Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Awesome name, for many years we owned rentals in Cocoa Beach Florida and would go down a couple times a year. Many times we stayed at a Hotel with that name.

Our bout is named Twice as Nice.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Awesome day today. We are now sporting a name across our stern! Busiest launch we've had to deal with so far, went slicker than goose snot. We can launch and/or retrieve in less than 5 minutes, thanks to all the advice here.

Went over to Cara Cove and anchored up for a couple hours. Started raining enough to put up our camper top, as I haven't installed the bimini yet
Anyway, we thought we'd go back to HDG to be closer in case it got bad.

Driving with the camper top sucks, it attaches to the top of the windshield. Went about 20 mph from Cara to around Carpenter pt and it had slowed up enough to drop the top, AHHHHH, much better. I stand up 100% of the time it seems while underway.

Anyway, got to HDG and it stopped and what is this, hardly any traffic! We stayed out for another hour and a half or so enjoying the FLAT bay again.
Earlier in the day it was very crowded, most traffic we've seen so far.

I installed my new VHF radio the other day, in place of a 31 year old unit. It works great.

I LOVE BOATING! Nothing like it in my opinion.

I hope all of you guys had a great weekend too!

Edit, these dragonflies did it in the boat right in front of us LOL

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Any nice swimming spots? In the upper bay area?

I used to swim in the Bohemia all the time. For some reason I found the clearest water was usually on the north side about 1/2 mile from the Elk. (once or twice it was so clear I was able to see the bottom and snorkle). Lots of clams up there.

If you want to anchor and splash around near shore, Cabin John Creek is always good, but the beach is small and can get crowded.

On the Sassafras, just upriver from Ordinary Point (on the left) is a good beach, and just inside the entrance to Turner Creek you can drop the hook and back right up to the beach (on the right side) because the drop-off is quick- so quick we could step off the swim platform without getting wet feet. BTW-if you've never been into Turner Creek, be aware of the sandbar across most of the mouth!
Farther up the Sass, I always enjoy anchoring across from Skipjack Cove. The water's 10- 12' and we usually deploy floats attached to lines. The Skipjack people call this "$1.98 beach" because it takes that much fuel to get there.

Of course, there's always Sand Island, but sometimes I want to get away from the crowd will and take the channel close to APG, anchoring just out of the channel in about 8'- 10 depth. Minimal current, but do NOT go ashore south of Swan Creek! Lots of good bird-watching there.

The Susquehanna just upriver from Garrett Island. Water can be very clear here if it hasn't stormed recently. Anchor close to the island in about 8-10'.


That oughta keep you busy!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well, we just got back from a great vacation with family down on Hilton Head Island, SC.

Man did the tides make the ocean much different than the last few years! There was almost no beach at high tide. And the water was as flat as could be as far as the eye could see!

Can't wait to get down to the bay this weekend for the forth!We will be heading down on the 3rd in the early afternoon. Man I hope this week goes quick!

Looks like everyone had a good time boating the past couple of weekends! Hope to see everyone soon!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I'll be on the water on the 3rd, and scanning 16/9/68 hope to see you then!

 

[dave4151]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Just an FYI

If you're looking for online charts of the bay they have a bunch of them here;
http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/AtlanticCoastBookletCharts.htm​

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Just got back from another fabulous weeknd on the bay. Man do I wish that every weekend could be like this.

Had different family down all weekend so we were out tubing and sking and show them around. Got to watch 2 firework displays from the water and overall just had a blast!

Was hoping to meet a couple of you guys this weekend but it didn't work out. (Skargo and Arks) Since we were entertaining family members all weekend I couldn't slip away like I was hoping! Oh well, looking forward to the raftup in a couple of weekends.

For anyone else on this thread that has not seen the one about the Upper Bay Raftup, Check it out! We are gonna have a great time, come check it out and join us! There are some very knowledgeable people there that I am looking forward to meeting as well!

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread...XMAAACWe/JB&bcsi_scan_filename=showthread.php

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I tried hailing you a few times, sorry we missed each other. I did get to meet Rob(Arks) finally, great guy!
Had a blast at the fireworks in HDG last night, and met some awesome marina residents.

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

How is the Bush river for tubing, etc. and entertainment (food and drink)? I will be staying down there in Aug. at the Bar harbor campground and originally thought I could run up to NE or Elk for a meal. But last Tuesday I tried to go from the Sus to the Bush and got beat up so bad I turned around and came home with my tail between my legs. I'm just looking for something to do close by.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Pics from the HDG fireworks,
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=274027&id=554955651&l=010ca930f1

Video of HDG grand finale,
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=230277505651

Pictures of boating today, NO traffic and no waves.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=274031&id=554955651&l=ea19cac983

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Another beautiful day on the water, we took our dog Whopper our for his first time! He loved it.

after 10 minutes at anchor,

They called for 1-2' and 10-15 kt winds, but we went around Turkey point and over to Betterton, it was very calm water today.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I seem to be the only one posting, but yet another fantastic, flat, no traffic day today!

The fuse on my trim tabs blew again, gotta figure this one out.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Skargo - Glad to see that you are having so many good days on the bay. I think that you have made it your life goal to make me jealous every day

Looks like the dog enjoyed the trip! Still trying to find time to get our golden retriever out for the first time on this boat. I hope she enjoys it as much as Whooper did!

Good luck with the trim tab issue! Hope you get it fixed soon!

On a side note we were out the susquehanna river last night. (Unfortunately not down at the bay.) The lake clarke portion of the river. It was a beautiful evening and we all had a great time. I got up on waterski's for the first time. It was a blast!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! We will be up on the St. Lawerence River visiting family and checking out the french festival. Hope to catch some more fireworks from thier pontoon boat. Really enjoyed seeing the displays last weekend at the bay!

Be safe everyone!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Congrats on getting up on skis Brandon!

My brother, and brother in law have never done it, so we'll play around eventually. Can't wait, been more than 10 years for me.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

i think it is stupid that hdg did the fireworks on sunday. Why not do it on the 4th. So what is Bel Air is doing their's on the 4'th. DO them both on the same day, The day we are celebrating!!!!

I camped all weekend on the sand islands, but didn't see much fire works sat night, just the ones that local's set off.
By sunday night I was home in bed.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I seem to be the only one posting, but yet another fantastic, flat, no traffic day today!

It sure wasn't flat in the evening upstream from you on Conowingo. I ended up in some of the roughest water my boat has ever seen. It really sucked. And the fish weren't biting.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

i think it is stupid that hdg did the fireworks on sunday. Why not do it on the 4th. So what is Bel Air is doing their's on the 4'th. DO them both on the same day, The day we are celebrating!!!!

I camped all weekend on the sand islands, but didn't see much fire works sat night, just the ones that local's set off.
By sunday night I was home in bed.

I wish that they would have set them off on Saturday as well. We did stay to watch them, then it was a trip back to North East, load the boat, drive 90 minutes home. Park, unhook and clean boat quickly. I had to be at work at 7 the next morning. I think I only got about 5 hours of sleep that night, made work rough on Monday. However, it was a great show and given the chance, I would do it all over again.

Congrats on getting up on skis Brandon!

My brother, and brother in law have never done it, so we'll play around eventually. Can't wait, been more than 10 years for me.

Thanks. It was a blast and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to doing it again soon. I just love being out on the water!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

It sure wasn't flat in the evening upstream from you on Conowingo. I ended up in some of the roughest water my boat has ever seen. It really sucked. And the fish weren't biting.

That's weird how that works. My wife says it was one of the flattest, calmest days we've been out, and we've been out 15 or so times this year.

Where do you put in up there? I looked at Glen Cove, but their "harbor" was full of garbage, I looked at broad creek and it looks real shallow. The launch at Peach Bottom looks nice though.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I wish that they would have set them off on Saturday as well. We did stay to watch them, then it was a trip back to North East, load the boat, drive 90 minutes home. Park, unhook and clean boat quickly. I had to be at work at 7 the next morning. I think I only got about 5 hours of sleep that night, made work rough on Monday. However, it was a great show and given the chance, I would do it all over again.




Thanks. It was a blast and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to doing it again soon. I just love being out on the water!

I was glad it was on a Sunday, but we took off this week. It being on Sunday allowed us to do other stuff on the 4th.

I tell you, sitting directly under where they set them off was spectacular, I just wish my pics and video I posted earlier were of higher quality.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Where do you put in up there? I looked at Glen Cove, but their "harbor" was full of garbage, I looked at broad creek and it looks real shallow. The launch at Peach Bottom looks nice though.

I put in at a public park ramp (fairly crappy) that is located about a half mile upriver from the Peach Bottom ramp. It's only a quarter mile up the road from my uncle's cottage where I often keep my boat so that's why I use it. I've boating on Conowingo my whole life. The launch at Peach Bottom would put you right into nice deep open water.