrupt in his first adventures as a confectionary. He finally found success and developed a multimillion dollar caramel candy business. He sold the caramel business and then started experimenting with developing his idea of milk chocolate.

His family thought he was nuts for selling the caramel business and trying to start a new business with an untested milk chocolate bar. History stands on the side of Milton Hershey making a good decision though. What do you eat more of: caramel candies or milk chocolate?

The first Hershey bar dropped out of the mold in 1900. He continued to perfect his milk chocolate sweetness and added the Hershey Kiss in 1907. He introduced almonds to the mix in 1908 and really went nuts.

Mr. Hershey married but his wife fell ill several years after their marriage. They never had children, so in 1909 they put their fortune (60 Million) in a Trust Fund and started a school for orphaned boys, the Hershey Industrial School. His wife died in 1915 and he never remarried.

Street Light on Chocolate Avenue

However, they had a near miss back in 1912. They had purchased tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic. A last-minute business issue arose and the Hershey’s had to cancel the trip back home until the business issue was settled. It is sometimes the little things in our lives that end up making the biggest impact.

in 1918, Mr. Hershey transferred control of his company to the Hershey Industrial School Trust fund.

Stacks from the original Hershey Factory

The Admirals favorite candy, the Reese’s Big Cup, was also started in Hershey, PA by an employee of Hershey’s. Mr. Reese thought that if Hershey could make money selling candy, surely he could also. He continued his employment at the Hersey factory, but started making his peanut butter cups out of his garage. Eventually, Hershey bought out Reese’s in 1963.

The crew went to find Milton Hershey’s home, High Point. They went into a church parking lot that overlooks the mansion. While looking around, they found this home which was built CIRCA 1732. It is still located at its original building spot.

While driving back to the boat they passed several Amish folks out driving around the small towns.

The country side was beautiful green as far as the eye could see. This time of year back in Texas, the sun has killed most anything green and everything is a golden brown dead color.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The crew spent the day relaxing around the boat. Late in the day however, there was a little excitement. A 90-year-old man took his sailboat out of the marina and anchored in some shallow water. He was cleaning the hull.

Turns out he was prepping for the sailboat race on Wednesday night. His 92 year old wife begun to worry about him because it was taking so long. She got another fellow to walk out and keep an eye on him while he was in the water cleaning the hull.

After the cleaning job was complete he climbed back aboard the sailboat raised the anchor and managed to drop the anchor locker door on his foot. He went back below in the boat to treat his wound. He reappeared after 20 minutes or so and finally motored back into the marina just at dusk.

The whole episode reminded the skipper of his father who used to say “I am going to go full speed ahead in my life all the way to the end. Only problem is full speed is just not what it used to be.”

The 92 year old worried wife still teaches art at a local college. The Admiral was comforting the Art Teacher as she waited on her husband to return to the marina. As you can see, it was getting dark before he got back to his slip.

The crew will also give a shout out to Carrol and her two grand sons. She has been coming from Pennsylvania to spend her summers at the marina for 30 years. She stays on her boat The Big G.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

The crew got back underway today. They were passing thru the C&D Canal when the skipper suggested that they pull into Chesapeake City for lunch. The place was packed last Sunday when the crew came and visited with Grace and Roger. The skipper wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. They entered the small harbor and tied up at the end of a T-dock at the Chesapeake Inn and had the local fish-n-chips.

After lunch, they shoved back off and completed cruising the canal.

When they arrived at the Delaware River, there were large ships coming from each direction. The skipper made it across the River and then turned up into the Salem River where the crew dropped the anchor for the day.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

The crew weighed anchor and began the trip to Cape May. The skipper timed the currents fairly accurately, so they got about a 2 knot push all the way down the bay. Unfortunately, the wind was out of the south which made for a lumpy boat ride. When the wind and the current are opposed, the wind causes the waves to stack up close together and make for rough seas.

They did see this Osprey eating breakfast as they left the Salem River.

Passing the Ship John Shoal Light about halfway to Cape May.

After about 60 miles of getting bounced around in the Delaware Bay, the crew finally pulled into the Cape May Canal and some smooth water.

Initially, the crew had planned to stay at Cape May for two nights. However, while checking in at the marina office the dock master asked the skipper if he had looked at the weather for Saturday. The skipper noted that he had reviewed the data early in the morning but not lately. The dock master informed the skipper that a large storm was now predicted for Saturday.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. The skipper paid for two nights and then went back to the boat to review the latest weather data.

Friday, July 28, 2017

When the skipper woke up, the first thing he did was check the weather again. The forecasted approaching storm was getting worse. The skipper and Admiral decided that it would be best to go ahead and leave for Atlantic City today so they began to make preps to shove off. Thank goodness the Cape May marina gave a refund for the second night.

These youth were out getting some sailing time in on their sunfish sailboats as the crew left the Cape May Harbor.

Looking back at Cape May from the inlet while headed out into the ocean.

The weather, wind, and wave conditions for an outside run to Atlantic City were not ideal, but were better than running the narrow shallow New Jersey ICW. The crew decided to take their chances out in the Atlantic Ocean. The seas were 2-3 foot swells with a period of about 5 seconds. These conditions made for a rolly ride to Atlantic City.

Seems as though every community along the beach in New Jersey has some kind of amusement or water park.

As the crew approached Atlantic City they noticed a helicopter about two miles off shore from the crew. Initially, it looked as though the copter was just sitting motionless above the water. As the crew got closer, they could make out a ship near the copter. They then noticed the copter haul someone up into the copter.

After this bit of excitement the crew turned their attention to finding the Atlantic City Absecon Inlet.

The crew maneuvered their way to the Gardiner Basin and got settled into a slip. The slip was in a great spot because it looks like the crew will be blocked effectively from the projected high winds and waves. The skipper took extra time and care in securing the boat. The winds are projected to reach 30 mph during the night, with gusts to 40.

About the time the skipper completed securing the boat, he heard a couple talking about Still Waters II. He poked his head out and asked if they were fellow Loopers. They responded that they were in the planning stages for the Loop.

The Admiral invited the ‘Planning” Loopers aboard. Our crew spent the evening discussing the Loop and answering questions. When the storm finally arrived and the rain began to fall Jen and Mike headed for home just around the corner.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

While Jen and Mike were leaving the boat last night they invited the crew to lunch. About noonish, Jen and Mike arrived and the four wore off for a fun afternoon.

First stop was lunch at the Wingcraft Restaurant. The conversation continued to revolve around the Loop and the boat that Jen and Mike have purchased. They have a love for old items in need of restoration. Their home back in Ohio is over one hundred years old and they have brought the property back to life. Such is their goal with their boat. They have bought a 1960’s Bertram Yacht in need of love.

Jen and Mike

After lunch, they went to the boat yard to look over their latest project. The boat definitely has character. They have a great vision for the restoration project and I am sure it will be better than new when they are complete. Good luck with your project boat and eagerly anticipate seeing her back in the water and cruising the Great Loop.

Boat Name of the Week

The skipper did not get a picture of the boat name this week, but the winner goes to Foster who is the Harbor Host for the upper Chesapeake Bay. Foster came by one night to visit the crew and answer any questions about the area. It was a wonderful visit. Thanks Foster!

His boat name you ask?

Quo Vadimus

Hailing port?

Nowhere, Oklahoma

Put it all together, and what do you get?

Quo Vadimus (Latin for – ‘Where are you going?”

Nowhere

OK

Did I mention that Foster has a great sense of humor?

Next Week –

The crew is on their way to New York City where they will meet their daughter, oldest granddaughter, and the guests BFF’s on Tuesday. The crew needs two good weather days to get to NYC from Atlantic City. Let’s hope these winds die down and they make it to New York by Tuesday.

Loop On –

The water goes on forever and the adventure never ends.

Eric the Red
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July 30, 2017
Splish, Splash, She is Taking a Bath
Hello virtual crew members and fellow adventurers!

Eric here reporting on our crew’s stay at Delaware City.

I would first like to welcome Dave & Teresa Sammons as our newest virtual crew members. They are longtime friends of the crew. Welcome Aboard!

The crew went exploring around town on Sunday and Monday. The town’s history is closely tied to the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal.

The construction of the original canal began in 1804 with a goal to shorten the travel route from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The plan included 14 locks to connect the Christina River in Delaware with the Elk River at Welch Point, Maryland. The project was put on hold after the company ran out of funds.

The canal company got reorganized in 1822 with a new route from Newbold’s Landing Harbor (now Delaware City) to the Elk River. The new plan called for only four locks. Work restarted in April 1824.

The workers used picks and shovels to dig the 14 mile canal, 10 feet deep and 66 feet wide. Workers were paid about 0.75 cents a day for this back breaking labor. The workers completed their task and the canal opened for business in 1829.

Portion of the original canal in Delaware City

Initially teams of horses and mules pulled the barges through the canal. Later steam engines replaced sail power which required a larger canal. Eventually, the pressure from the railroads caused canal traffic to decrease and put pressure on profits.

In 1919, the federal government purchased the canal and turned operation over to the US Core of Engineers. In 1926, the Core completed renovations of the canal that moved the eastern entrance from Delaware City to Reedy Point, approximately 2 miles south. The new canal was 12 feet deep and 90 feet wide and ‘free’ to commercial traffic.

Between 1936 and 1938, the canal was altered again. The depth was changed to 27 feet and the width was 250 feet. By the mid 1970’s, the canal was 35 feet deep and 450 wide.

A look down the canal today

On Tuesday, the crew got a bit of a surprise as the schedule for the haul out changed. Quest, a, Canadian vessel, was scheduled to be hauled out first at 0700 to have her props changed. However, her props had not arrived and were not scheduled to show up until 0830. The marina decided to haul Still Waters II first, then haul Quest.

I would show you pictures of the garbage that came out of the water tangled around the props, but no pictures are available because somehow the skipper has misplaced the camera and cannot find the device. He thinks he left the camera in the vehicle that picked him up to rent a car. However, seems nobody has seen the camera in the vehicle.

Anyhow, the starboard prop looked like a big ball of sail material had wrapped itself around the prop. On the port side, the sail lines had wrapped themselves around the shaft. Not sure where that junk would have come from other than sucked up off the bottom of the marina in Havre de Grace.

Outside Crabby Dick’s Restaurant.

The crew went ahead with their plans to have the props removed and rebalanced. While they were at it, they had the two spare props stored in the bow reconditioned also.

The Baltimore prop shop was unable to do the work because they had two 80 inch props in their shop that they had to get turned around by the end of the week. The marina ended up sending the Still Waters II props down to Cambridge, MD.

Served the best burger ever. Short rib, brisket, and sirloin all ground together.

The shop completed the work and the props were back installed on the boat by close of business on Thursday. All was set for an early splash on Friday morning.

New wheel on the port side.

The Admiral went to return the rental car and make one last attempt to recover the camera, while the skipper went to the marina to launch the boat. When the Admiral arrived without the camera at around 0930, the boat was still on the hard. The launch did not take place until about 1030 due to low tide and current.

When she was finally splashed back in the water the engines decided that they would not start. Troubleshooting found the batteries were down to 9 volts, so the marina manually shoved the boat out the chute and tied her to the dock to charge her batteries.

The crew finally shoved off the dock to make the run to Cape May at about 1400. Since this was a long run and a chance to run out of day light before docking, the skipper ran the boat at 12 mph to make the Cape May inlet at 1830. They then made the three miles in the canal to Utsch’s Marina and were safely tied to the dock by 1920. Thanks to the young man on the sailboat from Rhode Island in the next slip for the help with the lines.

Launching a sailboat while in tight quarters

The decision to make the run to Cape May turned out to be a good one because overnight a big storm blew in with sustained winds over 20 mph. Delaware City had no room to dock Saturday night, so the crew would have had to find another place to move to in the wicked weather. Instead our crew is safe and sound in Cape May making plans for the jump up the New Jersey coast to New York City.

Salem Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant on the Delaware River

Check in next week to see if the weather will allow an outside run to Atlantic City or will the crew take the Jersey ICW. Will the anchor hold next to Lady Liberty in the New York Harbor? Lastly, shore excursions planned to Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial.

Ship Johns Shoal Lighthouse in Delaware Bay

Till then, may the wind be at your back and the seas calm ahead.

Eric the Red
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May 22, 2016
The Great U-Turn
Hello fellow adventurers and virtual crew members!

Christopher Columbus here reporting on the run to Cape May and return to the Chesapeake Bay. Upon leaving Philly on Saturday morning, October 10th the crew cruised back down the Delaware River and anchored one night in the Cohansey River. On Sunday, October 11^th they arrived in Cape May, New Jersey to celebrate the completion of the 2015 northern run. On Monday, the crew walked the town of Cape May and enjoyed the shops and Victorian Homes. On Tuesday, October 13, the crew had a rough voyage back up the Delaware Bay to the Salem River anchor spot. Wednesday found the crew passing back through the C&D canal into the Chesapeake Bay.

Ship John Shoal Horn in Delaware River

Saturday, October 10

The crew timed their departure from Penn’s Landing to coincide with the ebb tide so they could take advantage of the 1.5 knot current on the way down the river and bay. The weather was perfect for smooth sailing so the crew made a long day on the water and cruised 70 miles, their longest run to date. The crew pulled up into the Cohansey River at 1700 and set anchor for the evening.

Anchor spot in Cohansey River

Sunday, October 11

The run to Cape May was 40 miles and was relatively calm and smooth. The crew docked at the Utsch’s Marina (pronounce like Dutch without the D). The crew ran into two other looper boats in the marina. One boat was from Maine and one boat was from New York. They are both headed south for the winter with plans to start the loop in the spring of 2016.

After getting all settled in transient slip 16, the crew headed next door to the Lobster House for dinner. The restaurant has been serving fresh seafood in Cape May since 1922. The crew arrived early, around 1600, and immediately got seated. By the time they had completed dinner, the place was packed out with customers with a 40 minute wait to be seated. Did I mention that the place seats around 500.

34 lbs lobster at the Lobster House

The mate had lobster and crab cakes while the skipper enjoyed fried flounder. Both were exceptional. The crew toasted their successful summer shake-down cruise and took the time to reflect on their travels. Claudia even got a fist bump and an ‘atta girl’ from an elderly woman sitting at the table next to the crew once the woman discovered that they had traveled up from Ft Myers. The women spent 10-15 minutes peppering the crew with questions about the voyage. It was a great way to celebrate the success of the trip.

Monday, October 12

Yes, today is all about me……..It is Columbus Day! While I took the time to celebrate my achievements, the crew took a walk through Cape May.

Washington Street is a 4 block area where no cars are allowed and only pedestrian traffic is on the streets. One of the best stops was the Fudge Kitchen for a 1 lb purchase of creamy peanut butter and chocolate fudge.

After touring the Washington Street area, the crew set off to go see the beach and Atlantic Ocean. The street that fronts the beach is lined with restored Victorian Homes.

Texas Stop sign in Cape May

The day was coming to a close so the crew hoofed it back to the boat. Good thing they bought that fudge for a little energy boost to make it back.

Tuesday, October 13

While checking the weather report the skipper discovered that the winds would be blowing out of the west at 11-12 mph all day. With the run up the Delaware Bay being mostly due north this wind direction would cause the waves to strike the boat along its side causing some good rock and roll action.

Entering Delaware Bay from Cape May Canal

After leaving the Cape May Canal and turning to the North the ride became more than a little rough. The skipper used some of his old sailing tricks and tried tacking back and forth across the Bay while making some progress towards the north. After about three hours, the crew was past the widest part of the Bay. As the Bay began to narrow, the ride became calmer.

Click on the pic below to watch a 3 minute video of Still Waters II in the bay.

By 1500, the water had become nothing but a small chop so the crew discussed the idea of going further up the Bay to anchor back in the Salem River where they were about a week before. Estimating their speed and distance they calculated their arrival time to be about 1900. Sunset was scheduled for 1835. Based on experience that one can usually see for about 30 minutes following sunset and that they had anchored in this spot already, the crew decided to go ahead and cruise on up to the Salem River.

Unfortunately they were not making good speed due to the ebb current and did not arrive at the mouth of the Salem River until 1900. The markers guiding the entrance up the river were flashing green and red so navigating the way in was not bad in the dark. However, at the last flashing green marker the crew still needed to go about a half mile in the dark and make a left turn. It was pitch black and hard to see. When the river “Y’d” and the crew needed to go left the houses lining the banks reflected enough light on the water that it became easy to see where to go again. By 1939 Still Waters II was safely anchored and the crew was ready for rest from a long day.

Wednesday, October 14

The first order of business on Wednesday was to make sure the crew FaceTimed Emma Grace and wished her a happy 11^th birthday. She is one of the crew’s Panda loving, cheerleading, princess grand-daughters. Happy Birthday Emma!

While leaving the Salem River and crossing over to the C&D Canal the crew spotted four different Bald Eagles. One of the Eagles was actually sitting on a marker and did not fly until the crew was within about 20 yards.

Along the banks of C&D Canal

Future To Do List – While passing through the C&D Canal the crew decided to stop in Delaware City next time and take the time to ride their bicycles along the canal. Looks to be a bike path that runs most of the way along the north bank.

The cooler weather has really started the trees to start to turn colors and there were several areas along the banks that were spectacular.

After leaving the C&D Canal the crew re-entered Back Creek, then the Elk River, and then back into the northern part of Chesapeake Bay. The crew took a turn off of the Bay and headed up the Sassafras River to find a place to anchor and bring a close to this 48 mile run.

The crew plans to work their way down the east side of the Chesapeake Bay visiting St. Michaels, Oxford, and Tangier Island before returning to Norfolk. Stay tuned as they venture south into these new areas waiting to be explored.
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October 16, 2015
Phun in Philly
Hello fellow adventurers and virtual crew members!

Christopher Columbus here reporting on the run to the City of Brotherly Love. The crew weighed anchor on Tuesday, October 6^th and transited the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal). The crew crossed the Delaware River and found a spot up the Salem River to drop anchor for the night.

View on Salem River

On Wednesday morning, the crew took the Delaware River north to Philly, where they stayed at Penn’s Landing Marina for three nights.

C&D Canal and Salem River, Tuesday, October 6th

The run through the canal was smooth sailing with the exception of trying to decide to enter the canal or not. The cruising guide said a dispatcher would be at Chesapeake City controlling ship traffic through the canal using a red or green flashing light at Town Point. Small Boats are permitted to enter on red with an OK from the dispatcher. The crew did not see a green nor a red light at Town Point and opted to enter the canal. They saw no large ship traffic in their 13 mile passage and only a few small vessels such as themselves.

Fort Delaware near the C&D Canal

Prior to cruising each morning the skipper references the Coast Guards Local Notices to Mariners for the area that they will be cruising. There was a general notice for a gas line inspection that read: “Mariners are advised that inspections will be conducted on the natural gas pipeline over the C&D Canal, East of summit Bridge. The vertical clearance will be reduced by 2 feet during inspections of the center most part of the pipeline, directly over the waterway. Bridge clearance will be reduced to 139 ft. At no time will the waterway be impeded or blocked. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting this area.”

How about a job cleaning gas line 139 feet in the air?

Since Still Waters II’s air clearance is 17 ft 6 in, they did not expect any issues transiting the 139 foot bridge clearance. However, when they saw two guys hanging on the pipeline the skipper decided to scoot over some and not take a chance on a dropped object accelerating and putting a hole in the boat.

Passage through C&D Canal

Upon exiting the canal, the crew crossed the Delaware River and went up into the Salem River to anchor for the rest of the day.

Philadelphia, Wednesday – Friday, October 7 – 9

The run to Philly was 47 miles. With the wind out of the north and opposing the current, the conditions made for some choppy waters. Then with the commercial ship traffic making some pretty awesome wakes, it was a bit of a rough ride. The scenery was mostly both sides of the river lined with industrial plants of all makes and models.

The wind and current were still strong when the crew made it to the marina, which made the docking a bit more challenging. After docking, the crew headed to the Independence Visitor Center to make plans for the next day’s activities. On the way to the Visitor Center, they passed a memorial to yours truly, yes, that would be me, Cristopher Columbus. I have already decided I like this town.

After taking in a few sites at the Independence National Historic Park, the crew set off on foot to Geno’s Steaks. They walked through a Vietnamese neighborhood to get to Geno’s. While walking the crew started hearing chickens and then finally passed a store with the door open. Inside where shelves lined with cages of live chickens. The store front window advertised ‘Fresh Chickens.’ Yes, chickens on the hoof would be fresh indeed. Reminded me of when I crossed the Atlantic the first time with a few chickens. The skipper said it reminded him of when they raised chickens in the backyard.

Geno’s has been in business since the 1930’s and has a huge following in Philly. There is a whole subculture on ordering your cheese steak and paying. If it is rush hour and a long line, and you do not order correctly, you are sent back to the end of the line rather than hold up the serving line.

So for example, if you want a sandwich with cheese whiz and onions, then you say “whiz with” and then hand over the cash. If you want a sandwich with American cheese and no onions, then you say “American without” and handover the cash. No credit extended at the window, all cash transactions.

Elfreth’s Alley – oldest continuous occupied residential street in America – 32 homes built between 1728 and 1836.

Lucky for the crew there was only a short line when they arrived and the clerk at the window cut them some slack. They got their sandwiches and drinks, sat down to eat, and as advertised the sandwich had just the right drip factor. The meat is thinly sliced ribeye, how could you go wrong with that.

Henry Knox, George Washington’s Secretary of War, dispensing knowledge at Visitor Center

On Thursday the crew headed back to Independence Park to visit the old State House, the Visitor Center and Liberty Bell. The crew also walked around old Philadelphia to view many of the historic buildings, squares, and memorials. Since Philly was the center of the North and South Colonies, it was generally the meeting place for the pre-revolutionary activities such as the Declaration of Independence. Post war it was where the Constitution was written and approved. Then for 10 years it was the new nation’s Capital. So much to see, so much to do.

The actual chair George Washington sat in while chairing the Constitutional Convention

Friday was a day of rest and provisioning for the next leg of the journey to Cape May. There was a Walmart about a mile and half from Penn’s Landing that made for an easy bike and grab for groceries. Best of all, the rain decided to hold off until the groceries, bikes, and crew were all safely back on the boat.

Court Room in Independence Hall – notice the cage, defendant used to actually have to stand in the cage during the trial – hence the term ‘stand trial’

William Penn – Founder of Philly

Philly Phun PHact

Q: Who built the buildings of Historic Philadelphia?

A: Carpenters’ Company, the oldest extant craft guild

The Company has had 800 members over its 300 year history and is still going strong.

Enjoy the gallery of pics about the Company.
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October 14, 2015