My friend who I spend that amazing day with in Saint Michaels has pointed out a problem with this blog. I’ve already used up all the big words, stupendous, incredible, etc. That kind of backs me into a corner if things get better. XL used to be largest clothing size but, after McDonalds and TV, they had to start adding X’s on the front. Maybe that will work for me but, until I decide, I’m a bit at a loss for how to describe this portion of the trip.
We ran up through the (insert big word of your choice here) river portion to Deep Creek Lock where we expected to tie up for the night and make the day’s first locking. When it came into sight, however, the gates were open, the green light was on, and the radio was saying, “Come on in.” We made it by 10 minutes. As I told the couple currently cruising in company with me, “Stick close to me, I always have good luck.”
I’d spend some time awake in the very early morning g worrying about how to handle a lock singlehanded, having been through many. Once I stopped trying to think and apply my experience and just listened to the lock tender (after a gentle suggestion on his part), it went as smoothly as you could wish.
We were ready to untie the lines and waiting for the gate to open but the lock tender came over, stood between the boats, and said, “What would you like to know.” We then sat there enthralled for the better part of an hour while he told us the history of the canal and the area in such an entertaining style that we could easily have sat through another hour if the sun wasn’t dipping behind the trees.
We spent the night tied up just above the lock and woke to the first frost I’ve seen on the decks this trip. The run down to the visitor’s center was (insert more big words here). The canal is only about the width of three traffic lanes and the shoulders are full of fallen and overhanging trees. It wasn’t nearly as difficult as I expected however. The cut is so straight that I was able to set the autopilot which I could overpower just enough to adjust my position in the channel and avoid trees, both wet and dry.
We spent the night at the visitor’s center after a stroll around the boardwalk and trails. We plan to go back up to the feeder canal today and take their dinghy up into Lake Drummond.
I can’t believe how many experienced ICW travelers told me not to come this way. It’s a good example of why even the best advice should always be taken with a good deal of consideration of other points of view and your particular circumstances.
I have some great pictures, worth 10,000 words, as they say. I’ll update this post with some of them so check back.
As promised, here are the pictures of the first day.
Locking in the evening before at Deep Creek Lock.:
Dawn at the landing above the lock. (Photo by Lynn Zemlin)
I woke to the first frost on the decks of the trip:
Deep Creek Lock at dawn:
"Serendipity, Lee and Lynn's Bristol 38.8 that I have been traveling with for several days:
Sunrise and mist on the canal:
Ready to depart:
Canal level control structure:
The Deep Creek Bridge:
The view ahead:
The view astern:
Another state passed with out Strider's keel ever contacting it:
We ran up through the (insert big word of your choice here) river portion to Deep Creek Lock where we expected to tie up for the night and make the day’s first locking. When it came into sight, however, the gates were open, the green light was on, and the radio was saying, “Come on in.” We made it by 10 minutes. As I told the couple currently cruising in company with me, “Stick close to me, I always have good luck.”
I’d spend some time awake in the very early morning g worrying about how to handle a lock singlehanded, having been through many. Once I stopped trying to think and apply my experience and just listened to the lock tender (after a gentle suggestion on his part), it went as smoothly as you could wish.
We were ready to untie the lines and waiting for the gate to open but the lock tender came over, stood between the boats, and said, “What would you like to know.” We then sat there enthralled for the better part of an hour while he told us the history of the canal and the area in such an entertaining style that we could easily have sat through another hour if the sun wasn’t dipping behind the trees.
We spent the night tied up just above the lock and woke to the first frost I’ve seen on the decks this trip. The run down to the visitor’s center was (insert more big words here). The canal is only about the width of three traffic lanes and the shoulders are full of fallen and overhanging trees. It wasn’t nearly as difficult as I expected however. The cut is so straight that I was able to set the autopilot which I could overpower just enough to adjust my position in the channel and avoid trees, both wet and dry.
We spent the night at the visitor’s center after a stroll around the boardwalk and trails. We plan to go back up to the feeder canal today and take their dinghy up into Lake Drummond.
I can’t believe how many experienced ICW travelers told me not to come this way. It’s a good example of why even the best advice should always be taken with a good deal of consideration of other points of view and your particular circumstances.
I have some great pictures, worth 10,000 words, as they say. I’ll update this post with some of them so check back.
As promised, here are the pictures of the first day.
Locking in the evening before at Deep Creek Lock.:
Dawn at the landing above the lock. (Photo by Lynn Zemlin)
I woke to the first frost on the decks of the trip:
Deep Creek Lock at dawn:
"Serendipity, Lee and Lynn's Bristol 38.8 that I have been traveling with for several days:
Sunrise and mist on the canal:
Ready to depart:
Canal level control structure:
The Deep Creek Bridge:
The view ahead:
The view astern:
Another state passed with out Strider's keel ever contacting it:
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