[TO NARRATIVES AND PHOTOS LIST]
October 7, 1999
Page One
We're side to at Chesapeake City on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal with "the bridge" in the background.
There were strong currents here with constant chafing noise from boat to fender to piling.
Diesel trucks accelerating to go over the bridge were annoying also. I turned on the boat's knot meter
and noted a 2.1 knot current flowing past the boat while she was moored to the pilings! This was
one of our worst and most expensive stopping points. From here we'll go on down the canal toward the Chesapeake Bay.
Worton Creek will be our next stop, and we'll try to go to Annapolis for the boat show.
This is The Wharf at Handy's Point, Worton Creek, MD. It's like a harbor from a child's storybook. I expected the
water rat, from "Wind in the Willows," to appear from one of the side sloughs saying to the mole , "There's nothing, nothing
half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." What an irony that we are now in such a beautiful place,
yesterday's mooring being one of the worst. The people here are helpful and are very friendly, as helpful as
anywhere we've been. We were even offered the owner's car (a BMW!) if a rental car was not available to get us to the
boat show in Annapolis.
This harbor has land protection on all sides and is probably a perfect hurricane hole. Boat protection
during a hurricane is a major concern. After Dennis, Floyd, Gert, Irene and Jose I now take note of potential hurricane holes.
"Silver Heels" has beautiful classic lines. At least half of those that see her comment on her appearance. "Nice boat," or
"She's beautiful," or "You don't see boats like that anymore." The work it takes to maintain this "Rembrandt"
seems worth it at those times. It's fall and the trees are beginning to change color.
Some boats winter over here at Worton Creek
with bubblers in the water to prevent ice formation around the boat. We're considering leaving
"Silver Heels" here for the winter while we return to the West Coast to
visit, to spend the holidays and to complete some family obligations.