Doin' Homework

We've got homework to do:  Check tides, currents, winds, weather forecast, consult with locals, plot tomorrow's course, determine anchorage/marina, and make contacts as required or necessary.  We are cruising towards Delaware City which is on the northern tip of the Delaware Bay on the "C&D Canal" (Chesapeake and Delaware).  From Delaware City, tomorrow we will make a 61-mile run through the Canal and out into the wide and open Delaware River and Bay to the Atlantic coastal town of Cape May.

It's important that we are fully aware of the time and tides and winds as we can encounter strong ("hellish") currents which can top 5 knots on this upcoming stretch of our Looping adventure.  Being a "slow boat" that typically cruises at 7 knots, such strong currents will greatly affect our speed and fuel consumption.  Our strategy will be to ride out of the 17-mile canal and into the Delaware with (versus against) a good current so we can safely and comfortably cruise to our destination.  Once in Cape May, we will do more homework to determine whether we will cruise on the "outside" (in the Atlantic, about 1 mile from shore) or take the sometimes-too-shallow New Jersey Intracoastal.

Today is a great day to cruise the Chesapeake Bay.  The sky is overcast to partly sunny, temperatures are in the high 70s/low 80s, and the winds are lulling.  While we were warned we might be tormented with black flies, we've been left to ourselves so far.  Reaching Chesapeake City this afternoon, we will enjoy the city's free dock and later (after we've done our homework), we'll check in with Marty, Deb, Kevin and Vaneesa of MV "Stay Strong" (Marty and Deb farmed in Illinois; met the two couples who are Looping together at Anchorage Marina) to make plans for the next day's cruising.

On Father's Day, Mike was joined by daughter, Jordan. He was able to celebrate with her and Claudia (16) and Killian (13).

We are so happy Killian and Claudia could spend time with us in Baltimore!
 (18 months ago, both Killian and Claudia were closer to Brenda's height than Mike's)

Our good-looking grandson is as sweet as he is fun-loving!  

Claudia took time out from her first job at a Coffee Shop to come see us. 
When we went to NYC, Claudia especially enjoyed Central Park.

Our last night together at Captain Jack's Crabhouse on Baltimore Harbor.  If you look closely you might see the Chesapeake crab spread on the brown-paper table covering, sweet potato fries with a lump crab cake, a bucket of mussels and a bucket of clams.  Thank you, Jordan, for taking us out to experience a crab feast!

We had the pleasure of getting together with Margie and Tim, who live next door to Anchorage Marina at Lighthouse Point.  Margie is sister (in-law) to Don (Diana) Low of Seattle.

After time together on Velsignet, we took the short walk to experience Tim and Margie's beautiful home.

Brenda and Margie.

Killian is on the sundeck and Jordan on the back porch of Velsignet.
 Believe it or not, there were 5 sleeping on this vessel this weekend!

Our last night together on the promonade of Baltimore Harbor.

Okay....Baltimore has its issues.  Besides crime (having our bikes stolen are the LEAST of their problems), we saw more trash in Baltimore Harbor than any place we've seen on the Loop thus far.  In this photo, trash that has flowed down from a stream is being collected. (See below)

The trash in the water is then collected by a trash wheel vessel as described above.

As frequently happens, Anchorage Marina held other Loopers and last Saturday evening, we got together on the docks to get to know each other.  Included in the photo are Steve and Liz (Minnesotans, VM "Shingebiss"); Deb and Marty (MV "Stay Strong") and Vaneesa and Kevin (MV "Stay Strong").

Velsignet was docked on "C" dock, right in front of the Marina's Main Building which held a comfortable boaters' lounge, laundry room, showers, and marine-related businesses.

The skies of the Chesapeake were fascinating to watch and admire.

Us.