There are 54 named rivers

[Ross]

On the Chesapeake Bay there are 54 rivers that feed into the bay and nearly 8000 miles of tidal shore line. From the Chesapeake Bay you can sail to the Hudson river and from there to the great lakes. Or you can sail the intercoastal waterway all of the way to Texas.
I find it hard to understand why anyone would want to cross an ocean before they have had the chance to explore the waterways closer to home. I can understand the lure of far away places but people come from all over this planet to visit the chesapeake bay, shouldn't the people who live here also explore the bay?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Is this for the "new boat in the oven" guy?

 

[Ross]

Why would you think that?

 

[CalebD]

Large pod of Dolphins in LI Sound, August 2011

Why would you think that?

There is a lot to see closer to home.
Read the whole story: http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/08/15/dolphin-dies-on-fi-beach-amid-li-sound-sightings/
They have seals up in Maine and Manatees in Florida.
I have seen Sturgeon jumping out on the Hudson River the past few years. Not a lot but they are there.
I used my oven tonight to make some rye bread.

 

[Joe]

different strokes for different folks, Ross.... The chesapeake and the inter coastal may be you're idea of sailing nirvana... but others may not.... Others are jonesing to cross oceans and experience other cultures.... others live to race... some like bareboating in exotic locales....... and some just like to party at the dock!

Let Soleil go.... he has his dream... you have yours... personally I just think he's jerking your chain. heh,heh.

 

[Ross]

I am almost certain that he is and I like to yank back.

 

[Joe]

I am almost certain that he is and I like to yank back.

hmmm..... an interesting compulsion.

 

[Stu Jackson]

There are two ends to every line. ...and chain...

I'm up in the California Delta, a two day trip from our home port in San Francisco Bay. I also like to sail out in the ocean. So nice to have choices...

 

[Ross]

Actually there are three ends to a chain, the boat end the anchor end and when the chain isn't shackled to the boat there is the bitter end.

 

[RECESS]

I like to do intercoastal waterway adventures. There is also something to be said for being out in the middle of the blue. I hope as I make more trips out my chart skills improve. I am always amazed at how well ancient cultures crossed oceans with very little navigational equipment. My wife has got addicted to staying out on anchor in the middle of the blue. We have not crossed oceans yet, but I see it happening in the not so far off future. I will need a boat more suited to it, but I am stretching the coastal aspect of coastal cruising with this little Oday 25. I still love me some intercoastal trips.

I watched the movie The Dove recently. Made me feel in awe that he crossed in a little 22' but then again I don't feel like being demasted twice like he was.

 

[sailaway78]

Coastal cruising

I have done the entire US coast line from the Mexican border to Long Island Sound. Down the east coast twice, first time from Long Island Sound, second time from NJ. All of the gulf coast many times. There are many, many things I have yet to see, and lots of nice folks to meet. While I do understand the desire to cross oceans, and do much more long distance sailing than a 800 or 900 mile run across the gulf, I have no desire to do so. To each his own. I have more things I would like to see, and places I would like to go than I have years left. So for me, the longest thing I have planned is to get to the Yucatan, and Belize this winter.

 

[ITMaster]

I'm with you Ross; has anyone been everywhere there is to go here on the Bay? We have one of the most unique pristine places in the world. Like how many people can go on vacation and not have to leave? I'm not sure what he was trying to prove or who he was trying to impress, but to just jump in somewhere with a tight nit group like this one that has been together for the better part of ten or more years and expect to get away with it? Come on, I guess we all just got off the train yesterday!
I actually was in need of some humor and entertaining and found the whole thing quite amusing LOL.
Not much to look at out there other than the horizon either. I like a nice snug cozy anchorage any day of the week.

 

[Ross]

When visibility is less than five miles you can imagine almost any large body of water as ocean and enjoy sailing out of sight of land and other boats and experience the feeling for a short time what sailing across an ocean for a month would be like. If like our erstwhile friend claimed, you sail 10,000 miles with just three stops, what is the point of going anywhere. I asked if he had sailed the Wye river and he ducked the question but the Wye and the Tred Avon river are cheek by jowl and St. Michaels is close by and all is only a straight sail across the bay from his claimed home port of Annapolis less than a day sail away. In just a couple of hours you can go from a remote wilderness area to a bustling town with all of the attractions anyone could need.

 

[rpwillia]

Is it possible to go from ...

the Chesapeake Bay, through the canal, up the Delaware River and then ... up to New York City Inland? I read an article they used to do it, but not sure that path is still viable.

I am thinking that would be an interesting trip, and that is some pretty country after you pass Philly - not that I don't like Philly.

 

[RichH]

...... you sail 10,000 miles with just three stops, what is the point of going anywhere.

Sailing is where the boat IS, doesnt matter the specific place.

Open Ocean - whales, dolphins & porpoises, gannets, guillemots, storm petrels (the largest population of any particular bird species on the entire earth .. and only ~7" long), sharks that 'fin' along after your boat, the endless bioluminescence ('silverheels') that follows your boat at night, each different and varying 'culture' (some good, some bad) in the various ports around the world, dolphins (best tasting fish - IMHO) and flying fish that you have to throw overboard from the deck in the morning, the incredible night sky when its clear and moonless, spiney lobster salad, conch salad, cold water lobster rolls, blue crab cakes and 'backfin' meat, 'de iland people', mon., the warm open hospitality of the Maniacs, New Brunswickers / Nova Scotians / Newfies, or ditto VA/NC/SC/GA and the eastern shore of Maryland, etc. etc. etc. ... Someday Im going to have a beer with Nice&Easy at anchor in the "gulf", etc.
Doesnt matter if you do your sailing on a small inland lake, a river, or a heavily polluted and grossly fouled and 'stinky' bay such as the Chesapeake ... what matters is that you are living your dream, you are the master of your vessel, you are safe and comfortable .... and you are SAILING. Every sailing venue is the 'best' where each of us actually sails ....

Sailing is not the 'destination' its the 'journey'; no matter how far or short that 'journey' may be.

 

[RichH]

the Chesapeake Bay, through the canal, up the Delaware River and then ... up to New York City Inland? I read an article they used to do it, but not sure that path is still viable.

I am thinking that would be an interesting trip, and that is some pretty country after you pass Philly - not that I don't like Philly.

The original track of the ICW was to go 'up' the Delaware River, past Filthadelphia, past Trenton and enter the Raritan Canal to cross Noo Joisey --- just like Interstate 95, didnt happen in NJ. The Raritan Canal was a shallow (mule powered) barge canal used to bring anthracite coal from NE Penna to NYC ... it was privately owned and fell apart after the Lehigh Coal and Transportation Co. went bankrupt. You can still bicycle or XC ski, etc. along the old tow paths.

 

[Ross]

My point in this post is/was that if you haven't visited the local museums because you don't care that much about museums why go to France to see the Louvre? Why sail to Europe to explore the places there if you haven't even sailed across the bay to visit the places close to home? Why travel to Tibet to climb a mountain if you don't go hiking at home? If it is for bragging rights then please don't include me in your travel tale.

 

[gpd955]

I am thinking that would be an interesting trip, and that is some pretty country after you pass Philly - not that I don't like Philly.

Actually the Philly side isn't that bad either, for a bit of history. You'll see the old Philadelphia Naval Yard, now a shipbuilder that just got some big commercial contracts so they'll be active. The Battleship NJ (on the Jersey side), the Moshulu (tall ship now restaurant), the Olympia (Spanish-American war US cruiser), the sub Becuna (WWII), the oceanliner United States (old and unused, still impressive though), and USCG base are all up in Penns Landing area. Commercial traffic is there but not too bad. Just watch the current.

It may not be beautiful landscape but you won't be sailing through the inner city either! Once you get past Camden and Pennsauken on the Jersey side, you'll start to see the landscape of the NJ river towns, which are fairly nice.

And hey, if you time it right and let me know, I will come up to that area (my land residence is about 15mi away) and wave and throw beers to you!

 

[Stu Jackson]

And hey, if you time it right and let me know, I will come up to that area (my land residence is about 15mi away) and wave and throw beers to you!

Hey, Jack, I'm on my way. Could take a while...

 

[gpd955]

You gotta go around the Horn to get here though. No canal!