May 11, 2017 Knapps Narrows, MD to Delaware City, DE to Cape May, NJ to Atlantic City, NJ

Well the weather final cleared and after 6 days at Knapps Narrows on Tilghman Island, MD we made our escape back into the Chesapeake Bay.  Lovely place and great people but time to move on.

Knapps Narrows, MD - high waters and winds.  Independence last boat on pier.

Knapps Narrows, MD - Draw bridge next to marina.  Water level so high can't see channel call numbers, the blue and white sign should be showing 13 and 16.

Farwell to Knapps Narrows at the crack of dawn on the 8th.

Once back in the bay we headed to Delaware City, DE.  It was a long run up the northern bay and through the C&D Canal but worth it to get back to about where we thought we would be.  Weather was clear and though a bit breezy, no one got thrown around and Roofus kept her breakfast.  All and all not a bad trip.  We met up with Foster and Susan, gold loopers, for docktails and dinner.  Lovely couple and they did not mind our thousand and one questions about their experiences.  Did learn that we have to try Butter Tarts in Canada, specifically in Campbell Ford on the Trent-Severn.  Can't really explain what a butter tart is but sounds decadent and definitely not calorie free.  :)

The next day dawned clear and calm with spring temperatures.  It turned out to be our best day on the water yet.  We headed south into the Delaware Bay with our goal of docking at Cape May, NJ.  The water was like glass.  It has given me hope that not all days underway will be bumpy.  We encountered several pods of dolphins the closer we got to Cape May.  I didn't get any pictures as they we much quicker than I was with the camera.  Maybe next time.  We slipped in at Uscth's Marina where we docked between two gold loopers!  One couple from Canada and the other on their way home to New York.  We had dinner with our New York gold loopers, Marji and Ron, at the Lobster House.  The seafood was awesome as was the company. 

Salem nuclear power plan on the Delaware Bay in NJ.  Notice the calm, calm water.

Skip John Shoal lighthouse, NJ built in 1877 was auctioned to the public back in 2012.  How cool would it be to live here?!

Heading to Cape May.  The water is like glass.  Can hardly tell the bay from the sky.  This is where we saw the dolphins.

Cape May ferry.  Have been on it so was kinda weird to be on the water with it.  We definitely gave it a wide berth.

For a second evening we had the advantage of hearing Ron and Marji's experiences and a chance to ask lots of questions.  One great piece of advice we got was about navigating the Atlantic Ocean, which I frankly was not looking forward to.  In addition to the ocean run fears, there is bad weather headed this way.  We weren't sure what our goal should be for the next couple of days but had agreed on trying to get to Staten Island, NY by Friday and wait out the weather there.  After Ken talked to Ron, we realized that was WAY too aggressive.  So we headed for Atlantic City, NJ.  The ride was a bit bumpy, but still not as bad as the run to Knapps Narrows (our gold standard for crappy so far, or should I say, the black standard).  Since this was a short run, 43 miles, we docked a little after 11:00am.  We will be here till the weather clears out which at this point may not be until next Tuesday.  The marina is next to the Golden Nugget Casino so there may have to be a little bit of slot machine fun in my future.  Oh, Ron and Marji are docked right behind us so looking forward to docktails too.  :)

PS from Roofus.

Ok, I don't need rescued at the moment but 3 different dockings in 3 days is a bit much.  I want to go back to Knapps Narrows, at least I got used to the same patch of green grass for almost a week.  This having a new spot to explore each day is for the birds or squirrels, as they were fearless in Delaware City, and almost as big as me.  But Linda has promised me that we will be staying put for a few days, so no complaints.  Besides, I got a doggie bag the last 2 days and both had seafood.  I like it when they eat out!