Boating with Sunset Delight: MD: Chesapeake Bay Anchorages

Wednesday 5/9/2018
Depart: Norfolk Waterside Marina 9:30
Arrive: Wicomico River / Mill Creek #2 Anchorage 6:00
Distance: 67 nm

Leaving Norfolk with foggy skies and heavy humidity, we waved goodbye to Joann and Jim on Namaste continuing our homeward bound travels.

Leaving Waterside Marina in Norfolk, VA

Nauticus in Norfolk

Naval Ships in Norfolk, VA

"Stella Nora" Ship from Singapore

Hospital Ship in Norfolk area

More Naval Vessels

Aircraft Carrier in Norfolk, VA

The travels on the Chesapeake Bay presented little of interest after leaving Norfolk. We saw some barges anchored lined up one after the other in the fog. Otherwise, our view was water, water, and more water.

Ships anchored in the fog on Chesapeake Bay

I left Clark at the helm and went below to find miscellaneous chores to entertain myself for a few hours.

After over eight hours on the water, we arrived at our anchorage for the night. I looked up where we stayed on the way south in November and found that we had stayed in "Mill Creek". The only issue turned out to be that Clark found no less than three Mill Creek anchorages. Eventually he figured out that we had stayed in Wicomico River / Mill Creek. Last time we stayed in Mill Creek #1 where we had no television or phone services. Tonight we chose the very popular Mill Creek #2.

We found Mill Creek #2 filled with sailboats. Being the only non-sailing vessel, it felt like we were interlopers. The folks we passed on a boat named "Tom Tom" certainly stared as we came into the anchorage.

Mill Creek #2 anchorage

Many sailboats and us!

View at Mill Creek Anchorage

Reflections at Sunset

Thursday 5/10/2018
Depart: Wicomico River / Mill Creek #2 Anchorage 7:30
Arrive: West Creek #3 Anchorage 4:15
Distance: 78 nm

Even though we were underway by 7:30, all the sailboats that shared the anchorage last night had already departed save one. They probably started leaving at first light since they travel so slowly. We started the "leaving" process shortly after 7:00. With a nasty, muddy line and chain, it took over 20 minutes to leave the anchorage as Clark washed off the worst of the mud as he pulled in the anchor.

I forgot that we found a huge expanse of fish traps at the entrance to Wicomico River when we came in yesterday. While I entertained myself in the galley, Clark fought his way through the "mine field" of traps by himself with his ability to see the traps severely limited by having to look directly into the sunlight bouncing off the water. I came up top just as Clark exited the trap zone.

Once again our trip proved rather tedious and almost nothing of interest to look at. One-by-one, we found the sailboats as we traveled along the Chesapeake Bay. Even though we started out well after them, we managed to pass them all given our higher rate of speed. We also passed some lighthouses in the bay.

Smith Point Light in Chesapeake Bay

We passed the mouth of the Potomac River where we found nice, calm waters. On a prior trip past this area, we had a rather rough ride with wind against current. We appreciated the calmer waters. As we made our way north on the bay, we had following seas. Waves would pick up Sunset Delight. As we slid down the front of the wave, we saw an increase in speed from around 9 knots to as much as 10.8 knots.

Eventually, we reached the West River near Annapolis, Maryland where we planned to anchor for the night.