Day 25- Deltaville, VA to Solomons, MD

The big question this morning was whether we would move at all.  We are fortunate to have a few options for looking at weather on a daily basis.  For the Chesapeake Bay we were looking at the NOAA Marine Forecast, a program called Predict Wind and another NOAA program called the Chesapeake Bay Operating Forecast. The latter two provide an hour-by-hour graphical picture of forecast wind.  Watching both of these throughout the day yesterday, last night and this morning showed an ever changing picture that would alternately fill me with hope and confidence, or slap me back to reality with dire news.

One thing they all agreed upon was the fact that, over the course of the day, conditions would improve.  Whether they would improve fast enough for us to make a 50 mile (7 hour) passage to Solomons or not, was the question.  Winds (and associated waves) would decrease, but from north to south.  We were south, hoping to go north.

After having a deliberately late breakfast and furtively peeking at the masthead wind instruments of the nearby sailboats, I kept up the wishful thinking for 'sooner rather than later' on the wind.  Finally, at just 10 AM, the decision got made to just get on with it.  Ten minutes later we were motoring out of the harbor.  I knew that the first hour or so might be a bit 'sporty'.  The Bay did not disappoint.
Soon enough, we got what we were hoping for, calm winds and smooth seas, perfect for trawlering up the Bay!

All this photo is missing is the reticules of a periscope!
This is the Hannibal, a ship aground in the shallows that has been a target for Navy planes flying out of Patuxent River Naval Air Station for years.

Quiet on the Bay!  We saw these two tugs heading south.  Usually, we would encounter several large cargo ships moving up and down the Bay.  Not so right now, due to the tragic accident at the Key Bridge in Baltimore.  Since it is the only port up in the Bay and is still closed, shipping traffic has dropped to nearly zero.

We saw this same tug Coinjock a few days ago. We mostly saw wide expanses of open water so when something, anything went by I grabbed a photo.

Smith Point Lighthouse

Smith Point, at the mouth of the Potomac River, has been marked by a succession of lights, having been served by three towers, three lightships, a screw-pile lighthouse, and the present caisson structure. Click on the blue links to learn more.

Entering the Patuxent River at Solomon's Island.

The beautiful replica schooner, Pride of Baltimore!

The other boats look tiny beside this beauty.

The Americas Great Loop Cruising Association Boasts many volunteers around the Loop, locals called "Harbor Hosts".  En route this morning, I got a message from a complete stranger, welcoming us to Solomons Island and inviting us to dock at the Solomons Island Yacht Club.  And we did! Inexpensive dockage, including power, free laundry, two free drinks at the bar and a chance to have 'Docktails' with several other Loopers.

 
And a short walk next door for pizza!
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