Summer Wind

Work and Play,,, Worton Creek

Worton Creek Anchorage

Sunday Sept. 19th - "Flexibility" or "Adaptability" is the key word when boating. Well we heard the NOAA report for Monday morning and made the decision not to follow the CBC cruise to Still Pond. If we wanted to guarantee that we'd be at Worton Creek marina first thing Monday morning then unfortunately we had to leave the group. NOAA was calling for a gusty day and the bay was promising to be nasty. Even though Still Pond was a hop,skip, and a jump away from Worton,,, heading into the bay in possible windy conditions didn't appeal to us. That afternoon we dropped our hook in Worton Creek and turned on our VHF to hear if there were updates with the CBC group. The topic over the radio was Monday morning predictions. It turned out most of the group decided to head to their next point Fairlee Creek for better protection from the wind. Our night was relatively quiet but at first light the captain looked out the window just in time to catch a sailboat drifitng sideways towards another boat. Luckily there were no real mishaps both sailboats were tentative to the situation.
Monday Sept.20th -24th - The Captain called over to Worton Creek marina to let them know we were coming for in our scheduled painting and a few minor repairs. Shortly around noon the Summer Wind had been lifted out of the water and her bottom had been powerwashed in preparation for the painting.The travel lift moved her to be 'blocked and braced.' We spent a few extra days because unfortunately we needed some parts to be ordered for the muffler that was being fixed and an electrical shorepower outlet replaced. The props and rudder were sandblasted and protected with a product called Prop Speed. The boat had been in the water for two years and there was only a barnacle or two, that's saying its a great product! The captain recommends Worton Creek because they are knowledgeable and usually quick at their tasks.

Luckily all was not work at the marina because Joy and Brian Read (members of MTOA) who keep their boat Sara Marie( a very cute Island Gypsy) made us feel welcome and became fast friends. Our first night there they invited us over for a wonderful dinner aboard their boat. It was a wonderful evening! The second day they took us over to where the CBC group was gathering for a wonderful dinner at Craig and Lolli's on Fairlee Creek. Each day they came over to see how things were progressing and how we were coping with being up in the air. Another evening we went to a great Italian restaurant "Luisa's" and had a great time! We enjoyed one more delightful evening with them aboard Sara Marie.

Joy & Brian

Lolli in the kitchen

All repairs were complete early Friday morning but the bay wasn't great for travelling so we stayed one more night. Early Saturday morning we untied the lines and began our journey out of the creek when off in the distance we heard a 'Bon Voyage'. Brian and Joy were out on the dock. Thanks so much Brian and Joy!!

Kunta Kinte Festival in Annapolis

Saturday September 25th -29th- Early Saturday morning we untied the lines and began our journey out of the creek when off in the distance we heard a 'Bon Voyage'. Brian and Joy were out on the dock. Thanks so much Brian and Joy!! The north winds had settled down to 10-15 knots but when we pulled out into the bay you could call the seas "soupy and bubbling'. The roughest part of the journey is where the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay meet just north of the Bay bridge.
Early afternoon we were entering the Annapolis mooring field where we picked up a mooring. It was surprising to find a lot of empty moorings. When we shut off the engine, we heard some great 50's music from MO'town and realized some kind of celebration was happening, What luck! Down went the dinghy and off to shore for some exploring and to join in on the fun. We went to the visitors center to inquire what was the celebration and learned that it was the Kunta Kinte festival. Apparently Annapolis is the place where Kunta Kinte's ship first landed. There were amazing displays of jewlry, art, and rich smells of food being served. We enjoyed listening to many styles of music that afternoon.
The streets of Annapolis were jammed with people and all the stores were buzzing with tempting signs of sales. Many young cadets from the naval academy were on weekend leave, you can always spot them in their brilliant white uniforms.
Returning to the Summer Wind by dinghy was an exercise in skating all the big powerboats trying to enter Ego Alley. Both walls were full of boats but those that wanted to be seen tried very hard to cram themselves in the now over packed waterway.
We spent a few extra days in Annapolis, the weather turned rough and we spent a few days bouncing in thunderstorms.The mooring field is not the greatest spot to wait out weather but we were secure. The temperatures dropped from 90*to a refreshing 70.

Scooting Around Back Creek

Provisioning by Dinghy

Sunset in Annapolis

Dick did a routine check on his engine and discovered that his newly repaired muffler was still leaking. Oh, Oh, back to Worton Creek!!

Joining the Cruise to Nowhere

Hopkins Creek Anchorage

Saturday Sept. 18 - Our original plan after the rendezvous had been to go to Worton Creek to have the boat hauled and the bottom painted. Plans changed because the marina doesn't do haul outs over the weekends. The CBC (Chesapeake Bay Cruiser's, a regional group of the MTOA) were beginning their "Cruise to Nowhere" , so we decided to tag along for a while. Their first stop for the night was Hopkins Creek up the Middle River. The Middle River entrance is not for the faint of heart. Depths of the water are 10' usually but make sure you stay in the channel and oh yes, watch out for the zillions of crab pots, not to mention the many power boats, no auto pilot in this spot! Maryland is famous for having the best fresh crab cakes and it takes a lot of crabs to make just one!!
Early afternoon we dropped the hook and watched several other MTOA members follow suit.This was the first time for us to anchor in this spot and we found it to be a delightful spot. Around 4:30 we dinghied over to Lowe Key and Polarity for a refreshing cocktail party. Most of us then dinghied in for a great dinner at the Riverwatch restaurant. We think our table was the rowdiest because there was constant laughter. What a great night!!

The Quiet Group

The Rowdy Bunch!!!