October 3rd, Thursday - Arrived
at Wye Landing about 9 AM - the parking area by the ramp was full and cars/trucks
/trailers lined the side of the road for 1/4 mile before the landing!
I launched Shorebird about 9:30 and drove my car up the road to the first
available parking spot. Instead of heading right out onto the river
I thought I’d explore up the Wye East River. There was no wind so
I fired up the motor and chugged slowly up river. After the first
mile or so there are no homes visible from the water and I noted several
nice coves and niches for possible future anchorages. This would be
a good spot to head for if I was to launch late in the day and just wanted
to “splash and crash”, then go sailing the next day. Eventually the
rudder kicked up and the O/B started churning up mud so it was time to head
back out. I stopped back by Wye Landing and saw that there were now
several parking spots open right at the ramp area, so I beached Shorebird
and jogged up the road to move my car/trailer. That done, I motored
through Wye Narrows and under the bridge. Engine off - sail up!
The wind’s right on the nose (and light) but I don’t care - I’ve heard enough
O/B racket for today - let’s sail! Explored several small coves
on both sides of the narrows and just as I approached my destination - No
Name Cove #3 - on the island side, the wind disappeared and the narrows became
a sheet of glass. Oh well! That’s why I have that noisey S.O.B.
hangin’ off the side of my boat - fired it up one more time and chugged
into the cove. I noticed a shady spot under some oaks with a nice
sandy beach so I nudged Shorebird’s nose up in there and tied off to a
sassafrass tree.
I found a trail that led up from
the waters edge, not 50 yards up the trail were a fire pit completely stocked
with wood and some picnic tables. Judi would love this - peace, quiet
and a chance to get off the boat! I followed the trail out to a gravel
road, there were two outhouses and a sign identifying this place as the Solo
Cove campsite, part of the Wye Island NRMA. So..... my little hiding spot
is named Solo Cove! Perfect since I’ve been solo every time I’ve stayed
here. The birdsong in here is unbelievable - screeching, cawing, singing,
honking, chirping, woodpeckers drumming - very entertaining. I plan
to stay put until the sun gets down below the trees then move out into the
cove and put an anchor down. Right now a good book and a cold beer
are calling! Oh! - Forgot to mention the pleasant swim after my
hike - clean water, shallow cove (4-5 ft) and no nettles - very refreshing.
October 4th, Friday - Awoke to
a foggy haze clinging to the water’s surface, light breeze from the east.
Took my time getting going - coffee and a good hot breakfast then some cleaning
and stowing. Had a pair of Barred Owls in the trees nearby, very
unique call! Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo - hoo hoo-wul! Again in the AM. Red,
orange and yellow leaves wander the creeks surface, the first signs of fall.
I was on the fence as to just motoring back to Wye Landing or sailing around
the rest of Wye Island - motored out into the river and decided to sail around!
Had a fun sail (fast!). Wind was 10-15 from the East then SW then
SE - in other words - I saw it all. The boat loved it and heeled
over and flew up the south side of the island. Had one “incident”
when my rudder blade caught a crab pot marker - the wind was honkin’ and
I thought I might broach but I was able to get to the rudder’s uphaul
pennant in time and we shed the unwanted passenger and continued on.
Crab pot markers on all parts of the Wye looked like a minefield at times!
This is the first time I ever snagged one and I’ll make sure not to do that
again! I made it to Wye Landing shortly after noon - 4 hours to sail
2/3's of the way around the island and much of it upwind - not bad!
If this was my last sail of the year, then it was a good one. Much
fun! MASCF tomorrow.
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