TRAVEL DAY 57 - Havre de Grace to Chesapeake City
May 31, 2023
3.11 Hours/22.9 Miles
We made a later than usual departure in order to time the tide into the C&D Canal (Chesapeake & Delaware Canal) as this narrow cut can provide currents that can top 5 mph. We wanted to be going in to the canal on an incoming tide. By the end of the day we would be sitting less than 2 miles from Delaware.
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| Turkey Point Lighthouse |
We topped off the fuel tanks prior to departure pretty sure that the price of fuel at some of our later stops would be higher. We exited the Susquehanna River, around Turkey Point and into the Elk River to transit the Delmarva Peninsula. The day was absolutely gorgeous with a light breeze, sunshine and virtually no waves.
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| Barge & Tug |
The current was pushing us out into the head of the bay at almost 10 mph, but once we entered the Elk River the water pushed back at almost 1 mph, but as per the plan, once we entered the C&D Canal, the current slowed. As we went under the massive Augustine Herman Highway bridge, the free dock and basin was in sight. Turning into the basin we had virtually no current which made our docking easier.
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| Elk River (Courtesy of Sea Breeze) |
The free dock at Chesapeake City had a small space left, but too small for us to squeeze in. We instead went to the nearby Chesapeake Inn and docked there for free and ordered some lunch. As soon as one of the day boats left the free dock, we boogied over and grabbed a slot for the night. Electric was the only cost at $14, but we declined. Pau Hana now has 2 house banks and enough on board power to sustain us through the remainder of the day and night.
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| Augustine Herman Highway Bridge |
We walked the town and noticing that our Canadian friends on DeTour were coming up the canal, we sat out by the water and cheered them on as they passed. We had not seen them since the great US vs Canada Pickleball championship in Crystal River months ago.
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| DeTour passes by |
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| Havre de Grace to Chesapeake City |
TRAVEL DAY 58 - Chesapeake City to Delaware City
June 1, 2023
2.25 Hours/17 Miles
It's June, 3 1/2 months into the trip and we are now in Delaware, 1675 miles and our 7th state. I checked the tides and the favorable current was early, so we planned for an 7:30 am departure. This would have the almost 2 mph current push us through the C&D Canal out to Delaware Bay. The plan worked (the marvel of Navionics Navigation App). I only had to run the engine at 1700 rpm to move at almost 9 mph. I usually run the engine at 2000 rpm, so this lower rate saved us some fuel.
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| C&D Canal |
Once out of the canal, we turned north into the Delaware River. Here the current was ripping in. Once we got to our turn, I called the marina and they gave us very precise instructions on where to come to and how far from the marker and shore we needed to be to avoid grounding. The current was so swift I crabbed the boat in the channel to stay where I needed to be.
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| They keep getting closer |
Even in the canal the current was stiff so we pulled to the dock and the deck crew handed the dockhand a starboard side stern line first to get the stern to the dock. The deck crew then ran a port side bow line around to the starboard side. Once the bow line was on, the stern line was released and the current pulled the stern out and away from the dock, while the bow pivoted. Now we were bow into the current. Tomorrow, we can go straight out without having to fight the current and spin the boat around in a narrow channel.
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| Delaware City |
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| Delaware City Marina |
Although this is a one night stop, we were here pretty early so we provisioned some, found a geo cache and then went back to the boat for lunch. After lunch I used the extra time to do some work. Work, that four letter word that helps pay for this trip.
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| Chesapeake City to Delaware City |
TRAVEL DAY 59 - Delaware City to Philadelphia
June 2, 2023
4.72 Hours/40.8 Miles
What a day of highs and lows. As all of our looper friends traveled south on the Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ, we turned north into the bay and the Delaware River heading to Philadelphia, PA. Our plan was to fly home and move our daughter into her new apartment in Tampa and take care of a few items at home in Crystal River.
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| Downtown Philadelphia |
As we have found on this trip, plans don't always work out. We had our plane tickets, we had a marina right next to the Philadelphia airport that offered us a great rate for the time we would be leaving the boat and still allow us time to explore the city. Everything was set. We planned our departure for the incoming tide which built a current up the river topping 2 mph. This pushed us at over 10 mph, a speedy trip to our destination, excellent. We dodged logs and debris all the way up the river. We avoided the behemoth ships by monitoring the AIS and staying just out of the main shipping channel, perfect.
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| Monster Freighters |
Upon arriving at the marina, things started to unravel. The marina was a dump. Sunk and derelict boats in the basin and the boats that were there looked very rough. We swung the boat around in the stiff current and laid it up to the fuel dock. We walked the marina some and the street in front. It was very industrial and run down. We knew there wouldn't be much there, but this was bad. We discussed our options and called another Looper that had left Philly that morning. They said the marina they stayed a couple days at was nice. We called that marina and made plans to move up the river and downtown to stay there. The rate was much higher but it seemed this was a better option.
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| Philadelphia Waterfront |
Receiving our instructions, we moved into the basin at Penn Landing and placed the boat at the predetermined dock. The crew asked a few questions about the rate and the facilities. "No showers, no restrooms, no laundry", also, the rate he quoted didn't include electric and he informed the captain that because he had some other boats coming in later in the week, "...don't be surprised if your boat is in another location when you get back, I may have to move it". This was not looking good and we were getting frustrated.
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| Pier 3 Marina |
We called another marina less than a mile up the river. It didn't sound super great but it was an option and they had what we would need. The best part, the price for the 3 weeks was half of what the 2nd marina quoted, and it included electric. We untied....again, and proceeded up the river. The entrance was tight and the basin was tough to maneuver in. We got into the slip with no drama, and tied up...for the 3rd time today. We felt like we had made a pretty good choice, not perfect but as perfect as we felt we would get.
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| Pier 3 Marina |
We explored Philadelphia just a little to get an idea of what we could do in the 4 days we had before our departure to the airport. When we got back to the boat, it was low tide. Our boat was sitting in about 3' of water, which meant our keel was in the mud. Wouldn't hurt it but it did mean this would happen once a day and when we did shove off, it would need to be at a high tide. Strike 1 but still OK.
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| Hammock at Penn's Landing |
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| Everyone needs a little "Independence" |
With 4 days to kill we did the tourist thing and visited as many historic sites in Philadelphia, and there are many! With the weekend came a lot of events. We walked to Betsy Ross' House and found a beer festival complete with Beer Pong (which we dominated the Millennials) and axe throwing.
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| Betsy Ross House |
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| Elfreth's Alley - Historic Homes Built 1703 to 1836 |
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| Beer Pong Champions |
Sundays we try to visit a local church for services, and in Philly what would be better than Christ Church. Founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, Christ Church congregation included 15 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Revolutionary War leaders who attended the church include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin (also buried in the cemetery next to the church) and Betsy Ross.
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| Christ Church |
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| Liberty Bell |
In the afternoon, we had tickets to visit Independence Hall on a guided tour. We got to re-learn some fascinating US history. We walked the grounds and also got to see the Liberty Bell.
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| Independence Hall |
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Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall)
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| Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier |
Monday we rode the Philly Phlash Hop on Hop off bus to tour the more Philadelphia sites. We feel like we got all we could out of Philadelphia, there was so much to see and we had a great time.
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| Comcast/4 Seasons Building |
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| 60th Floor of the 4 Seasons |
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| Checkmate at the Rodin Museum |
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| Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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Bird's Eye View of a fun city
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| Rodin Museum - "The Thinker" |
Tuesday was a prep the boat and packing day for our planned 5 am flight back to Florida. Leaving the boat after almost 4 months was a little unsettling but necessary. We prayed that all would be well for the next 11 days until we got back and on our way for this grand adventure. A $33 cab ride at 2 in the morning & we were off the boat and on our way to Tampa. I miss the boat already!
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| Delaware City, MD to Philadelphia, PA |
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