Deep Creek Lock


As I write, we are tied to Elizabeth Dock, just inside the northern lock into the Dismal Swamp. Here we sit, with others, waiting for a massive storm to hit, bringing forecast gusts to 45 knots. But at the moment, all is calm.
We arrived yesterday to be assured of a spot, and were far from the first. The dock is now full with boats rafted up as well. But the shelter is so good that we will be fine... cold but fine. Night-time temperatures are forecast to drop to 5C, so we will be running the espar to keep warm.
From Annapolis, we headed out for San Domingo Creek, a beautiful anchorage just south of the pretty town of St Michaels. I won't dwell on our bumpy passage through Knapps Narrows, other than to say that we now know that you take the last red mark to port, not the normal starboard. Our second grounding was even more exciting than the first, but we managed to get ourselves off.
In St Michaels, we were disappointed to learn that Big Al's Seafood is no more. but we did enjoy a seafood dinner with Howard and Lynn. At the end of the evening we said good-by to Swift Current for this season as they headed back to Annapolis for winter haul-out.
And the next evening we were sitting in the cockpit of Seabird with Bruce and Nancy Montgomery in Solomons. We had another great sail down to Solomons Island in yet another NW wind. As Bruce said, we have burned more fuel in the heater than in the engine with the excellent but cool sailing weather. But the forecast for winds was not great... turning southerly for 3 says, so we headed out from Solomons Island to another new stop, Reedville.
The town has an interesting history, based on the fishing on Menhadden. At one time it was reported to be one of the wealthiest per capita towns in America. But today, it is a quiet town of one street with the beautiful homes still nicely maintained. The one restaurant and one marina were closed, so we just strolled the street and wandered through the outdoor exhibits of the fishing museum. It too was closed.
In the morning we decided to make a few miles in the building southerlies, so motor-sailed 20 miles to Jackson Creek in Deltaville. By days end we were walking in shorts and t-shirts in the hot sun. We had a two mile walk to a large West Marine where I was fortunate to find a block for the main sheet to replace the one that exploded that afternoon.
Under heavy load, the sharp crack sounded more like a gun-shot, and I first thought we had lost the mast. But just $230.00 later, we are back in business. In growing southerlies, we decided to stay put for another day and took the bikes ashore in another warm sunny day.
Deltaville is an odd place with 600 inhabitants and 3000 boats in its six marinas and four boatyards. It is a popular place to store boats, and the streets are lined with yards full of them. In the evening, we sat in Seabird's cockpit and enjoyed a bushel of fresh Chesapeake Bay oysters, compliments of Bruce. He went ashore as a waterman (oyster fisherman) landed and negotiated about 150 oysters for $10. So we ate all we could and now both have a couple of dozen more in the refrigerators.
By now, warnings about the weather on the weekend meant that it was time to move and plan where to shelter from the weather. So Thursday was a final run down Chesapeake Bay with about two dozen others to Norfolk, where we headed in to Tidewater Marina for fuel, a few supplies and to pick up some parcels we had shipped there. Then Friday, time to run for cover, and here we sit, lashed down and waiting for the storm to hit.
Last night, as we watched the last locking up of boats, we recognized Be Faithful II with Jane and Geoff Ralling, neighbours from Charlottetown, coming through and tying up. So a great reunion in the cockpit. Based on the forecast, we will be here for three days, so some boat jobs, touring and reading over the weekend.