heading south Solomons or bust?

[ekenna]

I am trying to put together a long trip (2 week trip). We call the Bohemia River our home waters. Based on last summer we can do Worton Creek day 1 and then either rock hall or rock creek day 2. I was thinking maybe annapolis or mill creek off whitehall bay day 3 and then herring harbor day 4 but look ing at the chart it does not seem like there is much on the western side below herring harbor. It looks like the delaware bay all shallow on the shore and no place to anchor. Herring harbor is the farthest south I have been on the bay. From there to the solomons is longer than my little boat can go in a day besides this is supposed to be my vacation so a 50nm is not in the works. what are the options?

[mltroy]

We can do Solomons in a day from Herring Bay motoring on the 22. Among your other options are: (1) Tilghman - Knapps Narrows Marina is nice and can be the gateway to the Choptank - Oxford, Cambridge and a host of nice anchorages (2) Miles River - Wye River anchorages, St Michaels, etc. (3) Chester River - nice anchorages, Chestertown's a haul but nice to visit (4) Little Choptank - Taylors Island nice anchorages and we always liked our visits to Taylors Island Marina now known as Slaughter Creek Marina. Check any of these out in a recent edition of the Guide to Cruising the Chesapeake Bay and Shellenberger's Cruising the Chesapeake: A gunkholer's guide. They are our trip planning bibles and are very handy for last minute decisions out cruising.

[wwilson]

ekenna,

We used to keep out boat at Solomons (6-years) we are now at Herrington. You are right, it is a long trip, but with your draft (I am guessing based on the LOA you mentioned) you can find an overnight along the way on the western shore. Look into Chesapeake Beach, Breezy Point or Flag Harbor to break the trip into two very manageable days. These are shallow water entrances, but I used to take an old Columbia Challenger into them in the 70s - with only an occasional low tide bump.

Otherwise mltroy offers good suggestions on the Eastern side.

[MJBrown]

As mentioned Tilghman Island is a good choice. There's a marina in the narrows or head up to Dun Cove off Harris Creek and drop the hook. The run down to Solomons isn't that bad, plus the bay is a bit wider which allows you to take nice long tacks all the way down to Solomons.

[mccary]

Dunn Cove is one of my favorite Bay anchorages. I have done the run from Solomons to Dunn Cove several times and it is LONG way.

You might consider anchoring on the Little Choptank just North of Taylor's Island. The water is deep and you have several creeks to choose depending on weather. The run down to Solomons is still a hike but not nearly as far as from Tilghman Island or Herrington Harbor.

[ekenna]

Thanks for some ideas. My cruising guide did not have much. it had exactly 3 or 4 sentences about cheaspeake beach and flag harbor but did not even mention breezy point. And I would not have thought about the little choptank and taylor island. Last year I used to say my draft is 4.5 but measuring with a tape measure its probably more like 5 feet. Does that rule out breezy point or flag harbor?

Now I have to get the chart software out and get real numbers on mileages.

Once we get to the solomons does anyone have favorites/preferences. Someone said moorings are available or would you do a slip? ( I do not have shore power so mooring is ok) Favorite restuarant or sight seeing place? I figure on doing the marine museum and the lab visitor center anything else?

[lancelot9898]

Originally Posted by ekenna

Once we get to the solomons does anyone have favorites/preferences. Someone said moorings are available or would you do a slip? ( I do not have shore power so mooring is ok) Favorite restuarant or sight seeing place? I figure on doing the marine museum and the lab visitor center anything else?

The museum is great and a walk along the broadwalk and an ice cream cone is nice too. The Tiki Bar should be open by now and that is always interesting. If you like anchoring out and hiking then Mill Creek is a great place with a park that I use to jog on a 3 mile trail through the woods. There are two Mill Creeks in the area and both are good anchorages. The park is located on the Mill Creek just beyound the highway bridge up the Patuxent. If you have more time to spend go to St Leonard's Creek and anchor out and visit White Sands Restaurant. Also across from the Creek entrance is a Plantation which is open to the public and I've taken the dingy there. I lived aboard for many years there in Solomons and still miss the place and living aboard.

[wwilson]

Originally Posted by ekenna

...My cruising guide did not have much. it had exactly 3 or 4 sentences about cheaspeake beach and flag harbor but did not even mention breezy point.

Once we get to the solomons does anyone have favorites/preferences. Someone said moorings are available or would you do a slip? ( I do not have shore power so mooring is ok) Favorite restuarant or sight seeing place? I figure on doing the marine museum and the lab visitor center anything else?

All three of the western shore marinas have web pages - be sure and have a look while planning and maybe call ahead if you think you may want to use one. They are small marinas catering mostly to the rod & reel set, but offer slips, and sailboats of shallow draft are common - some sailors have permanent berths there.

In Solomons: the moorings are off Zahniser's marina in Back Creek. There is plenty of room for anchoring in back of the mooring field if you choose.



If you want a slip - hail Solomons Yachting Center on the way into Back Ck. They are located just west of Molly's (or Moll) Leg Island and have a fuel & pump out pier to port as you pass north. They rent floating docks for $2/Ft. and have 1st class facilities, restrooms, baths, TV room, free WiFi, bar and pool - though the pools (anywhere) will probably not open till after Memorial Day.

The museum often hosts concerts with some well known names. Check their schedule before your trip. You may want to attend - or avoid if the music is not to your taste. The Museum is just up Back Ck from Zahniser's.

--------------------------------
lancelot,

"I lived aboard for many years there in Solomons and still miss the place and living aboard."

Where did you keep your boat - when were you there? We probably crossed paths a few times if in the 2004-2009 range.

[PalmettoSailor]

IMHO, Spring Cove is the nicest marina in Soloman's. However, its pretty far up the creek and might not be worth the extra travel time for a short stay.

I think the Tiki Bar opening is the 16th of this month.

[chef2sail]

I second Spring Cove and also the trip to Dunn Cove,,,Santo Domingo Creek....Oxford and Cambridge areas thats a nice excurion