After having conversations with Shirley and Tony on “Puffin” it was decide that we would back track slightly and head to Rock Hall, MD and try our first mooring ball. We pulled our lines and headed east to cross the Chesapeake. The weather wasn’t as kind today as it has been over the last few days. The wind was strong at 12-20 knots and the seas were 1-2 feet with chances of 3 feet. We headed ESE across the Chesapeake for our short trek of 20 NM. The winds were out of the south so our crossing was very rolly. We turned up Swan Creek to our mooring field at the Swan Creek Marina. After finding our designated mooring ball our first attempt at mooring began. Maria was nervous but with the wind coming out of the south I was able to position the boat into the wind and Maria using our new mooring bridle grabbed it on her 1st try and was able to pull up the slimy line and clip the eye. After a few celebratory “atta boy’s” we added an emergency line and shut down the boat.
Not only was this our 1st mooring ball but it was also the 1st time to release the dinghy and explore the creek.
Swan Creek Marina is a small marina nestled in a small harbor on the north side of Rock Hall, MD. There were a couple loaner bikes so we took a short ride into the town center and did some provisioning for the boat. As has been our luck it was a week day and most of the market areas were not open. After settling back on our boat we met up with Tony and Shirley and had a great happy hour meal at the Blue Heron Oyster House and Inn. After we took a nice bike ride around the southern shore. After returning to the boats we got the dinghys out for impromptu dinghy races. On our second day I made a trip to the West Marine and picked up needed maintenance items. We hooked up with Tony and Shirley for another long bike ride to the southern shore to the Admirals Club Beachside Bar. It is a new bar and did not have the kitchen in operation but did have a food truck on site. After a night cap at the Harbor Shack we returned to our boats before a phenomenal sunset and dinghy rides.
It was another great stay in a small town on the Chesapeake and time to rest up for another day on the Loop.