Friday, June 12 - Chesapeake City, DE (C&D Canal) to Cape May, NJ (Lutsch's Marina)

This morning the canal is calm (headed into a strong strong current-but no biggie).  i really like the canal, it reminds me of the ICW and i feel safer than in those big waters.

I’m going to say right now before we are dumped into the ‘big waters’ of the Delaware Bay (much like the Chesapeake Bay) that from all the weather apps i’ve studied for today, i’m on the fence as to whether we should have pulled out or not.  wind knots of 10-15-17 expected in the bay.  i just don't have enough experience right now to be able to know what they feel like and what wave height that speed of wind produces.  so….i’m gambling.  i hope i lose and Harry is right, that the waters will be tolerable.

Disclosure - sorry about going back and forth in my sentence ‘tenses’ - when i write as we go, of course it’s present and then when i go back a few days later to post - i change to past tense and surely miss so much.  so please excuse that.

We made it to Cape May….and glad to report Harry won the bet!!!  Waters were fine! i was never scared and could even read a bit.  and this was big water - Delaware Bay.  They were a bit more choppy than the calm previous days but it did not bother me a bit.

As soon as we got in front of the marina the waters got really shallow and the winds really, really whipped up, (not a good combo) and we were in the cape may harbor!  the entrance was a tiny opening and then no one was around to lead us to our slip and so we went passed it. Harry had to turn around in this tiny marina (I think 60 ft was the largest boat length they take!) to return to our slip.  it was very scary, especially for him.  but he did great and we finally got in with a lot of help from dock hands - the wind was amazing how quickly it whipped up.  The marina guys said there was a fishing tournament going on and could only imagine how those guys on the ‘outside’ were faring in these gust winds.  thank goodness we were in - timing is amazing - if winds are going to whip up they usually do it in the afternoon.

The marina is not in downtown Cape May but out a bit but there are two restaurants nearby that seem good.  Highly recommend this marina - family owned and people go out of their way to help you.  They gave us a gift bag upon registering.  Cranberry wine, Cape May soap, biscotti, newspaper, Cape May map and restaurant guide.  very nice.  i figure the wine will make good salad dressing.  

We plan to stay over and see what’s up with Cape May.