Day 218-220 – 5/9-11/24

Starting location: Tied up to free wall downtown Cambridge, MD

Weather: 60 am, 71 pm, overcast, slight drizzle in afternoon – Thursday 5/9. Thunderstorm overnight, 51 am, 60 pm – drizzle off and on – Friday 5/10. 46 am, 64 pm, mostly sunny – Saturday 5/11.

Ending location: Anchorages on each of 3 nights on the South River. Near South River Farms Park on 5/9. Near Broad Creek Park on 5/10. Near Quiet Waters Park on 5/11.

Statute miles: 41, then 8, then 5.

General summary: Motored East out of the Choptank River, back into the Bay, and NorthWest into the South River, looking for more anchorage/hike combinations to take a big nature break before spending time in the city of Annapolis. We had decided to bypass the Rhode River on the Western Shore as the hikes at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center did not allow dogs, unfortunately. Anchored in Selby Bay behind a spit at South River Farms Park. Did a 4 mile hike.

Pulled up anchor on Friday and motored up the South River, then North up a tributary called Broad Creek almost to its end where we anchored again. The only boat. It was choppy at first but flat calm as the river bent back and forth, effectively blocking the wind. Dinghied over to shore and found a level spot to tie off between skunk cabbage growth and then clamored up a small hill to find the trail. Hiked about 5 miles. Was drizzling off and on, but ground was covered by leaves so not too muddy.

On the third day, we pulled up anchor again and headed back downriver, then up Harness Creek to anchor by Quiet Waters Park (how great a name is that?). Found a sheltered spot where we were nearly surrounded by land. This would be a great hurricane hole. Trail to the park was so close we didn’t even need the dinghy motor. Cold morning, but warm and sunny as the day progressed. Walked miles of mostly paved trails. There was a fairy house festival going on and homemade creations dotted the trails.