Sandy Point to Back Creek

Days 3, Friday, September 30, 2016. 

It is still raining.  We awoke after a good night’s sleep.  It is always more comforting to spend the night not having to be concerned about a dragging anchor. 

We enjoyed a cheesy egg and bacon breakfast, straightened up the boat as much as we could with all of the wet gear hanging around.  I spent about an hour

Small portion of the many boats in Back Creek

working on finishing up the rigging process.  We had launched in such bad weather that I left the final things to be completed for a more hospitable time. 

At around 9:00 we checked out the wind and wave situation on the main bay and decided that it was something that we could handle. So we fired up the engine and motored out of our calm little harbor.

The route out of the park followed right next to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.   As soon as we passed the end of the breakwater, we were met with fairly large rollers that were obviously left over from the gale force winds of yesterday.  Our route took

Our friend Jim Philpott and Little Star

us parallel to the bridge to a point where we could safely pass under the tallest section.  And, that course, it also took us across the path of the waves so, the boat rolled from side to side, sometimes quite wildly.  The boat is designed to handle such conditions, but it was quite a ride.  We both had donned our life vests and attac

A night heron taking the happenings at the dock

hed out tethers to the life lines along the side of the boat. 

We probably traveled about a half of a mile before we turned south and passed under the bridge.  Once past the bridge and once we were traveling with the wind and waves, the boat settled down and we enjoyed a smooth, albeit a cold wet ride on to the mouth of Back Creek where our friend, Jim had secured a slip for us. 

The trip down Back Creek completely dazzled us. We later heard that there were more than 1,000 boats of all shapes and size lining the shore.  We were told that most of these boats come in for the Annapolis Boat Show and as soon as it is over, most of the will head out to other locations. 

Second Wind backed in and ready for better weather

We backed our boat into our slip and won the distinction of being the smallest boat on the dock.  I found it fun talking to the various skippers most of whom are amongst the herd of boat show workers who spend most of their time cruising around the world. occasionally coming to places like this to earn funds to replenish their cruising kitty.    At around 3:30, Jim took the both of us back to Sandy Point State Park to pick up our truck and trailer.  From there, Jim followed as we crossed the Bay Bridge onto the eastern shore and the home of our friends, Evelyn and Stuart Harshberger where we will be leaving our trailer.  We did have an opportunity to spend a few minutes with Evelyn before we had to return to Annapolis and dinner with the Fishs. 

Another on of our big neighbors

Jim had originally planned a Hurricane Party to be held near the dock but decided to cancel because of the lousy rainy weather that continued to plague us.  Instead we enjoyed hors d’oeuvres of cheese and anchovy stuffed olives along with an interesting rum “cruising cocktail”, called a Dark and Stormy, on Little Star. From there, we walked to a local bar/restaurant that served outstanding crab cakes. 

We made it back to the boat in time to meet our typical 9:00 bed time curfew.