Back to the Bay Part Deux

Something I was looking forward to doing at Cape May was spend time at the Beach. But, with the finger dressing that was out. Then of course there was the continuing discussion about the weather. We did get to spend time with our friends Tom and Sue Jones who have a summer home in Wildwood.

The storm front moving in.

Linda picking guitar with Tom and Sue Jones.

The first day we arrived in Cape May was spent doing boat chores and then celebrating our arrival at the Schooner Bar at the Lobster House. Saturday we worked more boat chores and then met our friends Tom and Sue Jones for drinks and dinner at the Lobster House. Sunday night we met the Jones' again and dinner at their place. Monday we walked about the town and prepared for an early departure Tuesday.

Throughout the weekend we were again reviewing weather because we initially planned for a Sunday departure. Forecast evolved and we saw a line of serious storms that would hit us while transiting the C&D canal with forecasts for hail so a Sunday departure was out. Monday the forecast called for high winds that would be right on the nose going up the Delaware Bay but Tuesday looked fairly benign so we focused on a Tuesday departure.

Looking at the beach while walking about.

Stopped in for refreshment at the Rusty Nail.

Forecast was for relatively light winds that would be on our nose but we might be able to get some lift. The key factor wold be the current. We figured if we left at 0600 we could catch the outgoing tide in the Cape May Channel and round CM Point at slack tide. We dd not want to go out the channel on an incoming tide because of the turbulence which is the same reason slack tide at the Point would be good. But once round the Point we would catch the incoming tide that should last most of the way up the Delaware and then catch the outgoing tide through the C&D and on down the Chesapeake.

Passing Town Point, the Chesapeake end of the C&D Canal.

As it turned out we made it up the Delaware sooner than expected and made it to the Canal before the current turned but slowly the current turned and we soon gained the advantage right down to our anchorage at Worton Creek along the Chesapeake Bay. In the northern part of the Chesapeake currents run stronger than further down the Bay so having the current made our last 20 miles go much faster. From our slip n Utsch's Marina we traveled about 100 miles in about 12 hours having left about 0600 and dropped the anchor just after 1800. But we were now back in the Bay more than a week after we left the Vineyard on our way back.

Our anchorage at Worton Creek.

We spent a very restful and quiet night anchored by Worton Creek and then on to Rock Hall from our new Chesapeake adventures as we prepare to head South.

Sunset from our anchorage.