Possible Destinations: 2007

This year we have the excellent book, Crusing the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide. The reviews on Amazon are glowing and I can't wait to see where it takes us.

Below are some possibilities taken from the book. I took my pick based on ratings of "4" which the author defines as "Very attractive or interesting. Definitely worth a visit." I didn't choose any locations rated as a "5" -- "Both beautiful and interesting. Not to be missed" -- because those places are probably overrun with stink pots.

Strangely, I couldn't find many quality stops on the Eastern Shore. I have a description of one -- Onancock Creek -- but we'll have to do a long slog upriver to get there.

By clicking "Map", you'll be taken google maps where you can zoom out and see the relation to Solomons (at the mouth of the Patuxent River) and the rest of the Bay.

South from Bailey's:

Fleets Bay (Map) - Western Shore
Facilities: Fuel, Water, Ice, Repairs, Marine Supplies, Shower
Layout: "This bay serves as an entryway to four cruising creeks: Indian, Dymer, Tabbs and Antipoison."
Special Points: "The Chesapeake Boat Basin, located on the point of land labeled Kilmarnock Wharf on the chart, deserves special mention. Kilmarnock Wharf was once a steamboat landing in the days when steamers were a major source of tranportation in the Bay. The marina is nicely laid out and has some transient slips, ice, gas, and diesel fuel. ... Antipoison Creek: Legend has it that this creek is where Native Americans provided Captain John Smith with a poultice (a mustard poultice? No?) that counteracted venom from a stingray's dart, hence the name Antipoison."

Onancock Creek (Map) - Eastern Shore - VA
Facilities: Gas, Water, Ice, Groceries within Walking Distance, Restaurant Nearby, Pumpout
Layout: "This is probably the most easily accessible creek on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The channel is well maintained with controlling depths of 10 to 11 feet all the way to the town of Onancock at its headwawters."
Special Points: "There is an excellent anchorage off a sandy beach to the north of the channel, just inside Ware Point. Founded in 1682, Onancock covers only one square mile despite having had 300 years to develop. It is still composed of a considerable number of homes built from the late 18th century through the 19th. Scotts Hill, built in 1779, looks like the fortress that it was, complete with trapdoors and hiding places."

North from Bailey's:

Hudson Creek (Map) - Eastern Shore
Facilities: None
Layout: "To enter, assume a course of 76 degrees from the Choptank River ... and start looking for the green '7' daymark."
Special Points: Colin and Caroline fucked their brains out visited here in 2006 and said it was awesome. "The anchorage is protected from wave action and surrounded by trees ... there's a beach on the inside of the tip of Casson Point, past the clump of trees, that is devoid of legal deterrant. No one seemed to object to our landing there."

Oxford, MD (Map) - Eastern Shore
Facilities: Everything, including rooms
Layout: "As you clear Bachelor Point, civilization appears to starboard in the form of the Pier Street Marina and Restaurant. ... If you want to spend the night, transient slips are available."
Special Points: Oxford has ... "the oldest free-running ferry route here that was established in 1683." There was an Oxford Ale, but it went out of business in 1998. More on Oxford here.

Of course, we can always hit our old haunts, but I'd like to explore unknown territory.

- Your Captain