Kent Narrows, St. Michaels...

October, 2012 - Some of Winsome's crew got up before light to take advantage of the fair tide and west wind.  Nosing our way out of Worton Creek, the stars gave way to the early morning light and the smell of coffee from down below.  By the time we began the turn south off Poole's Island we had a full main and genoa drawing nicely on a beam reach making about 6 knots.  Carter is a late sleeper in any case and it is unlikely that anything will pry him out of his sleeping bag very easily.  I remember listening to the water slosh by the hull when I was young and so I'm very indulgent of this, his cruising habit. 

 

We reached Kent Narrows around lunch and the bridge tender opened for us after we all enjoyed a bite to eat at the dockside restaurant.  We enjoyed a relatively quiet time here as the really busy season had come and gone.  After bidding the bridge tender farewell, Winsome motored down Kirwan Creek just south of the narrows to a snug anchorage in very calm and protected water between Hog Island and Kent Island.  Debbie had her most restful night sleep here...

 

 

Our anchorage was as flat and calm as the pond at home and with virtually no wind we decided on a late start.  After a wonderful breakfast prepared by Debbie, she spent quality time in her deck chair on the bow tending to her toenails while I rowed around inspecting the area.  Carter's sleeping bag had a firm grip on him... 

Winsome finally made her way out into Prospect Bay and the short sail south to Tilghman Creek.  As you can see, it was a very nice sail with a wonderful, warm wind despite the time of year.  We motored into the channel leading to Tilghman Creek with enough light left to have a swim and dinner on the grill.  Delightful!  A stiff northwest wind picked up quite a bit that night and left us feeling very glad we anchored where we did.  That breeze slowly diminished in the early morning and after retrieving the anchor which had set quite deep, we set out rounding the Tilghman Creek marker and sailed a broad reach towards the Miles   River and St. Michaels to meet with Mom.  St. Michael's was wonderful to us and Higgins Yacht Yard kept us tied up fairly close to the showers and with downtown only two blocks away, we were in clover.  I made use of the Public Library and we explored the local scene.  Our ship's cook put together a dinner of champions on the galley stove with a roast pork and sauerkraut. 

Reluctantly, in the early morning we left St. Michaels in our wake and after a long day on the water, tied up to our mooring at Worton Creek having spent a wonderful week out exploring the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.