Castle Harbor Marina to St. Michael's

While at Castle Harbor Marina (which, if you ever have the chance to visit, I highly recommend) and my guest, Lynn, was out doing work things I had the time to get my folding bike out and explore.

One of the tributaries the Cross Island Trail crosses

Not far from the marina is the Kent Cross Island Trail which goes, as you might surmise, from the west end of the island to the east, ending at a nature park near the Bay Bridge on the west and the Kent Narrows bridge on the other.  I'm guessing it's about 10 miles long or so.  It is beautiful mostly with sections rather near industrial sites.  But is flat and paved so I can manage it.  It's great for walking and riding.  A lovely way to spend one or more afternoons.

The weather has been warm and increasingly humid.  Apparently tropical storm Nate has been working its way towards the Chesapeake.  It's been sunny, but every day the cloud cover has been more dense.

Anyway, I've been reading about the Kent Narrows, how shallow, how fast the current, blah, blah, blah.  Not recommended for sail boats and so forth.  But going all the way around Kent Island to St. Michael's is a six hour trip.  No one of the marina staff really had any experience (power boaters) so they could just surmise it was passable. 

Lynn met a couple passing Pelican Sunday morning while I was indisposed and they indicated it was not only passable but a nice trip.  His brother-in-law had a six foot draft and regularly went that way.

So, there you have it.  We left at high tide at 8 am, got to the bridge for the 8:30 opening and passed with no depths less than 7.5 feet, even in the entry channel.  The only thing I can say is, go at high tide if you draw more than 5.5 feet.

The other thing is that the wind was out of the south pushing water up the bay and rivers so its effect was to reduce the current through the narrows.  The bridge tender was exceedingly nice and the transit was without problem as I had hoped.  It was my first bridge opening this trip.  Well for some 7 or 8 years, to be sure.  It's like falling off a bike - you never forget how to do it.

Under sail with Lynn at helm

The wind was out of the south, south west at 10-18 knots so once past Parsons Island south of the narrows we set sail towards the Chesapeake because we had time and there was wind.  Predicted 20-25 kt winds didn't arrive and we managed to sail to within a mile or so of St. Michael's.  It really was a beautiful day for that, and Lynn is a good sailor.  We worked really well together. Man, can she trim sails!

We arrived at St. Michael's around 1:30 or so and tied up at the T-head of G dock, right in the heart of the museum!  Wow!  It's like being kings or something.

Pelican At CMM G dock

On the next T-head is another Pelican who caused some confusion as we both came in at the same time.  Met them at the office and they're nice people.  He said that he'd never run into a situation like that with two Pelicans.  I have.

Today, Nate is passing over with gale warnings on the bay.  We're staying put and leaving early tomorrow for maybe Solomons Island or farther if we can make it.

It seems like all my pictures are cloudy and grey.  I'd like to take some sunny ones.  Maybe tomorrow!  Oh, wait.  Here's one: