Chesapeake Bay sunrise

Xander says hi to Grandma Lorraine

Back home, Patapsco River, Maryland

Sunday 7/29. Another gorgeous day. First Mate racks crew out at dawn. Ugggh, what’s the rush? Something special about today? Delayed about an hour enroute dodging prodigious amounts of Susquehanna River debris which has now floated halfway down bay with tide. But no harm. 11:00 AM dock at home marina. Offload stuff and meet with Jake, marina manager, for work list. Finish day with visit with Xander (grandson), Katie (daughter in law), and Brendan (son) in Baltimore. Xander, age 4 months, turning into nice young gentleman. Great 5 week journey! First Mate summarizes our lifestyle on the water best: “Cruising teaches us how to recognize and enjoy when things are really good. “ Miles today 27 trip total 1385. Engine hours 200. Fuel 308 gallons. 66 canal locks. 38 fabulous sunsets and equal number of incredible sunrises. Many friends met along the way. Hope you enjoyed our blog. Scott and Lori Spencer

Grays Inn Creek, just across Bay from Baltimore

Boat cleaning

Grays Inn Creek, Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore

Saturday 7/28. Our trip draws to a close. Gorgeous sunny low humidity day. Pass through Kent Narrows drawbridge to Grays Inn Creek, one of our favorite anchorages, not far from home, but far from crowds. Pair of bald eagles hanging out in nearby tree. They don’t scream like on TV, but make an odd “cheedle, cheedle” sound you would think is more likely coming from a pigeon than the symbol of USA. End of voyage boat cleaning, for part of afternoon. Ships and submarines are never cleaner than at end of a cruise. Then we hang out and enjoy the day. Miles today 23 trip total 1358.

Arrow points to our anchorage, not far from St Michaels, Maryland

Wye Island, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

Friday 7/27. Announcement. Spencers are putting boat up for sale. We’ve decided it’s the right time to downsize in the boat department. First we sell this one then look for another smaller one. Spring Cove Marina, right next to our Rock Hall anchorage, hosts our broker Michele. So we head over first thing this morning to meet with her and do the brokerage paperwork. While meeting, random marina people walking down the pier express interest so we hold an impromptu open house. First Mate is dubious at first then regales guests with tales of Lake Champlain. It seems there are people out there who dream to do what we actually do. Pretty cool. When paperwork and open boat complete, we do our WIT (water, ice and trash) routine then underway for Wye Island. Threat of thunderstorms keeps everyone except us away so we have tonight’s anchorage all to ourselves. Miles today 25 trip total 1335.

Chesapeake Bay sunset

Cormorant party on Susquehanna River log, right in middle of shipping channel

Chesapeake Bay, Rock Hall MD

Thursday 7/26. Perfect sunny day weather wise. Tide wise a little bit of snafu when skipper gets ebb and flood mixed up on tide table then announces to Fleet HQ that we must get underway at crack of dawn. Some pointed comments from Fleet HQ when we meet strong head current in canal and realize we could have got to destination just as fast by sleeping in. Smooth bay and wonderful vistas make up for lost sleep. Susquehanna River dumping tons of debris in upper bay from recent rains. We weave around and listen to lots of other boaters and Coast Guard yakking on radio about trees in water. 3 PM arrive at Rock Hall, directly across bay from home base. With weekend coming up, plan on 3 more days of bay cruising then arrive home Sunday night 7/29, weather and circumstances permitting. Miles today 47 trip total 1310.

Back home in Chesapeake Bay

Delaware Bay lighthouse visible out window. First Mate more interested in online newspaper

Rainy boat day

Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Bear DE

Wednesday 7/25. When we get up this morning, weather report marginally better so we decide to say aloha to Cape May and press on. Ocean swells at Cape May Canal entrance churn stomachs then gradually die down as we head north. Delaware Bay lighthouses along our route have interesting names. My favorite is “Miah Maul”, named after a local shipwreck. But for some reason I think of a medieval weapon and a woman named Miah using it to settle an argument. About 5 PM a terrific rainstorm breaks over us, which seems to happen every single time we come this direction. Our Delaware marina features a fine restaurant. Tonight we can choose between country and western music outside in the rain with the white people, or African American college student hip hop indoors. We go with the hip hop and don’t regret it. Next few days if all goes well visit familiar places in Chesapeake then back to home base. Miles today 58 trip total 1263.

Cape May NJ

Tuesday 7/24. Nice but windy day. We go out on Cape May harbor in kayaks and get slapped around by waves. First Mate does laundry the traditional way at laundromat. Skipper uses bucket for his. Have very nice couple, Hugh and Debbie from Boise Idaho over for cocktails. They are salty sailors gradually working their way towards New England, for now also storm bound. Wednesday weather looks pretty bad. Big wind and big rain. Maybe Thursday for next move.