-We were up at 0545. Low tide was set for 0906, so we figured to be able to catch the tide as it was coming back in (about 1000) to give up enough depth to leave…we got so close to finally leaving, but the depth was running to 4’0…and technically we were still moving, but didn’t want to chance getting stuck! Back to our anchor location from the night before we went, to wait for high tide at 1400 (figured we could do it at 1200). Still really pissed at the marina, as a business practice if a boater states a 5’ draft, you tell them not to even try! Totally going to blast them on ActiveCaptain.com!!!
At 1230, we were able to make it out, with lowest sounding at 5’4 (just scraping by!) Felt good to be out of the river and back into the Bay!!! We only had about a 4 hour sail to the Sassafras River (Georgetown, MD). The weather was clear and sunny (radar showed massive storms around Baltimore , but couldn’t tell from here!) we ran out of batteries (another thing Mike forgot to tell me) for my speaker system, so thankfully have this crank radio! 2 minutes of cranking, and the thing is good for 40 minutes or so (spare the jokes please J).
At 1630, we pulled into the mooring at Sail Associates Inc, on the Sassafras! I keep calling it Sexy Fries River, so it shall be dubbed henceforth! The marina is located among other marinas, pretty far into the river: about 1 hour west of the mouth. The area out there is quiet and just really…peaceful! Was a nice ride in, and had plenty of depth, so no more continuous beeping!!! Ha. When we called to make our reservation earlier that morning, the marina said their tender stops at 1630, so once we were settled, out came our new dinghy!!! I am calling him Charlie!! It’s a 8’9 inflatable…but we never got around (or wanted to spend the money) on a motor, so alas his method of movement is Mike’s Arms! Ha. We never had him in the water before, so was kind of fun for his first launch!!!
When we got to the dock, the owner of SAI was still
there…and looked at us funny for rowing all the way in! He welcomed us, and said in the morning to
call the office…they would send the tender out to get us, sweet! After showers (holy smokes, does the well
water in northern MD smell!!! Pretty sure we don’t have to worry about iron
intake!)
09/07/2012 Sexy Fries
River
We called for the tender at 1000…figured we should pack all
our stuff for the entire day: bikes,
backpacks, shower stuff, swimming stuff, etc.
This way we didn’t have to keep bothering the tendor guy. When we got to the dock, and unloaded
everything, the owner again found us: offered us a place at the dock for the
same price as the mooring (wooohhh!).
Obviously, we took the deal, but wanted to just get on with our
morning…so would move it that afternoon.
Our plan was to explore the town of Georgetown, and the nearby town of
Galena…according to the Cruising guide, Georgetown was a little more
interesting than it actually turned out to be…which was just a historaical
house and some marinas! Ha. So we
skipped most of it and biked to Galena.
Galena is also small, but did contain a little grocery, liquor store,
Post Office, and some antique shops. As
my birthday is tomorrow, we joked about me finding a gift in one of these
shops. If you know me, then you probably
know of my obsession with Jane Austen; particularly Pride & Prejudice. Since I was 13, I have wanted a leather-bound
set of her books, with Mecca being an old copy of P&P. Whenever we are in old shops/bookstores, I
am on the hunt! (yes, I could buy it
from Amazon, but where is the fun in that!)
Mike has resolutely refused to buy me ANY of the books…just cause (meanie) Anyways, as we are looking around
the first shop, he joked “You know babe, since you came along on his trip, IF
you find your book, I will buy it for you”…Pretty sure he was feeling very
confident that I wouldn’t find it, but alas I am stubborn and give me a task
you say I cant do…ha, I will do it! Not
5 minutes later, sitting inside a glass shelf, was an original 1937 pocket-sized,
leather bound and hand painted Pride and Prejudice! Hahahahaa! Mike’s face dropped at seeing it! She was soo pretty and over 150.00! While he was contemplating how to get out of
this, I decided she would not be mine!
We cant spend that kind of money on something like this, but was nice to
know they are really out there for me to findJ!
When we got back to the marina, we were able to relax in the pool and just while away the rest of the day (at a dock space too!). The weather reports for the next day (my bday) were horrible storms in the afternoon...and since our next destination was to be at anchor, we already decided not to chance it by that night and stay in Sexy Fries for my bday!
09/08/2012 Sexy Fries River (and my bday!!!)
Well Happy 29th Birthday to me!!! My morning started super early (yea, waking with the sun!). I got up wanting to go for a run...so I did...dear lawd, I hate hills! Only a short run of 2 miles, but still..as I came sweaty and gross back to the dock, I ran into Mike talking with some locals...they were talking about how far it was to Walmart (in DE)...only 10 miles. I agreed that was fine and charted the route on my phone (was actually 15 miles). Doesnt sound like much, but was further than we thought! we knew we had a finite time before the storms came in as well! We ran through Walmart getting as little as possible (sarcasm!!!). l;we packed up our bikes, and attempted the ride home...the wind had shifted and was blowing us the whole way...every pettle push became painful, all bags acted like sails and pushed us back! Mike was riding ahead of me, and would occasionally wait on the side of the road for me to catch up...during one of these catch points, he stated exactly what was going through m\yh mind as well..."all i keep hearing is Jillian (Michael's) telling me 'get comfortable with being uncomfortable' and 'just when you think you want to quit, keep pushing cause this is where is counts the most'...hysterical that BOTH of us were hearing her in our heads...guess I should chill with making us work out to her! haha. We made it back to SAI with many, many stops along the way! Mike ran immediatly back into the pool, where I joined him after putting all that we bought away!
About 30 minutes after we were in the pool, the sky began to become dark...like getting dark as night! The storm came in super fast and strong! We watched as a parade of boats, not even caring about the "no wake" zone fell into the river from the Bay...was amusing!We battened down our "hatches" and prepared for the storm with candles, books, and cards!
storm rolling into Sassafras River
09/09/2012 =>Worton CreekWe originally intended to head for Fairlee Creek, a local watering hole for the night, but upon hearing some horror stories from locals about shallow depths (the entry is so shallow that you have tohug the land side so much, you can litterally high-five the spectators on shore...which also sit there and wait for boats to run aground, and clap when they do) we decided to go to Worton Creek...and less popular destination, but good for its anchoring....The creek was only about 3 hours away, so we left around 1100 (after pumping out...and to quote one of the greatest movies ever "shitter's full!")
Worton seemed nice. we anchored near a motor boat, and brought out Charley (the dinghy, or Mike calls him "Soully") to go explore the shoreline. It wasnt until after dinner that the wind and seas pciked up, causing a good chop to the water....to say I slept for 2 hours is pushing it. Between the wind hitting the mast (causing the innard sheets to rattle) and the constant creaking of an old boat from the waves, I gave up sleep around 100 and just started to read. By 0530, the wind was calm...and Mike got up..we were off to Baltimore super early, but that is okay...we planned on having a dock space, so sleep would come at the Inner Harbor!!
beach at Worton Creek
P your book! If you find one again you must get it!
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