Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake
Some day I will actually meet some of you guys.
Launched out of Rogue's Harbor (Turkey Point, more or less) for the first time yesterday, which was going to be my best shot to swing by Sand Island. We launched like pros, kids and wife jumped on, we even grabbed the tube and rope, we cleared the ramp area quickly, turned south and immediately we were staring down a big, ominous looking sky that came outta nowhere.
We almost went back to the ramp. I suggested we turn around, outrun the storm and take safe harbor somewhere. I figured Chesapeake Inn was as good as any place ( I can get there pretty quick!). It was great. We ate through the storm, watched soaked people come into harbor and then left when color radar showed no cells after a few songs into the band's set.
Presto... Back in the upper bay t-storms started popping up along a front. I anchored in some cove to get my bearings and check the radar on my blackberry, and it was time to go back to the ramps. We reloaded the boat and then I started covering it in a torrential downpour, with lightening and thunder and no wind -- a huge bonus. We sat in the truck with the boat safely covered and decided not to drive for 15 mins, and we watched the show at the ramp.
What was clear was that there had to be boats that could not get back to the ramps, because there was no way they could see. I am sure a few had GPS, but visibility was down to nothing for non-GPS boaters Couldn't see boats in the channel -- just couldn't see that far, so they couldn't see the launch ramps.
If I go that way again, I will try Anchor Marina. Not loving that haul down to Rogue's. Next week we're heading down to St Michael's area and launching at Kent Narrows.
