The forecast for today was a good breeze from the south, coming from the direction we wanted to go, so that meant getting to our next destination looked like it might be longer than we had hoped. We were up and going at 9AM passing back through the bascule bridge and then motoring out to the end of the Sassafras River. Reaching the end of the river we set both sails and were greeted with a slightly more favorable wind direction.
During the first part of this leg the US Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds were off to our West. We first saw a couple patrol boats with red flashing lights that were clearly suggesting that changing course away would be a good idea. Not long after that we began hearing rather large booms in the distance followed by rising plums of smoke from somewhere inland. Thankfully no shells were headed our way.
Along the way we solved a problem that had kept us anxious about returning to Winchester for Christmas and the New Year. This was where to leave Juno. Most of the marinas Sarah called were either full or at a rate we really hoped not to pay. Finally we both came across the same marina in Titusville Florida (near Cape Canaveral). This was further north than we had planned on but the rate for a month was about what we would have had to pay for a few days in most of the marinas closer to Miami. So with this big obstacle solved and the wind continuing to improve, we were able to enjoy a lovely day of fall sailing on the Chesapeake headed to Swan Creek and Rock Hall..
Our primary destination was Rock Hall Maryland, but in that harbor there is only space for marina slips - no moorings or anchoring which we prefer. Fortunately, the back side of Rock Hall is easily accessible from Swan Creek just to the north and offers lots of space to anchor. We found a nice anchorage just inside the creek positioned between two duck blinds with a third not too much further away! We hoped that duck hunting season wasn’t open yet.
Wednesday morning we did a few chores on the boat - hand washing some laundry; fixing one of the electronics (AIS) that wasn’t getting power; and continuing to nail down logistics for our return to Winchester in December.
Sarah had found some town tennis courts in Rock Hall as well as a Waterman’s museum. So after lunch we dinghied to a nearby marina where the Waterman’s museum was located in a small waterside shanty. To visit the museum, you pick up a key at the marina front desk and let yourself in. The museum had many artifacts of the oystering and crabbing industry that has been so important to the Chesapeake economy. After returning the key we walked 30 minutes down the road to the town center of Rock Hall where we found the tennis courts. We hit around for a while and played a set (the winner will remain anonymous). It felt good to do something a little different yet familiar.
We concluded this full day with a walk back through town and a short dinghy ride back to Juno for G&Ts and dinner.
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