Debi and Jack sailing on SV Iroquois

Day before yesterday we left the Deltaville area in heavy fog and no wind under motor power and that lasted all day. The tedium was somewhat relieved by a visit from a little bird who caught and ate a lot of the flies that invade every time we go into the Chesapeake. (Identified as a female redstart by our friend, Nina)She left when we got close to land again. We decided to tuck into a creek on the north side of the Potomac instead of anchoring out in the open because every day this week has a forecast for thunderstorms. We dropped anchor between two marinas on Smith Creek, put up our mosquito nets and proceeded to cook a delicious meal of steak, corn and zucchini. Just as we were taking our first bites in the cockpit we were visited by a dinghy. The man asked if we knew about the weather forecast - we didn't - he said he noticed we were open to the west, that a severe storm with 50kt winds was approaching from that direction, and suggested that we go upstream around a bend which would protect us from the west. So many sailors are helpful like this, but it was really nice of him to take the trouble to warn us. And so we set aside our plates, raised anchor and moved. We also took down the mosquito nets and checked for anything that might blow away. There was plenty of time to finish eating and clean up before the rain started. It poured down buckets and thunder and lightning surrounded us but there was no big wind. We felt lucky, the bark was worse than the bite. Yesterday morning we got an early start out of there and were able to sail a good bit. There was a fighter jet that appeared to be practicing takeoffs and landings. It would take off, circle, land and repeat over and over. When we came up the Patuxent River to Solomons the wind picked up. Something about the sail in reminded me of sailing in the Kieler Bucht with Jens and Dorte. Maybe it was the curve of the land, maybe it was the military zones. It just kind of felt the same I'm not sure why but I was happy to remember that. We came to Calvert Marina, across the water from the more popular Zahniser’s and much less expensive. It turned out to be where the navy had its amphibious training base for WWII. It looks like someone is trying to make it into a retirement community but it hasn't quite worked out yet. There is lots of signage, including one for the planned pool, but not much actual building. The marina is serviceable but definitely not modern or luxurious. The price is the same as a mooring in Annapolis. The ambiance is late 1970s campground. If boats were campers they would be mostly popups, a few tents some larger RVs along with one or two airstreams. The bathrooms are clean and old. The whole place is mom and pop all the way. We seem to be the only transients here. There is a mallard duck couple who live on our dock. Every time we walk by they fly down into the water, but they always come back. There are also lots of geese here. Last night's storm came much later-around midnight with lots of wind but not quite as much lightning still buckets of rain. We've move into the Maryland part of the bay and are planning the next stage, through the C&D canal and down the Delaware River.