| Start: | Taylors Island Family Campground |
| End: | Harrison House, Tilghman Island |
| Estimate Leg: | 16 miles |
| Actual Leg: | 17.7 miles |
| Estimate Cumulative: | 144 miles |
| Actual Cumulative: | 154.4 miles |
Good rest over the weekend, and I was ready to get back on the water. Really enjoyed our time at Taylors Island Campground and the rental camper we used.
Tide tables had low tide at about 9:30, and wind prediction was West with a swing about 10–11 AM to the South. So I looked to take off sometime after 9:30, with the hope that I’d have a good push across the little Choptank and the Choptank. Got ready in no rush in the morning and was on the water somewhere around 10 am.
West wind was a little strong at first - some decent chop coming in from the West that I had to angle into for a while. Decided to stay to the lee side of the small series of islands labeled as “James Island” on the charts (this looks to be one of the many islands that are on their way to annihilation due to erosion) and then run with the swells across the Little Choptank and Trippe Bay.
The wind never really did turn South, but it did die down significantly and the chop became easy to handle from any heading, so I just settled back on the course between my waypoints and tried to concentrate on paddling technique. Was able to keep 5+ MPH for a good portion of the crossing with a little help from the incoming tide. Trip across the Choptank and into Dogwood Harbor on Tilghman Island seemed to go really fast.
I went ahead and checked in at Harrison’s Chesapeake House and waited at the deck for Ruth to roll in. We had lunch at Harrison’s (really good food) and then headed for one of our favorite spots when we lived in the DC area about 15–20 years ago: St Michaels MD). I got some coffee while Ruth did some window shopping and we headed back to Harrison’s.
Beautiful evening, so I decided that I would don some board shorts and throw my outrigger back in the water to explore the harbor.
I met Tommy Cummings while he was setting up his crab trot line.
Tommy grew up on Tilghman Island and has been a waterman all his life - starting on his grandfather’s skipjack. I really have become fond of the skipjacks that I’ve seen along the way. Tommy mentioned that one was on its way in, so I thought I paddle out the the mouth of the harbor and watch it come in. It was pretty far out, so I couldn’t get a really close in shot while it was under sail. This shot is when it turned into the wind to luft the sails and stow them prior to coming into the harbor under power.
The next shot is of the skipjack coming into the harbor under power.
If you aren’t familiar - the skipjack is a very old boat that is one of the few methods that can be used to dredge for oysters in the bay. There are certain days that this can be done under power, and other that must be done while under sail. The fleet of skipjacks number about 40.
After a really enjoyable evening paddle, Ruth and I grabbed a glass of wine and strolled on the docks. Beautiful evening, and great end to a great day.
Tomorrow: On to Kent Island!