When we dropped anchor in the creek in Solomons we quickly noticed that we were close to a boat we had seen at anchor before, in Annapolis. What we also noticed was that they were members of the OCC (Ocean Cruising  Club), a group we just joined a month ago. We wound up meeting one of their neighbors (also OCC members) and got invited aboard for a sundowner – cocktails as the sun goes down.

We had a great night meeting people from 3 different boats at anchor nearby, all heading south just like we are. There seem to be two types of cruisers this year:   The first that’s doing the same as we are, jumping off from the east coast and landing in the Caribbean somewhere to explore for the winter (there’s a subset from here; those that are coming state side again like us next spring and those that are continuing on), and the second type that are hopping down the US coast (many through the intracoastal waterway) to Florida and then over to the Bahamas for the winter before heading north again come spring. Regardless of the intentions, we’re all moving in the same general direction in the next week and have been in many of the same places this summer, so it was fun to chat.

Pretty much everyone in the anchorage upped anchor and got moving before 8 AM this morning (hard to do much earlier with a lack of sunlight given the time of year). We followed the steady parade of sailboats out, then watched as some headed north and others continued south with us. I waved goodbye to the Calvert Cliffs – I would have loved more time to head to the cliffs and pick up first hand some of the fossils we saw in the museum, but we needed to move. Though we’re making good time, we know there’s some sour weather coming this way Monday/Tuesday with 40 knot winds that will force us to sit out a day and so we (along with all the others) wanted to get some miles on.

Once again the wind gods were blasé – not outright against us, but light enough that the best we could do was motor sail with the jib for the day. We aimed for Reedville. The pelicans continue to gain in numbers, so I know we’re heading south, though they remain far enough away in flight or on the water to get a decent picture.

I found myself questioning Reedville as an anchorage as we approached. Though recommended through a women’s sailing group on Facebook, it seemed a bit dubious as we got closer. Fish weirs (sticks sticking straight out of the water, sometimes with fishing nets attached) were everywhere – you had to keep a close watch and maneuver around them when needed. This is not as easy as it sounds when you’re facing directly into the sun.

Sunset sail on Fishing Bay

And then as we turned into the inlet there was the smell. Reedville has one of the biggest processing plants for menhaden (apparently the source for fish oil pills and cat food). Not only were they probably the source of the fish weirs, the plant emitted a ‘fishy’ odor as we passed. We knew about the plant and had never planned on going into Reedville, instead anchoring in a cove to the southwest, but you then have to check if you’re downwind or not. We were downwind as we came in and Trip quickly pointed out this wouldn’t be ideal. I reminded him that 1) the winds were shifting and 2) didn’t it remind him of the Tai’O fishing village with the fermented shrimp paste in Hong Kong? At least it wasn’t 95 degrees……When the wind shifted, it was a very nice anchorage & out of sight from the fish factory.

Fishing weirs – require constant attention to avoid!

The anchorage had one other boat already there when we arrived, and after we dropped the hook another three joined us. Trip went for a row for some exercise and some company, and I sat back with a book to enjoy the sunset in peace & quiet.

The next day we moved on again (once again motoring) to Deltaville.  The depths in the rivers approaching from both the south and north make me nervous (6 feet low with a 2 foot tide) so we opted to anchor in Fishing Bay.  A lovely rather large bay had only one other boat at anchor though we were soon joined by 5 others.  Turns out our original neighbor (Baba 40) is friends with another Bob Perry boat owner we know, so we’re very quickly realizing what a small world this is.

Sunrise over Fishing Bay

The Fishing Bay Marina offers a facilities fee – for $10 per person you can use their marina for the day – trash, laundry, showers, bikes, even the courtesy car.  We jumped in the car this morning to do provisioning and run by West Marine, and are now sitting by the pool freshly showered.  I’m debating whether or not to do laundry – there was one woman in line ahead of me with two loads, when someone else showed up and said she was doing laundry all day and had started at 8:30.  I appreciate that she was the first one here, but I generally have the attitude that you shouldn’t be tying up the machines all day when others need them for smaller amounts & if you’re not there in line to switch loads when one ends, you lose your place in line.  I’m debating right now just how much I want to piss her off.  I don’t need to do laundry but it would be nice.  And as nice as the marina is I don’t want to sit around here all day.  We can’t in fact.  We need to up anchor and move to the south sound at the end of the bay to sit out a small gale tonight (forecast of 40 knot gusts from the south).  You wouldn’t guess the weather coming from the sunrise this morning, but “red sky in the morning, sailor take warning”.