Saturday 10/4/08
We were both awake early since bedtime had been before 9PM last night, so we made coffee and got underway at first light – about 06:30.
Conditions were lovely until we got into the mouth of the Choptank River where the SE wind was blowing about 10-15 Kts against the incoming tide which kicked up a pretty good chop. The south easterly wind was about the same on the main body of the Bay but we settled into it and continued with our plan to push on down to the Rappahannock River. As we got just south of the mouth of the Patuxent River the chop seemed to increase with a confused direction component and we decided to turn back and go into Solomon’s Island for an early day. After all, this is supposed to be a pleasure trip and we just weren’t comfortable enough to endure a 9-10 hour day in the conditions.
We picked up a mooring (E) at our favorite Marina in Solomon’s, Zahniser’s – it was 11:30 - maybe Deltaville tomorrow. We always feel at home at this marina since we first stayed here nearly 20 years ago when the kids were still sailing with us and we made our first “long range” family sailing adventure to Solomon’s Island. Just across the river on the south shore is Patuxent River Naval Air Station. PAX River as it is called, is a navy flight test center and many days you can see various types of aircraft flying around very low, emitting the thunderous roar that we call “the sound of freedom”.
As we were getting the boat settled, a couple on a sailboat attached to the mooring next to us greeted us and Polly noticed the boat’s hail port was Rock Hall, MD. These folks, the O’Brien’s, have been living aboard their boat for a few years and have spent the summer at Swan Creek Marina located in Rock Hall, within sight of our own home marina. The O’Brien’s are working their way back to Florida and the Bahamas for the winter.