March 16th - Almost There
We sit tied-up at Zahniser’s, Back Creek, Solomon’s, MD waiting out our second March cold front. We arrived on the 15th following another long push up from an anchorage on the Great Wicomica River. We had arrived there from Norfolk. Making Norfolk the day before had been a tough one; five bridges and one lock. Not all bridge tenders are personable and bridge schedules, into Norfolk (closed from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, opening on the hour and half hour) make it difficult to get through before dark sets in. Missing the the last bridge before 3:30, due to a railroad bridge closing, we were forced to anchor in the Elizabeth River. We made a marina just before dark running between tugs and midst navy and commercial ships… exciting!
Outbound from Norfolk we passed an inbound navy warship. We noted two 50 cal. gun crews tracking our passing, a result of 9/11 I’m sure. Around Point New Comfort we motored steadily against 10 to 15 knots of north wind with a following tide. It had been our intent to make Jones Creek, Deltaville but with the tide we pressed to the Great Wicomica River near Reedville. We anchored in Cockrell Creek just in time to weather the first of two fronts that would move through the area.
If I’ve not mentioned it I hate March weather; 70 one day 40 the next, cold winds come down from the north, clouds block the warmth of the sun and make for a cold that sets down in the bones making the only Rx a long hot shower, not something that is readily available on a sailboat on delivery. There is always a price to be paid for being a sailor underway.
So here we sit awaiting Monday morning. We will push on up through to Rock Hall and home tomorrow. It will have been 10 days underway through shallow water, shoaling inlets, cold fronts, bridge schedules, commercial traffic, beautiful landscapes and shore-side homes. There were some tension filled moments but all in all it was a good trip. One benefit of this cold front, a blessing if you will, it keep us dockside so I could go to church for Palm Sunday at a small church, St. Peters. There is a purpose for all things.
(For a more detailed description of this trip see the Nor’easter magizine, Waypoint, in the next couple of weeks)