Elk Lake to the C & D Canal

The pictures will speak for themselves!

We saw a multitude of sights as we went across the Chesapeake and entered the Elk River. Our trip across was wild. The wind was howling and the waves as rough as Gail has ever experienced. Every single thing on the boat was moving. As we entered the Elk River, however, things were much smoother and much more pleasant. The above tow was one of the first things that greeted us. It is amazing to have them in the same channel with us!

The next surprise was this huge ship that even cast a shadow on us as it approached. The picture below is looking back at the entry to the C & D Canal as we left the Elk. The C&D opened for business in 1829. At that time it was 13 miles long with a waterline width of 667 feet, a bottom width of 36 feet, and a depth of 10 feet. The present channel was deepened to 35 feet under a long-term improvement program. The canal is government owned and toll free, a vital link of the Intercoastal Waterway that connects the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.

We were headed for an anchorage off the canal in South Chesapeake City.It is an embarkation point where ships transiting the Bay pick up a pilot, Chesapeake City serves thousands of small craft every year. An amazing number are sharing a little basin with us tonight. The bridge we passed under is within sight of our boat for the night.

Our boom under the bridge!!!!

It is a little difficult to see but there is a mama osprey on the marker protecting her babies. As we have mentioned before, they are everywhere.

The end of our crusing for today - John tending the anchor, and tending the anchor, and tending the anchor. We were in a silt bottom and had a "little" difficulty holding. It is about 9:00pm and John is still working on charts for tomorrows adventure.