July 13, 2001

Across the Bay

Not wanting to deal with the morning rush hour, I slept in. I was taking a gamble that the afternoon rush hour would be opposite the way I was going. In any event, I was at Sandy Point and on the water about 11:15. It's 80 miles from doorstep to parking lot, so I don't get out here often.

My previous 3 attempts to cross the bay resulted in me turning back. But today I have another year and a half of experience - my skills much greater than my last attempt, where a mile from shore I realized I was in over my head and turned back.

But those skills would not be needed today, or would they? The wind was slight and out of the northeast. A large ship was passing by as I unloaded my gear from my truck, and I made special note as to where it was passing. It passed within the well-marked and narrow channel markers.

I quickly stored my gear and parked my truck, and after slathering on a bunch of sunscreen I headed out to the Sandy Point lighthouse. Another large ship was heading down the bay, and I paddled out towards the green marker buoy as the ship went by hugging the green side of the channel. The channel runs north from here towards Baltimore, and I checked and rechecked several times to make sure there were no more large ships coming my way before sprinting across the channel.

With this short sprint I was off on a journey that I have wanted to make ever since I started kayaking. Originally attempted in my first season, it would be my third season that my goal would be finally realized.

I had come close in the past. Twice I had made it halfway across. As recently as the Bay swim I had paddled out to the 2-mile mark from the Maryland side to meet the swimmers coming across. I knew I could do it - but I didn't know when I would get the opportunity.

After crossing the channel I stopped by the red buoy to see if I could identify where the large boats were traveling. Is there another channel? There were no markers, and after a few minutes of study I knew they were not using the channel at all. I would have to keep an eye out at all times.

The crossing over was uneventful, and after getting through the wide main thoroughfare, I enjoyed the push of the large wakes from these big boats. I was between 2 and 2.5 miles north of the bay bridge and didn't need to stop for any boats at all on my way across.

Near the Maryland shore I didn't see much of a place to land, so I stayed in the kayak and just looked at the farmhouse and silo outside the barn. I thought long and hard about paddling up around Love Point and into the Chester river, but I knew the afternoon boat traffic would be increasing on such a beautiful Friday.

After eating a sandwich and consuming a lot of water, I felt like I could paddle all the way up to Baltimore, which I could see on the horizon. Out in the river two tugs pushing barges made their way up outside of the channel. I turned back towards Virginia.

Crossing the thoroughfare now was more of a challenge. Traffic was starting to pick up on the water, and out on the bridge it appeared like traffic was starting to slow down. I stopped several times to let boats pass, and at least two of them seemed surprised to see me *after* they passed. One sail boat captain under power after seeing me pass behind his stern, stood up to give the water ahead of him a good look.

Across the channel a final time, and back towards the lighthouse. I became peeved when a couple in a Seadoo started buzzing near shore. I felt a little better when a park ranger on shore drove up and using her binoculars wrote down the registration numbers while I loaded my kayak on the truck.

This was my 130th trip in a kayak. Exactly 1205 miles by the time I touched sand. A distance as the crow flies from Washington D.C. to Dallas Texas. Nearly halfway across the country. I landed with little notice to everyone out sunning themselves. No one but me knew what I had done, or how long I had tried to get here. This was one of my final two kayaking goals before I leave for Japan. I made a final loop out of the parking lot as I drove away. A final look. Time draws so short.