We enjoyed an extended stay at Solomon’s thanks to — can you guess? — the weather. Two lovely days, one one day of gale conditions and historic flooding. We picked a good spot to ride it out.
October 28 – 31 Solomons, MD Days 16 – 20
We left Annapolis behind as the clouds cleared out, the sun began to shine brightly and a stiff northwest breeze pushed us down the bay. Small Craft Advisories were up. It was blustery — 15 – 25 knots — but as it was behind us, we were pretty comfortable. The current was erratic, first against us, then with us, then against us. The sea state got a little lumpy when it turned against us off Jefferson Island at the entrance to Eastern Bay, so we pushed up our speed for twenty minutes or so to get beyond it, and life became happy again.
After a blustery but efficient ride up the Delaware Bay, we made our way into the C&D canal then tucked in to Chesapeake City as the rain began to pour down. The damp evening brought a delightful evening with friends, followed by a fun ride into the Chesapeake Bay to Rock Hall.
October 22 – 24 Chesapeake City and Rock Hall, MD Days 9 – 11
Chesapeake City, MD
A big part of cruising is new friends and old friends. Some of the best emerge from the shadows and take us by surprise. On our way up the Delaware, traveling in loose company with Curtis & Kim on their American Tug Blue Rhapsody and Matt and Laurie with their Nordhaven 46 First Light, we received a Facebook message from Phil.
As the “Bomb Cyclone” pulled away from Mamaroneck, we got under way again, but we had just a couple of days to make progress before the next gale would shut us down again.
October 18 – 19, 2019, New York City, Atlantic Highlands and Cape May Days 5 – 6
Mamaroneck, the East River, Manhattan and Sandy Hook
The northwest gale had lightened up by Friday morning. It was still blowing 15 to 20 knots, but we were in the sheltered waters of Long Island Sound and our route through the day would take us down the East River, so a brisk northerly was not a problem. It was clear and sunny: a classic fall day.
The strongest October storm on record gave us a great excuse to tuck into Mamaroneck for a few days.
October 15 – 17, 2019, Mamaroneck, NY Days 3 – 5
We are getting used to running from October gales. Last year gave us great practice, so we are finding our rhythm quickly this year. Before we even got our trip under way from Narragansett Bay, we knew we would have to duck and hide from a forecast gale in a couple of days. A careful scan of the forecast, our own speed and timing, and harbors along Long Island Sound, brought Mamaroneck, NY into focus. For so many reasons, it was a great selection to sit out a gale safely and comfortably.
We treated ourselves to a quick trip through the southern Georgia ICW, but impatience — and a favorable weather window — lured us on an outside run from St.Simons to Hilton Head.
Days 161 – 163, March 23-25, 2019
Amelia Island to St. Simons Island
We started the day at the Amelia Island Marina, which is not an ideal stop but the Fernandina Harbor Marina right in town, which is where we wanted to stay, was closed for reconstruction so we had no real choice.
Morning light on the Amelia River
The morning was absolutely lovely. Flat calm, refreshingly cool, and a beautiful amber-pastel-y light that gave the marshes and river a soft glow. It felt a bit like fall, which was wonderful even though it was actually spring. This business of the temperatures cooling even though spring is approaching has my senses confused. I keep forgetting if winter is coming or going. Continue reading A Bit of the Georgia ICW, then Outside to Hilton Head→
All things fun (and tasty) in the life of the Beards
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