West River to Solomons Island

We had a quiet night on the West River. We got underway at 0930. Some watermen were hauling in their crab pots near the river's mouth. They were the first we have seen since we returned to the Bay. Their deadrise boat was a pleasant and familiar sight - one we hadn't seen for a long time. We also encountered a fishtrap established on a shallow area just off the marked channel. These fish traps are a real hazard because they are sometimes hard to see in the day and impossible to see at night.

Watermen at Work

We were able to sail for almost an hour as we headed a few miles out into the Bay before setting a course for Solomons Island. The wind was against us for the next seven hours. So, we motored on like everyone of the other southbound boats we encountered. More and more sailboats started to appear the closer we got to Solomons. A total of six sailboats converged on the entrance channel along with us. Half of these went up Back Creek to get slips and the rest headed up Mills Creek to anchor.

Fish Trap

We went up Back Creek to refuel, pump-out, take on water and dipose of our trash. We then re-traced our course to find a spot on Mills Creek to anchor for the night. Four sloops were anchored just inside the mouth of Mill Creek. We saw several others anchored further upstream. We eventually dropped the hook in about 10 foot of water a short distance from the creek's head. It was a very quiet spot and we were alone at anchor. It will take us a while to work our way back to the Bay but the beautiful setting was worth the extra time. We love exploring the rivers and creeks of the Bay.

Homes on the Bluffs - Patuxent River