Sailing around Gwynn’s Island in the Chesapeake Bay on a Drascombe Lugger, Annie. With Steve Earley and Curt Bowman.
Bridges
Curt looking for The Hole in the Wall
This is going to be fun.
It is true that I should have left 15 minutes ago. Yes, it’s still dark, and the mountains to the west are a deep cold blue like waves crashing on a beach of stars; but the horizon in the east is glowing embers. Fifteen minutes is easy to make up. Normally not a problem when driving 2 1/2 hours east, to the Chesapeake.
But crews have been replacing two of the old steel truss bridges on the River Road along the James. In the semi-dark I sit at temporary stop lights blinking on deserted roads, deep in the woods – no work crews around, no other cars, just me sitting in the dark, alone, listening to the car idle and the katydids and the tree frogs and the fish jumping in the Hardware River below, dutifully waiting tor some imaginary line of cars to pass so the light will turn green and let me safely pass. Is that a police cruiser in the weeds on the other side? A ticket would make me really late. I have to do it all again at the Rivanna. I love these old bridges, and will miss them when they’re gone. I miss the one they took down a few years ago on the road north from town. A double insult to be delayed by their funeral.
deadrises at Gwynn’s Island
Marsh Cat For Sale (sold)
at St. Michaels, Maryland
(edit: Word from Ned is this boat now has a new owner, congrats to both.)
I’ve been writing about Marsh Cats a lot lately. The boat I sailed aboard for the Chesapeake Float to Smith Island was Pete Peter’s Marsh Cat Obadiah. Magnificent boat.
Also on that trip were Kevin McDonald in his Marsh Cat little t – the same boat that he and Mike Wick sailed from the Florida Keys to Dry Tortugas. Twice.
And also on that trip was Joe Manning in his new Marsh Cat Makani.
Another regular of these trips is Doug Oeller and his Marsh Cat Comfort, though he brought new boat this year.
These Marsh Cats have appeared consistently on all the extended camping trips and events I’ve attended over the years, and they never cease to impress me. Big, stable, comfortable, and fast. Perfect camper expedition boats, especially when you want to explore shallow creeks and shorelines, and roomy enough to camp aboard for several days at a time.
Manokin River Evening ~ Video
evening on Wolftrap Creek, Manokin River
Afternoon into evening. Sailing up narrow creeks and back out into broad bays. Beautiful sailing in a fresh breeze.
Rafted up for the evening, then anchoring out for the night.
The next morning all head back to Janes Island to haul out and head home.
Manokin River Afternoon ~ Video
Up the Manokin River
Spirited run up the Manokin River from Teague Creek. A downwind run in 12-15 knots.
All afternoon the Coast Guard broadcasted alerts of a vessel in distress.
Manokin River Afternoon
Pete guides Obadiah downwind
From Teague Creek to Wolftrap Creek is a distance of less than 4 miles, but it’s a fun 4 miles. By the end of lunch break the wind has picked up. Herds of white caps are galloping upriver. The wind and the tide are not yet at odds, so instead of choppy and bucking it’s a smooth gallop.
Manokin River Morning ~ Video
Sailing from Janes Island up the Manokin River. The video above is from the first part of the day.