March 14, 2004

Stump Neck

On launching I headed directly across the mouth of Powell's creek. The far shore, I reasoned, should keep me out of the wind until I passed Cockpit Point and headed out across the open water. This worked well, keeping the wind and waves at bay until it was time to cross the Potomac.

As I rounded Cockpit Point and headed out into open water the waves were barely a foot. But the wind blew in strong gusts and I stopped long enough to twist some feather into my paddle.

I started paddling 5 years ago as an unfeathered paddler. Over the last few years I've mentioned in previous trip reports that I've been teaching myself to switch up as needed - to paddle feathered into a head wind, and unfeathered when the wind is out of the other 3 quarters. Slowly, I've been adapting and in the last 6 months become comfortable switching at will. I need some additional rolling practice when paddling feathered, and maybe a tad more high brace practice on the left side.

Out in the center of the river, with a fetch of roughly 10 miles, the waves grew to just under 2 feet. This Sirocco turns easily into the wind, and in anticipation of running with the wind for the return trip I had loaded the stern heavy. I was glad as the Sirocco normally likes to plow directly into oncoming waves, but today she road easily up and over them.

Nearing the channel along the Maryland side of the river I checked both directions for approaching boat/ship traffic. A barge is a good distance to the south and moving slow so I crossed the channel and rounded the tip of Stump Neck. Looking back I see the barge is far out of the channel and heading for Cockpit Point.

I recalled seeing steam billowing out of the pipes from the long pier that sticks out into the water at Cockpit Point. It now made sense to me they were expecting to load or unload some cargo.

I fiddled around in Chicamuxen Creek a bit. I raised my Spirit sail and headed back into the creek. For a moment I entertained the idea of sailing back to Leesylvania, but this blasted sail is so difficult to raise and lower in a strong wind that I didn't want to risk getting back in the middle of the river with a very strong wind blowing me to who knows where. Once the sail is up, it is easy enough to control, but trying to set it up or take it down is an exercise in balance and luck.

I pulled ashore for lunch. Munching a sandwich in one hand I pulled my paddling jacket over my drysuit and PFD with the other. It was getting chilly and the wind seemed to cut through the drysuit. As I know from past experience that when I stop paddling in the winter, I chill down quickly in the wind and the oversize paddling jacket rides in my day hatch for just that reason.

After lunch I set back off for Leesylvania. Another barge had passed while I was in the creek, and a third one passed just as I left the mouth and began to cross the river.

The ride north was quick but mid river I couldn't recall placing my car keys in a dry bag. I worried all the way back that they might be in the river somewhere, having slipped off the rear deck as I was loading my gear into the boat. With the wind and waves coming from behind I surfed swell after swell. Working my timing to try and stay on a wave as long as possible. Speeding up to catch it, then slowing down to keep from out running it.

Approaching Cockpit Point I kept my eye on the barge now tied up there, making sure he didn't plan to leave any time soon. I crossed far out in front of him and tucked back into the wide mouth of Powell's Creek. Making a beeline for the cartop launch - would I have car keys?

On shore I found my keys in my paddling jacket. By some miracle they hadn't fallen out of the unzipped pocket. I tossed my cold, wet gear in the car and headed for home.