I don't think Skipper Bob is particularly good for the Chesapeake because it (the Chesapeake) is too big to cover in that format. He's good for the relatively narrow ICW, but not here. This is the latest changes from the book http://www.skipperbob.net/waterway.htm on the internet.
A better choice would be Shellenberger's book "Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholers Guide" Shellenberger will tell you where there are services and where you can anchor in relative solitude and safety. The latest edition that I know of is 2001. Another one is the Chesapeake Bay Magazine's "Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay" which will be more up-to-date and gives sample cruises as it is updated every year. You could probably do it cheaper by getting last year's edition. It is put out by Chesapeake Bay Magazine (which you might figure I guess from the title) Also the NPS has the Captain John Smith Water Trail http://www.nps.gov/cajo/planyourvisit/images/map_2.gif >Skipper Bob will be our bible for finding anchorages and mooring fields but >if you can think of any others that are near dink docks which are within >walking distance of civilization (i.e. WM and Wally World), please let us >know. We're pretty excited about the trip since we have never been in that >area before and have so much exploring to do. It sounds a lot more >interesting than sitting here in central Indiana and staring at the corn and >soybean fields. We used to anchor a lot, but we mostly come into docks now. That way we can have somebody else cook. There are basically a gazillion of places to anchor if you don't want to go ashore - depending a lot on the draft of your boat and the weather forecast. We are off the Potomac, and we haven't even explored all of the River in 10 years, let alone the rest of the bay. We haven't been north of Baltimore or Rock Hall either, nor have we been to St. Michaels yet. Going down Charles's list of places to anchor roughly north to south - marked E or W for Eastern Shore or Western Shore Rock Hall - E - have not been to the town, although have anchored in Swan Creek. Annapolis -W - have never been to Annapolis proper by boat, but have anchored in Selby Creek and Harness Creek on the South River. Selby Creek is quite isolated and the anchorage has a tricky entrance. We also go to my BIL's house in Bodkin Creek. Chester River - E - There's a nice anchorage in the Corsica River which used to have (and maybe still does) a Russian embassy R&R place on one of the peninsulas. I understand Queenstown is nice if you can get in there (we couldn't) and Chestertown is also an interesting place to visit. The holding isn't too good opposite Chestertown and there's a lot of current and there's a submerged line across the river at that point which you don't want to get involved with. Instead of going to St. Michaels on a weekend, we went up the Wye River and anchored in Shaw Bay (E). This is a roomy anchorage and protected. Galesville -W - we have not been to Galesville since we bought our boat which was docked there. We didn't like Galesville. Oxford - E - We really like Oxford although the holding isn't too good. There's a ferry dock there that you can come in and tie the dingy to (away from the ferry). Past that is Cambridge but we've never gotten down there. Solomons -W- and the Patuxent River - lots of deep water in this river. Solomons has a lot of anchorages in and around there, and you can walk up to the grocery and hardware stores. Up past Solomons is Cuckhold Creek (a hurricane hole type anchorage but isolated) and St. Leonard's Creek where there is a state park. Potomac River -W- There are lots of places to go including Washington D.C. (We've never done that but since they put in the new bridge I think we could without having to go through the bridge at 2 a.m.) In addition to Washington, there is the St. Mary's River on the north side (no services but a nice anchorage), Smith Creek off the St. Mary's River where we have our boat, but there are anchorages in there, and the Yeocomico and Colonial Beach on the VA side, plus Mt. Vernon. Bob refuses to go to Smith Island -E - as the channels are so tricky. Tangier -E - you might as well dock at Parks rather than anchor. It's either $25 or $35/night (depending on if the boat is longer than 30 feet IIRC) There's a heck of a current through there and a lot of boating activity so it's better to tie to the dock. Old man Parks doesn't monitor the radio, so you either have to shout or call on the phone. He may or may not have someone to help you dock. Crisfield - E - one of our favorite places. You CAN anchor here, but there's also a lot of boat traffic and a CG station in Somer's Cove. If you go in to the state run marina, keep in mind that the rates are a lot higher on the weekend. You can walk out into town to all the restaurants and also some hardware stores. There's a museum and a trolley tour or a walking tour of the area. As Norm says, Reedville (W on the Great Wicomico up Cockrell Creek) is an interesting place to visit - you don't have to eat crabs to go there. They have a nice museum and a walking tour of the Victorian houses. However if possible you should visit when the menhaden plant is not in operation. We've never been to the marina he mentions - we go to Reedville Marina, but that doesn't answer the radio and may not answer the phone on Mon or Tues when the restaurant is closed. Indian Creek - W-south of the Great Wicomico off Fleets Bay is nice and quiet. The marina there has a marine store. Onancock - E- there are anchorages up at the end of the creek and also a marina, but the dockmaster is almost a volunteer and isn't always there. A nice little place - you can walk up to town and there is a real old fashioned hardware store there. Rappahannock - W - we have barely scratched the surface. Deltaville is between the Rappahannock and the Piankatank and we've been from each side. If you want to go to the marina at Urbana (we haven't been up that far) then you have to call because there are only a few places for sailboats (they have mostly covered slips). The marina lady isn't there Mon or Tues.. Have not been to Gwynn Island -W- but would like to go. Problem with shallowness of the entrance. Mobjack Bay - W - is another area that we have not explored much except for going in to the OTHER Severn River. We also have not managed to get to Cape Charles - E or anywhere south of that on the Eastern Shore Yorktown - W - and Sarah Creek and Chisman Creek off the York River. We have only been here three times - twice to a marina, and once anchoring, and it isn't on our map of goals to come to again. Salt Creek - W is north of Hampton and has two marinas - we've been to one of them (the cheaper one) Hampton - W has a good anchorage up behind the bridge tunnel - just be sure you are out of the way of the commercial fishing boats at Phoebus when they go out. Fort Monroe has a dinghy dock, but it is not near anything except to go to Fort Monroe (which is free). We've been to the military marina here. Norfolk and Portsmouth - W- We usually go into a marina in Norfolk - it is a VERY busy place what with the Navy and commercial shipping. We mostly go to Waterside and then take the (cheap) ferry over to Portsmouth. _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
