Made it to the Chesapeake

FootballFan said:

Have not posted or replied in a bit. Thought I would update.

We left Clearwater Beach FL in latter part of June.

Boat is now in the Chesapeake. Based on simple math - 1,200 miles or so. For many on this site - not a huge trip - or it is one that many make every year.

Our personal observations...

Original plan was a straight 11 day run. Did we ever have expectations that did not work out.

First - we will not plan a straight here to there run again - wore us out.

9 day delay in route - waiting on parts. A friggen key switch shut us down. (all 4 key switches have been replaced).

Preliminary float plan, distances each day proved to be accurate. In fact over achieved some days.

Done with the Okeechobee waterway. Not our first time - probably our 5th or 6th time across. We will slide through the Keys in the future. It is not hard, or challenging - we just do not like it.

ICW north of Coinjock gets very shallow. So much of NC ICW is wind driven - my mistake - lost reference to when tidal movement matters. Did not go aground - but did churn a lot of mud in some areas.

Half way through the trip - we looked at each other - why did we do this? Tied up at Mears Point - hour later - discussing - wow - best thing we ever did.

Learned a lot about boating during the trip. Learned a lot about the boat we bought last fall.

So much more prepared for the trip back to FL in the fall.

Anyway - feel like we accomplished a boating event - making the trip. Thought I would throw our experience out there. I know - for many or you - nothing special cause you do it all the time.

For us - was special - something we dreamed about and accomplished.

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menzies said:

We are in the Chesapeake now as well. Currently anchored in the Mattawoman. Alexandria today and DC torrow.
You can read about the route we took in the Cruising East Coast section of the forum.
The debris fields from the storms are something else!

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BandB said:

Wifey B:

It was an accomplishment and for those of us who do it "all the time" it never loses it's charm. That's why we keep doing it. Plus we all remember the first time doing something like that.

First - we will not plan a straight here to there run again - wore us out.​

Great, lesson learned. You just did a delivery. Now cruise in the future. Stop to smell the swamp, I mean roses....magnolias maybe....Rhododendron? Something. I don't know. [emoji38]

So, the nine days you were delayed, did you do some fun stuff and take advantage? I know one area we like but might never have really learned had we not been "stuck there" for a week due to sea conditions.

Start planning now for what you want to see and do on the trip back south. You could make this trip back and forth 30 years and still never fully experience all there is to do along the way. I'll just toss one stop to get you thinking, an easy place to pass by but one of a kind pleasure, Bald Head Island. There are hundreds more.

Last, don't ever compare your cruising to others, just do what works for you and what you enjoy. We all must find what works for us. Some never stray more than 100 miles from home and are extremely happy. Some cruise 12 months of the year and never in the same place. Look at Sealife, taking three years to end up back where you are now, basically where they started. [emoji38]

We cruise short and long. Fast and slow....well, not really slow, just not as fast. We had no idea what our pattern would be and somehow it ended up six weeks cruising then three weeks at home and it works for us. It's what we enjoy but also find ourselves excited to be flying or cruising home after. We're currently on day 28 of a 42 day leg. The last 11 days we only cruised two and they were back and forth between the same cities, 140 nm each way. Then yesterday and today a 33 hour trip to reach a destination, where we'll spend three days. This is a funny 6 weeks or 42 days. We are only moving 14 times, although that includes 4 overnight trips. Only 9 different cities or towns. Loop was more like a different town every other day or sometimes every day.

It's pleasure boating and you do what brings you pleasure. It's like the Okeechobee Swamp, I mean Lake. You're tired of it, so circle outside. Others love it, think it's heaven. I'm of the "it's nice but mainly just a shortcut." We do about half and half between across and around, typically going one way and back the other.

Take this advice from Mama Cass:

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