We did some final work at Herrington Harbor including shaving down the vee berth door some more ( yeeps), stowing a bunch of canned goods for later, working on the electrical and doing some other odd jobs, we fired up the Beta following the instructions carefully -- hold down the heat button for fifteen seconds, press the start button. The engine turned over and started immediately. We got out of the slip without any problems thanks to the gigantic flat-bladed prop, which creates enough thrust to get us up to speed, stop, move in reverse, all very quickly for such a heavy boat. We were heading out for a week, so the discussion was whether to head further south to Tangier, or head north to meet up with the HPYC fleet for a more leisurely cruise. Ultimately since there was very little wind and all of it was coming out of the south we decided to put the new engine to good use and motor north to Swan Creek and meet up with the three boats coming south from the club.
Finally at anchor on Swan Creek. We went to almost the exact same spot where we once anchored right on top of a crab pot only to wake up at sunrise to the sound of a crabber's work boat banging into us to push us away so they could check their catch. There was no crab pot there this time.
The next morning we had a soul searching discussion as to when we had last purchased diesel. The results were inconclusive. Efforts to dip the tank with our handy dandy bent bucket handle revealed that the plug we usually removed for dipping purposes was now part of the new fuel line install for the new engine. We resorted to knocking on the side of the tank. Boy did it sound empty. Luckily we were able to duck into Gratitude Marina for fuel. It took 40 gallons to fill the tank. We don't actually know but it might be a 50 gallon tank so we cut it a little close. The engine uses a little less than half a gallon an hour at cruising speed so we would have been OK but who wants to be sucking on the bottom of the tank? Not my brand new Beta.
June 11 was another fairly calm day. We made our way down to the Kent Narrows. I think this was our first time going through south bound.
We did some laps in front of all the dock bars and marinas in the Narrows, having arrived at 11:45 for the 12:00 opening. While we were waiting we heard someone radio in to the bridge tender in a panicked screech "REQUESTING BRIDGE OPENING." The bridge tender must have been able to see them because he responded asking this person to identify their vessel. When they failed to respond he radioed again stating that south bound had the current and that there were a number of vessels on that side so north bound vessels were to stand down. At 1:55 we heard the same panicked screech on the radio again "REQUESTING BRIDGE OPENING." Not being able to see anything on the other side, we let the current carry us almost to the bridge, and at 12:00 the bridge opened. At 12:00:15 a small blue sailboat was already crowding through the bridge. The people aboard were so confused and panicked that we couldn't help but laugh at them. Fortunately we were able to hold position long enough for them to clear the channel and we proceeded through after them.
We made our way up the Wye to Dividing Creek, hoping for a relaxing hike in the woods and a swim. Alas we were stymied in both. The tide was too low for us to get up to the landing to the hiking trails, and the water teemed with stinging nettles. We did get to enjoy someone else's pain as a very beautiful custom trawler dropped the hook in front of us. The owner jumped in the water without looking and was cursing his friend for refusing to also jump in. The friend was hesitating on the gleaming teak swim platform, "I don't know man, I see jellyfish." "Bull shit I always swim here and there are never jelly fi-" Then he started screaming.
June 13 we crossed the bay to go to Galesville. Even though we spent a month in Deale we had never visited Galesville on the West River. After the previous day jellyfish bonanza we wanted to find a place with a pool. We attempted to use the CBYCA reciprocity policy at the West River Yacht Club but found that they were going to charge us more than a public marina, were unpleasant, and wouldn't give us slips if we didn't arrive by three PM. Hartge's Marina had an off site pool (I speculate it is at the owner's house or something), but they have transient moorings, and the other local marina had slips only but they had an on site pool. Ultimately we decided to forget all that noise and just anchor in the harbor.
Got to do a little sailing along the way until the wind died.
The crew, not doing a very good job on watch.
It was quite pleasant, with a really nice anchorage and lots of nearly abandoned/derelict boats in a public mooring field right down river from Hartge's Marina, which was chock full of classics and mega yachts. The swimming at anchor was also really nice.
A gorgeous catboat at Hartge's.
An occupied propane platform with a rusty gasoline generator on the stern. He ran it all night long. We also did a two bar bar crawl. The second bar has SHOWERS IN THE BATHROOMS so we took advantage.
June 13 we left Galesville and took a short jaunt up to Annapolis. There's just something about being snug and secure on one of those huge moorings right in the middle of all the action of the busy harbor.
We replaced the forespar poles with collapsible aluminum tent poles so we don't have to have the giant forespar poles on deck all the time anymore. The tent poles collapse to 12 inches and go into the stowage with the hobo tent sun shade.
June 14 was flag day. From Annapolis we made for the Choptank river. I thought we might be trying San Domingo Creek for the back door to St. Michaels but instead we went to Harness Creek, which was quiet and breezy. We hosted a small potluck dinner for everyone and Ranzo didn't bite anyone. I did get stung on the neck by a jellyfish, and we were attached by a horde of flies. This is where I learned that the dogs are deathly afraid of fly swatters.
We had a close brush with the Bloody Point Lighthouse. It's not in very good shape these days.
June 15 we went back across the bay to the South River, where you can anchor near Quiet Waters Park. In spite of reports of porpoises seen in the area the evening before, we saw none.
June 16 we went to St. Michaels. It was the weekend of the wooden boat show at the museum, so slips were dear. We got the last one in St. Michaels Marina and never have I ever been so wedged into a spot. We were hanging off the dock by half, and then a large power boat was brought in perpendicular to us.
Even so it was fun.
That huge boat out there with the helicopter on it belongs to the founder of Bayliner.
June 17 we made our way back towards home, through the narrows and up to Still Pond. The water felt great after all those days in brackish water.
June 18 we made it home to our yacht club, but we had one more trip to make all the way back to Herrington Harbor. Adios HHN!
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