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Chesapeake Cruise
Each summer, my son and I take a week or so to cruise on our cuddy-sport
boat (a 25' Regal). For the past few years we trailered it from Vermont down to CT to see the Ocean, Whales and the Northeast coast. Before that we went down the Hudson so visit my older son in the big apple. I have been wondering what a trip on the Chesapeake would be like. Does anyone know of a really good, up to date cruising guide with suggested itineraries? We have AC and shore power (I have sleep apnea and asthma). Does one have to reserve dock space well in advance as they do, especially on weekends, in well visited ports on the NE coast? Are there any can't miss ports of call? is there a safe place to leave a truck and trailer for the week and access to launch from? TIA harlan -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
Harlan Lachman wrote:
Each summer, my son and I take a week or so to cruise on our cuddy-sport boat (a 25' Regal). For the past few years we trailered it from Vermont down to CT to see the Ocean, Whales and the Northeast coast. Before that we went down the Hudson so visit my older son in the big apple. I have been wondering what a trip on the Chesapeake would be like. Does anyone know of a really good, up to date cruising guide with suggested itineraries? Chesapeake Bay Magazine has a cruising guide they put out every year. It has 3 suggested itineraries - one in the upper bay, one in the middle bay and one in the lower bay. They do concentrate on anchoring about half the time. We have AC and shore power (I have sleep apnea and asthma). Does one have to reserve dock space well in advance as they do, especially on weekends, in well visited ports on the NE coast? Depends on when you come. I've not made reservations more than a day in advance. Are there any can't miss ports of call? Depends on what you like to do. is there a safe place to leave a truck and trailer for the week and access to launch from? There's a story (look it up on google - it was sometime in 2001 I think) about someone who did this on the lower bay and launched somewhere on the York River, and their truck and trailer was left at the nearby marina. I would think that Solomons or the eastern shore might be other good bets. We've got a sailboat that's about twice as big as your boat and probably twice as slow, but we've done a couple of trips like this. Since we are based either at the south end of the middle bay or the north end of the south bay (depending on your perspective), we've mostly done cruising in the lower bay. In 1999, we took a mini cruise starting out from our old marina on the Patuxent we anchored in the Little Choptank the first night, and then anchored in Selby Bay and then went to my BILs house in Bodkin Creek, and then came home. The following year (2000), we were in a marina off the Potomac Day 1 to the Patuxent - anchored Day 2 to Oxford - anchored and met a friend http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/56243/#TL Day 3 anchored in Selby Bay Day 4 met a friend and took him sailing and then anchored in Harness Creek http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/562f3/#TL Day 5 tied up to the dock at my BIL's house in Pinehurst http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/562f5/#TL Day 6 Baltimore http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2ab90/#TL in a marina Day 7 Anchored Swan Creek Day 8 Anchored in the Corsica River http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4a9c6/c3f94/ Day 9 marina in Queenstown http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/557e2/#TL Day 10 Anchored in Chester River Day 11 thought of going to St. Michaels but it was a Saturday so we anchored in Shaw Bay instead http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/561bd/#TL Day 12 Anchored in the Choptank http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/561cb/#TL Day 13 back to Oxford to a marina http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/56256/#TL Day 14 anchored in the Patuxent Day 15 back home to the Potomac Then in September (2000) we went from the Potomac to Reedville to Broad Creek (Deltaville) and came home. We started going down the ICW for the winter in Nov 2000. In August of this year we took a mini cruise - Reedville http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/380cf/#TL Tangier http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/53091/#TL Crisfield http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/53091/#TL (where we also went in July 2003 for a couple of days) and then home This month, we had intended to go north and see St. Michaels which we've never quite gotten to, but the wind was from the north. We didn't actually leave the day we had intended to go because it was so stormy, so we went south to the Reedville Marina again, and then to Jackson Creek off the Piankatank http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/57ec5/#TL to the Deltaville Marina. The following day we went to http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/58160/#TL Mobjack Bay to the OTHER Severn River Marina. The we came back to Broad Creek on the Rappahannock and then back home (I haven't finished writing that up yet.) grandma Rosalie |
Thanks for the detailed response
harlan In article , Rosalie B. wrote: Harlan Lachman wrote: Each summer, my son and I take a week or so to cruise on our cuddy-sport boat (a 25' Regal). For the past few years we trailered it from Vermont down to CT to see the Ocean, Whales and the Northeast coast. Before that we went down the Hudson so visit my older son in the big apple. I have been wondering what a trip on the Chesapeake would be like. Does anyone know of a really good, up to date cruising guide with suggested itineraries? Chesapeake Bay Magazine has a cruising guide they put out every year. It has 3 suggested itineraries - one in the upper bay, one in the middle bay and one in the lower bay. They do concentrate on anchoring about half the time. We have AC and shore power (I have sleep apnea and asthma). Does one have to reserve dock space well in advance as they do, especially on weekends, in well visited ports on the NE coast? Depends on when you come. I've not made reservations more than a day in advance. Are there any can't miss ports of call? Depends on what you like to do. is there a safe place to leave a truck and trailer for the week and access to launch from? There's a story (look it up on google - it was sometime in 2001 I think) about someone who did this on the lower bay and launched somewhere on the York River, and their truck and trailer was left at the nearby marina. I would think that Solomons or the eastern shore might be other good bets. We've got a sailboat that's about twice as big as your boat and probably twice as slow, but we've done a couple of trips like this. Since we are based either at the south end of the middle bay or the north end of the south bay (depending on your perspective), we've mostly done cruising in the lower bay. In 1999, we took a mini cruise starting out from our old marina on the Patuxent we anchored in the Little Choptank the first night, and then anchored in Selby Bay and then went to my BILs house in Bodkin Creek, and then came home. The following year (2000), we were in a marina off the Potomac Day 1 to the Patuxent - anchored Day 2 to Oxford - anchored and met a friend http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/56243/#TL Day 3 anchored in Selby Bay Day 4 met a friend and took him sailing and then anchored in Harness Creek http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/562f3/#TL Day 5 tied up to the dock at my BIL's house in Pinehurst http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/562f5/#TL Day 6 Baltimore http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2ab90/#TL in a marina Day 7 Anchored Swan Creek Day 8 Anchored in the Corsica River http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4a9c6/c3f94/ Day 9 marina in Queenstown http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/557e2/#TL Day 10 Anchored in Chester River Day 11 thought of going to St. Michaels but it was a Saturday so we anchored in Shaw Bay instead http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/561bd/#TL Day 12 Anchored in the Choptank http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/561cb/#TL Day 13 back to Oxford to a marina http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/56256/#TL Day 14 anchored in the Patuxent Day 15 back home to the Potomac Then in September (2000) we went from the Potomac to Reedville to Broad Creek (Deltaville) and came home. We started going down the ICW for the winter in Nov 2000. In August of this year we took a mini cruise - Reedville http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/380cf/#TL Tangier http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/53091/#TL Crisfield http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/53091/#TL (where we also went in July 2003 for a couple of days) and then home This month, we had intended to go north and see St. Michaels which we've never quite gotten to, but the wind was from the north. We didn't actually leave the day we had intended to go because it was so stormy, so we went south to the Reedville Marina again, and then to Jackson Creek off the Piankatank http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/57ec5/#TL to the Deltaville Marina. The following day we went to http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/58160/#TL Mobjack Bay to the OTHER Severn River Marina. The we came back to Broad Creek on the Rappahannock and then back home (I haven't finished writing that up yet.) grandma Rosalie -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
JohnH wrote:
St Michaels may not be an "absolute must see" but it's pretty close! Yes, but I refuse beat up the bay against a north wind or go on a summer weekend. On the middle bay, I also like Oxford, Annapolis, Rock Hall and even Baltimore. Another good place to go is Solomons. And of course in a small power boat, one could get all the way up the Potomac to D.C. On the lower bay, probably Deltaville, Crisfield, Reedville, Tangier, Onacock, Yorktown/Glouster and Hampton/Norfolk. We've never gotten up to the upper bay, so I don't know the places there. John H On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD, on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who can do binary and those who can't! grandma Rosalie |
Deltaville ... Reedville,
I found Deltaville and Reedville problematic to get to by sailboat. I reached Reedville by car twice and to be truthfull, DeSmet SD is more interesting. At least DeSmet has a cafe to eat breakfast in. |
Rosalie B. wrote:
(JAXAshby) wrote: Deltaville ... Reedville, I found Deltaville and Reedville problematic to get to by sailboat. Places that ARE problematic - Smith Island (my husband was on a DNR boat (a power boat) which ran aground in the channel there), Salt Ponds, Windmill Point, Washington DC (due to bridge restrictions), Queenstown and my BILs dock in Bodkin Creek (local knowledge needed in the latter two cases). Deltaville and Reedville are not in that group. grandma Rosalie |
The only problem is to figure out which way the wind is blowing
so as to be upwind of the menhaden plant. when I was there by car two years ago the plant seemed to be abandoned. you can drive to someplace to have breakfast when I drove there, the only place to get something to eat was at the gas station, or the tablecloth restaurant that closed at 8:00 at night. We were able to buy candy bars from a box in the lobby of the motel we stayed in. like DeSmet (which I've never heard of). Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived there. The town has two trees, one of which they built a park around. |
Rosalie, it occurs to me you write of the Chesepeake anchorages from the
perspective of someone who is thoroughly familiar with the waters, while I wrote from the perspective of someone traveling through. Deltaville ... Reedville, I found Deltaville and Reedville problematic to get to by sailboat. Places that ARE problematic - Smith Island (my husband was on a DNR boat (a power boat) which ran aground in the channel there), Salt Ponds, Windmill Point, Washington DC (due to bridge restrictions), Queenstown and my BILs dock in Bodkin Creek (local knowledge needed in the latter two cases). Deltaville and Reedville are not in that group. grandma Rosalie |
If you obtain the guide published by Chesapeake Bay Mag (and pay attention
to any channel "peculiarities" mentioned), you should have no problem with either Deltaville or Reedville. Even those familiar with the waters had to enter "the first time". I've had no problem w/ either place, and would even say that only Jackson Creek could be tricky w/o the guide. "JAXAshby" wrote in message ... Rosalie, it occurs to me you write of the Chesepeake anchorages from the perspective of someone who is thoroughly familiar with the waters, while I wrote from the perspective of someone traveling through. Deltaville ... Reedville, I found Deltaville and Reedville problematic to get to by sailboat. Places that ARE problematic - Smith Island (my husband was on a DNR boat (a power boat) which ran aground in the channel there), Salt Ponds, Windmill Point, Washington DC (due to bridge restrictions), Queenstown and my BILs dock in Bodkin Creek (local knowledge needed in the latter two cases). Deltaville and Reedville are not in that group. grandma Rosalie |
I've wondered about the status of the plant(s) myself. I didn't see the
thick black smoke that warned you to anchor on the other side, but I have seen menhaden ships on the bay. Can't say I remember there being a lacking of trees. I think I would have noticed "JAXAshby" wrote in message ... The only problem is to figure out which way the wind is blowing so as to be upwind of the menhaden plant. when I was there by car two years ago the plant seemed to be abandoned. you can drive to someplace to have breakfast when I drove there, the only place to get something to eat was at the gas station, or the tablecloth restaurant that closed at 8:00 at night. We were able to buy candy bars from a box in the lobby of the motel we stayed in. like DeSmet (which I've never heard of). Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived there. The town has two trees, one of which they built a park around. |
In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote: And of course in a small power boat, one could get all the way up the Potomac to D.C. How small. Ours is just under 25 feet. harlan -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
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"Garland Gray II" wrote:
If you obtain the guide published by Chesapeake Bay Mag (and pay attention to any channel "peculiarities" mentioned), you should have no problem with either Deltaville or Reedville. Even those familiar with the waters had to enter "the first time". I've had no problem w/ either place, and would even say that only Jackson Creek could be tricky w/o the guide. We followed a couple of newbie boats into Jackson Creek, and they had the Skipper Bob anchorage book (which has no pictures or charts) and they got in fine. Of course you can go to Fishing Bay instead, and that entrance is not particularly tricky if all the ATONs are there (which they weren't when we made our visit). grandma Rosalie |
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Harlan Lachman wrote:
In article , Rosalie B. wrote: And of course in a small power boat, one could get all the way up the Potomac to D.C. How small. Ours is just under 25 feet. When I made that statement I was thinking of your boat. The size of the boat isn't really relevant except that some power boats have a lot of superstructure (although not as much as a sailboat mast usually). It's the power boat part that is important. A sailboat with a mast taller than 50 feet has to get the I95 bridge (Woodrow Wilson Bridge) to open, and they need 24 - 48 hours notice and only open at 3 am or something like that. A power boat is going to be able to get under that bridge easily at a reasonable time. And you might even be able to get under the 14th St. bridge or whatever is upstream of the WWB. I'm not sure how far up the river is navigable though. At some point past Georgetown it becomes a white water area. There's a restaurant cruise boat that goes under the 14 foot arches from Old Town Alexandria past the airport to Georgetown. I'd have a marina reservation for DC though. grandma Rosalie |
John or Rosalie:
Is there a Marina that takes transients that you can recommend in the DC area. We would need 30 amp service, easy access for my friend to pick us up and take us touring and facilities (showers, head, etc.). BTW, do either of you know how long a ride it is from Point Lookout and whether there are speed limitations? 70 - 100 miles is not long at 25-35 mph. At 10 mph it gets old fast. harlan In article , JohnH wrote: On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 12:07:37 -0400, Harlan Lachman wrote: In article , Rosalie B. wrote: And of course in a small power boat, one could get all the way up the Potomac to D.C. How small. Ours is just under 25 feet. harlan A 25'er should have no trouble getting up to Georgetown, and even a little further. The bridges won't be a problem. North of Georgetown the water gets pretty shallow in places and not all the rocks are marked on the charts. The ride from Point Lookout up the Potomac to DC is a pretty long one, but the views in and around DC are well worth it. The Potomac is a beautiful river. John H On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD, on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who can do binary and those who can't! -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
In article ,
JohnH wrote: As far as I know, there are no speed restrictions until you go under the Woodrow Wilson bridge. Sorry John to be so ignorant of the area at this point (I hate to buy charts before I pick the area I am going to go). How far is it from the point until there? From there to the north end of Alexandria is a no wake area. Again, how long is this area? Then you are good to go to the 14th St. bridge, at least. I haven't been north of there in a while, and am not sure of the speed limits beyond that bridge. harlan Some email info on Washington DC marinas can be found he http://www.boat-world.com/dir/5_27_DC_Washington.html Good luck. John H On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD, on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who can do binary and those who can't! -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
Harlan Lachman wrote:
John or Rosalie: Is there a Marina that takes transients that you can recommend in the DC area. We would need 30 amp service, easy access for my friend to pick us up and take us touring and facilities (showers, head, etc.). The main marina in DC is: Gangplank Marina That's the one I hear about most often. Since I have a sailboat, I've never been of course. 309-slip marina is conveniently located in the protected Washington Channel with laundry, showers, cable TV, pump-out, in-water service/repair and parking Other Amenities: Fresh Water, Ice, Motor Oil Recycling, Restrooms, Phone: (202) 554-5000 http://www.coastal-properties.com Rate Information: (Transient Rates = $1.25/ft/day plus $5/day for electricity) Other marinas in the area (but I don't know whether they take transients) a *Anacostia Marina Washington, DC Amenities:Fresh Water Maintenance Facilities Restrooms Shower Facilities The NPS has threatened to close the Anacostia Marina, but it is the place where the police boats are maintained, so I don't know their status at the moment *Columbia Marina George Washington Memorial Pkwy, Arlington, VA 22202 (Located in Washington, DC) PH: 202-347-0173 Boat US Discounts - Trans. Slips: 50%, Pump Out: Free, Launch Ramp: 20% F E O *Buzzard Point Marina Washington, DC Amenities Fresh Water Ice Public Phone Pumpout/Dump Facilities Restrooms Shower Facilities *James Creek Marina, Washington, DC Amenities: Gasoline Golf Groceries Shower Facilities *Washington Marina, Washington, DC http://www.washingtonmarina.com Amenities Fresh Water Public Phone Maintenance Facilities Restrooms Shower Facilities RATES: Slips 40' and below: $9.00 /Ft. /Month Slips above 40': $12.00 /Ft. /Month Charges for amenities (water, electric, pumpout) are $10-60$/month depending on slip size and usage Limited Onsite Parking Available * Annual Contracts Available * No liveaboards, no wooden boats * License agreement and insurance coverage required Contact Bob Stickell at (202) 554-0222 for more details. *Belle Haven Marina #1 Belle Haven Rd. (P.O. Box 7073), Alexandria, VA 22307 PH: 703-768-0018 BoatUS Discounts - Trans. Slips: 25%, Rentals: 10%, Sailing School: 10%, Launch Ramp: 10% E *Washington Sailing Marina #1 Marina Dr., Alexandria, VA 22314 PH: 703-548-9027 BoatUS Discounts - Trans. Slips: 25%, Ship's Sto 10%/(Gifts & Souvenirs), Bike Rentals: 10% E B O *Hampton's Landing Marina 16202 Neabsco Rd., Woodbridge, VA 22191 PH: 703-221-4915 Discounts - Fuel: .10/gal, Trans. Slips: 25% E B O L BTW, do either of you know how long a ride it is from Point Lookout and whether there are speed limitations? 70 - 100 miles is not long at 25-35 mph. At 10 mph it gets old fast. You don't have to start at Point Lookout you know. Get a chart and figure out how far down the river you want to be, and find the nearest put-in point. You could start down at Smith Piont (on the Virginia side. grandma Rosalie |
Harlan Lachman wrote:
BTW, do either of you know how long a ride it is from Point Lookout and whether there are speed limitations? 70 - 100 miles is not long at 25-35 mph. At 10 mph it gets old fast. If you put in at the Little Wicomico (Smith Point) and went all the way to Georgetown (past Gangplank Marina) it would be around 108 nautical miles. That would be about 125 statute miles so would take about 4 hours at 30 mph. If you put in somewhere in Northern VA, or southern MD, it will be correspondingly less. I don't know about speed limitations - there aren't many out in the river on the lower Potomac. But why do it all in one day? Why not stop at Colonial Beach or someplace like that on the way up, and somewhere like Smallwood State Park on the way back? I'd get the ADC map of the Chesapeake. It has most of the marinas and their locations facilities and phone numbers in addition to the charts for everywhere on the bay. In article , JohnH wrote: On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 12:07:37 -0400, Harlan Lachman wrote: In article , Rosalie B. wrote: And of course in a small power boat, one could get all the way up the Potomac to D.C. How small. Ours is just under 25 feet. harlan A 25'er should have no trouble getting up to Georgetown, and even a little further. The bridges won't be a problem. North of Georgetown the water gets pretty shallow in places and not all the rocks are marked on the charts. The ride from Point Lookout up the Potomac to DC is a pretty long one, but the views in and around DC are well worth it. The Potomac is a beautiful river. John H On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD, on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who can do binary and those who can't! grandma Rosalie |
Rosie, I drove all over that stupid town -- hungry as hell, with a lovely
friend with me -- and I never found any place to eat but the gas station and the restaurant that closed at 8:00 We were there in August and we went past it last week and it is definitely operating. There used to be about 14 plants there, but there is only one left, so some of what you see WILL be abandoned. There are 14 boats operating out of the Omega Protein plant across from Reedville in Tibitha near Fleeton which is across the creek from Reedville (less than a mile by car) you can drive to someplace to have breakfast when I drove there, the only place to get something to eat was at the gas station, or the tablecloth restaurant that closed at 8:00 at night. We were able to buy candy bars from a box in the lobby of the motel we stayed in. There are two regular restaurants in Reedville. The Crazy Crab restaurant is open mid -May to mid-December, Tuesday to Sunday 11:30 am to 9:00 pm, closed Monday. And Tommy's (used to be Elijahs) They serve dinner from 5:30 Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. So admittedly, there's no place to eat on Monday. There's also the Cockrell's Creek Seafood Deli which is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sundays 11:00 to 3:00 (eat in or take out) and Chitterchats Gossip Parlor which has ice cream. There are two bed and breakfasts in town that serve breakfast to their guests. But what I meant was that you could drive to another town in a CAR. For instance Fairport (on the west side of the creek) has a marina with an onsite restaurant. It's about two miles by car and shorter by boat. You could even do it on a bicycle. The restaurant features soft crab - crabcakes, hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Friday 9 Am-10 Pm and Saturday to Tuesday 9 Am-5 Pm And there is ROSIE LEE'S: Casual family dining. Fresh seafoods, meats, homemade soups, daily specials, salad bar, prime rib. Open 7 days B, L, D). Route 360, Burgess which is only about 5 miles from Reedville like DeSmet (which I've never heard of). Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived there. The town has two trees, one of which they built a park around. The only reference to De Smet that I can find in relation to Laura Ingalls Wilder is in South Dakota. I can find no De Smet in Virginia. I can believe that De Smet SD might have only 2 trees, but I think it is a pretty far piece to go for breakfast from Reedville. grandma Rosalie |
Rosalie, great information. The type of detail that allows one to begin
to figure things out. I usually only have about a week. Driving from Vermont is likely to eat 2 to 4 days. So even if we go for two weeks, we'd need to boogy some if we want to see Baltimore/Annapolis on the same trip. Hence the urgency. But I will check out the spots you note and listen to other suggestions and see if I can figure out something that works. Thanks again. harlan In article , Rosalie B. wrote: Harlan Lachman wrote: BTW, do either of you know how long a ride it is from Point Lookout and whether there are speed limitations? 70 - 100 miles is not long at 25-35 mph. At 10 mph it gets old fast. If you put in at the Little Wicomico (Smith Point) and went all the way to Georgetown (past Gangplank Marina) it would be around 108 nautical miles. That would be about 125 statute miles so would take about 4 hours at 30 mph. If you put in somewhere in Northern VA, or southern MD, it will be correspondingly less. I don't know about speed limitations - there aren't many out in the river on the lower Potomac. But why do it all in one day? Why not stop at Colonial Beach or someplace like that on the way up, and somewhere like Smallwood State Park on the way back? I'd get the ADC map of the Chesapeake. It has most of the marinas and their locations facilities and phone numbers in addition to the charts for everywhere on the bay. In article , JohnH wrote: On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 12:07:37 -0400, Harlan Lachman wrote: In article , Rosalie B. wrote: And of course in a small power boat, one could get all the way up the Potomac to D.C. How small. Ours is just under 25 feet. harlan A 25'er should have no trouble getting up to Georgetown, and even a little further. The bridges won't be a problem. North of Georgetown the water gets pretty shallow in places and not all the rocks are marked on the charts. The ride from Point Lookout up the Potomac to DC is a pretty long one, but the views in and around DC are well worth it. The Potomac is a beautiful river. John H On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD, on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who can do binary and those who can't! grandma Rosalie -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
More great information. Thanks again Rosalie.
harlan In article , Rosalie B. wrote: Harlan Lachman wrote: John or Rosalie: Is there a Marina that takes transients that you can recommend in the DC area. We would need 30 amp service, easy access for my friend to pick us up and take us touring and facilities (showers, head, etc.). The main marina in DC is: Gangplank Marina That's the one I hear about most often. Since I have a sailboat, I've never been of course. 309-slip marina is conveniently located in the protected Washington Channel with laundry, showers, cable TV, pump-out, in-water service/repair and parking Other Amenities: Fresh Water, Ice, Motor Oil Recycling, Restrooms, Phone: (202) 554-5000 http://www.coastal-properties.com Rate Information: (Transient Rates = $1.25/ft/day plus $5/day for electricity) Other marinas in the area (but I don't know whether they take transients) a *Anacostia Marina Washington, DC Amenities:Fresh Water Maintenance Facilities Restrooms Shower Facilities The NPS has threatened to close the Anacostia Marina, but it is the place where the police boats are maintained, so I don't know their status at the moment *Columbia Marina George Washington Memorial Pkwy, Arlington, VA 22202 (Located in Washington, DC) PH: 202-347-0173 Boat US Discounts - Trans. Slips: 50%, Pump Out: Free, Launch Ramp: 20% F E O *Buzzard Point Marina Washington, DC Amenities Fresh Water Ice Public Phone Pumpout/Dump Facilities Restrooms Shower Facilities *James Creek Marina, Washington, DC Amenities: Gasoline Golf Groceries Shower Facilities *Washington Marina, Washington, DC http://www.washingtonmarina.com Amenities Fresh Water Public Phone Maintenance Facilities Restrooms Shower Facilities RATES: Slips 40' and below: $9.00 /Ft. /Month Slips above 40': $12.00 /Ft. /Month Charges for amenities (water, electric, pumpout) are $10-60$/month depending on slip size and usage Limited Onsite Parking Available * Annual Contracts Available * No liveaboards, no wooden boats * License agreement and insurance coverage required Contact Bob Stickell at (202) 554-0222 for more details. *Belle Haven Marina #1 Belle Haven Rd. (P.O. Box 7073), Alexandria, VA 22307 PH: 703-768-0018 BoatUS Discounts - Trans. Slips: 25%, Rentals: 10%, Sailing School: 10%, Launch Ramp: 10% E *Washington Sailing Marina #1 Marina Dr., Alexandria, VA 22314 PH: 703-548-9027 BoatUS Discounts - Trans. Slips: 25%, Ship's Sto 10%/(Gifts & Souvenirs), Bike Rentals: 10% E B O *Hampton's Landing Marina 16202 Neabsco Rd., Woodbridge, VA 22191 PH: 703-221-4915 Discounts - Fuel: .10/gal, Trans. Slips: 25% E B O L BTW, do either of you know how long a ride it is from Point Lookout and whether there are speed limitations? 70 - 100 miles is not long at 25-35 mph. At 10 mph it gets old fast. You don't have to start at Point Lookout you know. Get a chart and figure out how far down the river you want to be, and find the nearest put-in point. You could start down at Smith Piont (on the Virginia side. grandma Rosalie -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
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Harlan Lachman wrote:
Rosalie, great information. The type of detail that allows one to begin to figure things out. I usually only have about a week. Driving from Vermont is likely to eat 2 to 4 days. So even if we go for two weeks, we'd need to boogy some if we want to see Baltimore/Annapolis on the same trip. Hence the urgency. But I will check out the spots you note and listen to other suggestions and see if I can figure out something that works. I could usually make it from RI where I used to live to Baltimore where my parents lived in one day driving a car. So I think 2 days would be plenty. I'd make the Potomac and the upper/mid bay (Baltimore/Annapolis) into two different trips, and I would want to have alternate plans depending on the weather. The Potomac and the Bay can be really nasty in bad weather. You do not want to be driving up the Potomac against a strong NW wind. (note - there is current in the Potomac too), nor do you want to be going north in the bay against a north wind or south in the bay against a south wind. You get short square waves when the wind opposes the tide and there is a long fetch. So you might want to drive down (you could stay at Schiebles motel for the night) and put the boat in near there, and then go up via Mt. Vernon to DC, stay in DC another day to sightsee and then come back and stay in Colonial Beach and then back to the Pt. Lookout area and drive home. That would be doable in a week with two weekends on each end. You could also put the boat in on the upper somewhere like Rock Hall, and go over to Baltimore, down to Annapolis and then back to Rock Hall. Getting to Rock Hall by car ought to be quicker than to southern MD.. grandma Rosalie |
The main marina in DC is: Gangplank Marina That's the one I hear
about most often. Since I have a sailboat, I've never been of course. You would have no restriction. The Gangplank, Capital Yacht Club, and I believe one small marina are all in the Washington Channel which is entered just north of Nat'l Airport, before the 14th St bridge. |
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Again Rosalie, thanks for all the information.
If you ever bring your sailboat up north and consider the fresh water beauty of Lake Champlain, send me an email. It would be a long haul by sailboat, but sailing on the lake is the best sailing I have ever done (and that includes the Greek Isles, Virgin Islands, Long Island, Block Island and even Maine (mostly cause you can just jump into the warm fresh water to swim almost anywhere and there is no fog). Nestled between the Green and Adirondack Mountains with gunkholes and history galore, it is a worthwhile visit -- like the many places you have alluded to in your emails. harlan In article , Rosalie B. wrote: (263801) wrote: The main marina in DC is: Gangplank Marina That's the one I hear about most often. Since I have a sailboat, I've never been of course. You would have no restriction. The Gangplank, Capital Yacht Club, and I believe one small marina are all in the Washington Channel which is entered just north of Nat'l Airport, before the 14th St bridge. I'd have to go through the Woodrow Wilson Bridge first. Our mast is 58.5 feet. I'm not about to be mucking around in the Potomac at 3 am just to go to a marina (and then have to come back down later) when I can just drive to DC in about an hour. grandma Rosalie -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
In article ,
Harlan Lachman wrote: Each summer, my son and I take a week or so to cruise on our cuddy-sport boat (a 25' Regal). For the past few years we trailered it from Vermont down to CT to see the Ocean, Whales and the Northeast coast. Before that we went down the Hudson so visit my older son in the big apple. I have been wondering what a trip on the Chesapeake would be like. Does anyone know of a really good, up to date cruising guide with suggested itineraries? We have AC and shore power (I have sleep apnea and asthma). Does one have to reserve dock space well in advance as they do, especially on weekends, in well visited ports on the NE coast? Are there any can't miss ports of call? is there a safe place to leave a truck and trailer for the week and access to launch from? TIA Looking at the other posts, I'm surprised no one mentioned Shellenberger's "Gunkholer's Guide to the Chesapeake". It'll get you into those pesky little places like Queenstown (and tighter if you're adventurous). It is "local knowledge" in print. We wore a copy out in 10 years, so had to get a new copy last year. Queenstown is gorgeous! If you tuck back past the power lines, you can imagine yourselves in the Bay of previous centuries. Fox and otters on the shore, osprey and eagles in the trees and air. The spots WE like, though, will mostly be daystops for you, since you need the plug-ins. They ARE beautiful, and are the REAL Bay. The Bay magazine's guide may serve you best for overnights, since it's geared toward marina-hopping, but don't limit yourselves to just the places that advertize there. You almost HAVE to run around Wye Island if you're in the St. Michaels area. For pure scenery, it's top of the list. Do it slowly, tuck into the coves and creeks, and savor the experience. Don't make firm plans, and have an alternate stop if the day deteriorates. Some years, you get great weather and can go anywhere. Other years, there are days in a row when you don't want to budge for love or money. The Bay WILL beat you up if you push, and the first few afternoon squalls will blow your mind. Running up to DC would be a fine adventure, but it's about all you'd be able to do in a week, and there were some restrictions last season. Do it by land since you're driving anyway. Friends had the same boat, and their range was about the same as ours: 30 miles started getting tiring, more pushed the familial relationship unless conditions are ideal. A week is hardly enough time to get an overview, so I would think you'd want to do the "famous" stuff first time out: Baltimore, Annapolis, St. Michaels and Rock Hall. The first two can consume two days each, distances are about 20-30 nm between, which is reasonable for your size boat. They're all sorta fake in their own ways, but most people seem to like them. If you want to go some place "different", just about any marina will have sufficient power for you. Weekends: Get in early Friday afternoon and spend two nights. City Dock at Annapolis or Baltimore (inner harbor or Fells Point) are good for that. Great people watching and sights to see. We have cruised the Bay in various boats for a couple of decades and had nearly 3 weeks for this year's vacation. Except for a few lay days for weather, we spent each night in a different wonderful anchorage, yet never got more than an easy daytrip away from Xan's home. (with our 6 knot top speed.) Those friends of mine launch at White Sands (I think -- charts are on boat) adjacent to the Bay Bridge. They seem to have no problem leaving their car and trailer there for a weekend or week as they explore. That's central to the mid-Bay hot spots and may be ideal for you. -- Jere Lull Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD) Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/ |
Jere Lull wrote:
In article , Harlan Lachman wrote: Each summer, my son and I take a week or so to cruise on our cuddy-sport boat (a 25' Regal). For the past few years we trailered it from Vermont down to CT to see the Ocean, Whales and the Northeast coast. Before that we went down the Hudson so visit my older son in the big apple. I have been wondering what a trip on the Chesapeake would be like. Does anyone know of a really good, up to date cruising guide with suggested itineraries? We have AC and shore power (I have sleep apnea and asthma). Does one have to reserve dock space well in advance as they do, especially on weekends, in well visited ports on the NE coast? Are there any can't miss ports of call? is there a safe place to leave a truck and trailer for the week and access to launch from? TIA Looking at the other posts, I'm surprised no one mentioned Shellenberger's "Gunkholer's Guide to the Chesapeake". It'll get you into those pesky little places like Queenstown (and tighter if you're adventurous). It is "local knowledge" in print. We wore a copy out in 10 years, so had to get a new copy last year. I didn't suggest it because it is mostly about anchorages, and I thought he might not want to spend the money on the book. I found it difficult to use at first, and harder when I didn't know the area. I think the ADC map and the Chesapeake Bay magazine cruising guide would be best for his purpose of one or two weeks cruising. I thought the Gunkholer's guide would be overkill. I also didn't suggest the guide to the Potomac (which is getting a bit outdated now) Queenstown is gorgeous! If you tuck back past the power lines, you can imagine yourselves in the Bay of previous centuries. Fox and otters on the shore, osprey and eagles in the trees and air. Yes, but I'm not sure that's what he is after. The spots WE like, though, will mostly be daystops for you, since you need the plug-ins. They ARE beautiful, and are the REAL Bay. The Bay magazine's guide may serve you best for overnights, since it's geared toward marina-hopping, but don't limit yourselves to just the places that advertize there. You almost HAVE to run around Wye Island if you're in the St. Michaels area. For pure scenery, it's top of the list. Do it slowly, tuck into the coves and creeks, and savor the experience. Don't make firm plans, and have an alternate stop if the day deteriorates. Some years, you get great weather and can go anywhere. Other years, there are days in a row when you don't want to budge for love or money. The Bay WILL beat you up if you push, and the first few afternoon squalls will blow your mind. Running up to DC would be a fine adventure, but it's about all you'd be able to do in a week, and there were some restrictions last season. Do it by land since you're driving anyway. Friends had the same boat, and their range was about the same as ours: 30 miles started getting tiring, more pushed the familial relationship unless conditions are ideal. A week is hardly enough time to get an overview, so I would think you'd want to do the "famous" stuff first time out: Baltimore, Annapolis, St. Michaels and Rock Hall. The first two can consume two days each, distances are about 20-30 nm between, which is reasonable for your size boat. They're all sorta fake in their own ways, but most people seem to like them. If you want to go some place "different", just about any marina will have sufficient power for you. Weekends: Get in early Friday afternoon and spend two nights. City Dock at Annapolis or Baltimore (inner harbor or Fells Point) are good for that. Great people watching and sights to see. We have cruised the Bay in various boats for a couple of decades and had nearly 3 weeks for this year's vacation. Except for a few lay days for weather, we spent each night in a different wonderful anchorage, yet never got more than an easy daytrip away from Xan's home. (with our 6 knot top speed.) Those friends of mine launch at White Sands (I think -- charts are on boat) adjacent to the Bay Bridge. They seem to have no problem leaving their car and trailer there for a weekend or week as they explore. That's central to the mid-Bay hot spots and may be ideal for you. Do you mean Sandy Point? White Sands is Vera's place on the Patuxent. This website addresses trailerable boating on the bay http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/de...chesapeake.asp A few Chesapeake Bay Ramps on the western sho Sandy Point State Park near the Bay Bridge (410-974-2149) and Truxton Park on Spa Creek in Annapolis (410-263-7958). Fairwinds Marina on the Magothy River (410-974-0758) and Ferry Point Marina at the mouth of Mill and Dividing creeks (410-544-6368). Farther south at the South River, you can launch from Oak Grove Marina (410-266-6696), Pier Seven Marina (410-956-2288) and Turkey Point Marina (410-798-1369). In Shady Side, try Backyard Boats in (410-867-4800) or in Deale, Deale Marina (301-261-9200). In Chesapeake Beach you can launch into the Bay at Fishing Creek Landings (301-855-3572) or just down the road at Breezy Point Marina (301-855-9894). Bill's Boat Rental at Broomes Island (410-586-3599) or at the DNR ramp at Hallowing Point 410-260-8186). Solomons Island Boat Ramp (at the base of the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge) 410-326-8383. I was going to suggest the ramp at Solomons but I don't know what the parking regulations are. grandma Rosalie |
In article ,
Jere Lull wrote: Queenstown is gorgeous! If you tuck back past the power lines, you can imagine yourselves in the Bay of previous centuries. Fox and otters on the shore, osprey and eagles in the trees and air. Jere, what a wonderful informative post. Thanks. BTW, is Queenstown a place we can overnight on the same trip as Annapolis and Baltimore? I am upgrading my batteries and might be able to overnight with my sleep apnea machine running at least most of the night (especially if we forgo our refrigerator). harlan -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
Harlan Lachman wrote:
In article , Jere Lull wrote: Queenstown is gorgeous! If you tuck back past the power lines, you can imagine yourselves in the Bay of previous centuries. Fox and otters on the shore, osprey and eagles in the trees and air. Jere, what a wonderful informative post. Thanks. BTW, is Queenstown a place we can overnight on the same trip as Annapolis and Baltimore? There's no marina that I know of, but it is right across from Baltimore. I am upgrading my batteries and might be able to overnight with my sleep apnea machine running at least most of the night (especially if we forgo our refrigerator). harlan grandma Rosalie |
I anchored off Reedville last Sunday, upwind of the still operating
plant. -- Scott Vernon Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_ "Rosalie B." wrote in message ... (JAXAshby) wrote: The only problem is to figure out which way the wind is blowing so as to be upwind of the menhaden plant. when I was there by car two years ago the plant seemed to be abandoned. We were there in August and we went past it last week and it is definitely operating. There used to be about 14 plants there, but there is only one left, so some of what you see WILL be abandoned. There are 14 boats operating out of the Omega Protein plant across from Reedville in Tibitha near Fleeton which is across the creek from Reedville (less than a mile by car) you can drive to someplace to have breakfast when I drove there, the only place to get something to eat was at the gas station, or the tablecloth restaurant that closed at 8:00 at night. We were able to buy candy bars from a box in the lobby of the motel we stayed in. There are two regular restaurants in Reedville. The Crazy Crab restaurant is open mid -May to mid-December, Tuesday to Sunday 11:30 am to 9:00 pm, closed Monday. And Tommy's (used to be Elijahs) They serve dinner from 5:30 Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. So admittedly, there's no place to eat on Monday. There's also the Cockrell's Creek Seafood Deli which is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sundays 11:00 to 3:00 (eat in or take out) and Chitterchats Gossip Parlor which has ice cream. There are two bed and breakfasts in town that serve breakfast to their guests. But what I meant was that you could drive to another town in a CAR. For instance Fairport (on the west side of the creek) has a marina with an onsite restaurant. It's about two miles by car and shorter by boat. You could even do it on a bicycle. The restaurant features soft crab - crabcakes, hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Friday 9 Am-10 Pm and Saturday to Tuesday 9 Am-5 Pm And there is ROSIE LEE'S: Casual family dining. Fresh seafoods, meats, homemade soups, daily specials, salad bar, prime rib. Open 7 days B, L, D). Route 360, Burgess which is only about 5 miles from Reedville like DeSmet (which I've never heard of). Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived there. The town has two trees, one of which they built a park around. The only reference to De Smet that I can find in relation to Laura Ingalls Wilder is in South Dakota. I can find no De Smet in Virginia. I can believe that De Smet SD might have only 2 trees, but I think it is a pretty far piece to go for breakfast from Reedville. grandma Rosalie |
Have you ever been in Smith Creek, off the Potomac? Beautiful spot,
confusing lights at night for the first time coming in. -- Scott Vernon Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_ "Rosalie B." wrote in message ... Rosalie B. wrote: (JAXAshby) wrote: Deltaville ... Reedville, I found Deltaville and Reedville problematic to get to by sailboat. Places that ARE problematic - Smith Island (my husband was on a DNR boat (a power boat) which ran aground in the channel there), Salt Ponds, Windmill Point, Washington DC (due to bridge restrictions), Queenstown and my BILs dock in Bodkin Creek (local knowledge needed in the latter two cases). Deltaville and Reedville are not in that group. grandma Rosalie |
On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 10:05:46 -0400, Harlan Lachman
wrote: In article , Jere Lull wrote: Queenstown is gorgeous! If you tuck back past the power lines, you can imagine yourselves in the Bay of previous centuries. Fox and otters on the shore, osprey and eagles in the trees and air. Jere, what a wonderful informative post. Thanks. BTW, is Queenstown a place we can overnight on the same trip as Annapolis and Baltimore? I am upgrading my batteries and might be able to overnight with my sleep apnea machine running at least most of the night (especially if we forgo our refrigerator). harlan My wife has a sleep apnea machine and hers says on the label that it uses .4 (4/10) amps at 12 volts and has a 12 adapter. It doesn't add up to many amp hours for a night's sleep. Mark E. Williams |
Maynard, thanks for the data. I didn't see a similar plate on my machine.
Most machines sold nowadays include heated humidification -- even some insurance companies now admit heated humidification improves compliance and reduces side effects. It is the draw of the heated humidifier that concerns me. If I try dropping a hook. I will probably try using my humidifier as a passover type (no heat) to save on the amps. But only if I have to. harlan In article , Maynard G. Krebbs wrote: On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 10:05:46 -0400, Harlan Lachman wrote: In article , Jere Lull wrote: Queenstown is gorgeous! If you tuck back past the power lines, you can imagine yourselves in the Bay of previous centuries. Fox and otters on the shore, osprey and eagles in the trees and air. Jere, what a wonderful informative post. Thanks. BTW, is Queenstown a place we can overnight on the same trip as Annapolis and Baltimore? I am upgrading my batteries and might be able to overnight with my sleep apnea machine running at least most of the night (especially if we forgo our refrigerator). harlan My wife has a sleep apnea machine and hers says on the label that it uses .4 (4/10) amps at 12 volts and has a 12 adapter. It doesn't add up to many amp hours for a night's sleep. Mark E. Williams -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"? |
I'd have to go through the Woodrow Wilson Bridge first. Our mast is
58.5 feet. I'm not about to be mucking around in the Potomac at 3 am just to go to a marina (and then have to come back down later) when I can just drive to DC in about an hour. Certainly, driving most anywhere is faster. But I do not know your source on the WW bridge info. It opened today at noon. The only times I have ever experienced it have been daylight hours. I understand your reasoning, regardless. But since usenet is an archive of information I wanted this specific issue corrected. |
I think they only open it --other than during the wee hours --for commercial
traffic, and if you are there, you can scoot on thru. So I've been told. "265936" wrote in message ... I'd have to go through the Woodrow Wilson Bridge first. Our mast is 58.5 feet. I'm not about to be mucking around in the Potomac at 3 am just to go to a marina (and then have to come back down later) when I can just drive to DC in about an hour. Certainly, driving most anywhere is faster. But I do not know your source on the WW bridge info. It opened today at noon. The only times I have ever experienced it have been daylight hours. I understand your reasoning, regardless. But since usenet is an archive of information I wanted this specific issue corrected. |
On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 11:56:42 -0400, Harlan Lachman
wrote: Maynard, thanks for the data. I didn't see a similar plate on my machine. Most machines sold nowadays include heated humidification -- even some insurance companies now admit heated humidification improves compliance and reduces side effects. It is the draw of the heated humidifier that concerns me. If I try dropping a hook. I will probably try using my humidifier as a passover type (no heat) to save on the amps. But only if I have to. harlan My wife's machine is a c-pap without heated humidification so I didn't think of that. I was just thinking about the fan draw. You might look in your machine's documentation or check out their website if they have one. You should be able to find out how many 12 volt amps your equipment (fan and heated humidification) draws. At least then you would know for sure if you are going to have a problem. Mark E. Williams |
Maynard G. Krebbs wrote:
On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 11:56:42 -0400, Harlan Lachman wrote: Maynard, thanks for the data. I didn't see a similar plate on my machine. Most machines sold nowadays include heated humidification -- even some insurance companies now admit heated humidification improves compliance and reduces side effects. It is the draw of the heated humidifier that concerns me. If I try dropping a hook. I will probably try using my humidifier as a passover type (no heat) to save on the amps. But only if I have to. Bob says he thinks he remembers that there's a free dock in Queenstown that one can use for a couple of hours. We've never gotten in there so I don't know for sure, and I also don't know if there is electricity. harlan My wife's machine is a c-pap without heated humidification so I didn't think of that. I was just thinking about the fan draw. You might look in your machine's documentation or check out their website if they have one. You should be able to find out how many 12 volt amps your equipment (fan and heated humidification) draws. At least then you would know for sure if you are going to have a problem. Mark E. Williams grandma Rosalie |
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