September 18, 1999

Deep in the Heart of the Bay & Back to Stump Neck

Trip # 51

18 Sep, 1999

Deep in the Heart of the Bay

12.9 miles

MAP

Joan and I were supposed to meet by the end boat ramp at Sandy Point park at 9:00 am. We would have made it too, if not for the park vehicles blocking the entrance to the park. Trees and power lines were down in the park from hurricane Floyd, and they didn't expect to reopen for a few more days.

Me being my early bird self knew it would be another hour before Joan figured this bit of useful information out. I had forgotten my cell phone at home so I couldn't call her. I started to head off for Pier 7 and just see if she showed up, but at the last second a thought flashed through my mind and I swerved off the road and just sat and waited for her.

After Joan showed up we weighed our options and headed for Galesville. By about 10 or 10:30 we were finally on the water. We were headed out for the open Chesapeake Bay. The water was calm and we really didn't have crossing the bay as a goal, but in the back of my mind I held on to a "See how we feel" after paddling out a ways.

Several miles from shore we say a large ship heading out towards the ocean. Coming North, a tug pulling a barge with a long cable chugged along. Both ships were still several miles in front of us but I wondered if we would see their wake. Joan recalled Brian's trip report where he talked about the long distance between a tug and it's barge. The red and green buoys are 3 miles apart on this section of the bay, yet both ships stayed much further towards the red buoy than the green. After getting into the channel by about a half mile, we had traveled a little over 6 miles without a break. Both of us were needing a walkabout, so we turned back for the nearest shore. Another 3 1/2 miles would have gotten us to the far shore, but at that point we would only be half way home, a little further than I wanted to paddle today.

By the time we got back to shore my butt felt glued to the seat. But I managed to walk it off while we had lunch. Back again in the boats we paddled the remaining 3 miles back to the launch site.

Trip #52

19 Sep, 1999

Back to Stump Neck

15.4 miles

MAP

I always learn something when I paddle with Bill Dodge, but he usually will wear my butt out. Today is no different as myself and 7 others were to meet at Leesylvania State Park. I got there an hour early to practice my rolling, and on popping to the surface once I could see Bill walking on the beach so I headed in. It was almost 10:00 when 7 kayaks holding 8 people struck out for Cockpit Point for our crossing to the other side of the Potomac.

A few of us took a close look at the tanker tied up at Cockpit Point. We then turned east for our crossing. Bill brought up the rear since he spent more time checking out the tanker. On the other side of the river we paddled south around the end of Stump Neck and just far enough in to get out of the wind. Everyone went ashore for a needed leg stretching except me, who stayed out in the water and rolled a bit.

When we regrouped we pushed on southward to a little creek below Goose Bay. Several folks push in to the creek and the rest of us pulled onshore to eat lunch. I had explored this creek only a few days before, and I *really* needed to get out of the kayak so I stayed on shore.

After lunch we headed north retracing our steps to get here. My goal was to keep up with the double, which had stayed far out front on the trip down. By experimenting with my strokes I got into a rhythm that soon had me out in front of the double. Not wanting to give up this efficient paddling stroke, I pressed on to see how long I could keep this up.

The only time I remember stopping other than for water was to allow a big pleasure boat to pass. The boat did not see me at all, and after passing I could see the operator was more interested in talking on his cell phone than looking where he was going.

I paddled into shore and loaded up my kayak and returned as the others came in to help them drag their boats up to their cars. The last group in was harassed by some jet skis, which ultimately led to me file a complaint with the Virginia Fish and Game and the State Park Service.

Well, the first time I wrote this story, there was a lot more detail. As I was putting on the final touches...you guessed it... the computer crashed. Several weeks have passed and my enthusiasm to re-write the story is lacking. But, it's still well worth what you paid for it...

Woody