Sonora's Chesapeake Bay DMV Penninsula Circumnavigation

[svsonora]

My countdown has begun! I'm waiting for a work project to end. After that, 5 days of cleaning up, checking up a few things, installing pad eyes for a loop around the boom for a preventer at the end of my boom, I'll be off! I'm taking up to a month to do this so I can enjoy different cities.

I would LOVE some tips on anchoring, etc. I know norfolk and baltimore pretty well, but not much else. Everything I have planned so far is from looking at activecaptain, charts, and cruising guides.

I am planning on anchoring whenever I can. Taking a slip is last resort.

Current plans

1. Baltimore. I live 1 hour south of here, so it isn't much of a faraway destination but I love being there on the water. I have friends there and have spent a lot of time there on Sonora, so I have it pretty well covered. However, if I can get some info on where this public shower at the finger piers at the Bmore harbormaster's office is, at inner harbor.

2. C&D Canal. I did a lot of reading on this. Have a couple of anchorages picked out to wait out tides. Am I correct in that I should time it so that I have ebb tide and outflow current at the DE River? Suck it up and go counter current at the canal itself if I have to?

3. Cape May. I think I have it figured out, but I am still trying to find dinghy access to shore, etc. Probably spend 3 days or so here.

4. Ocean City, MD - I might skip this one, but check on shore conditions (avoid westerly winds + ebb tide at inlet) before attempting entry. SEems that I can turn left after inlet and anchor by the southern channel, or go up to Isle of Wight Bay and find anchorage there. Once again, what are the dinghy access areas here? My friend may let me use his beach home temporarily for laundry, rest, etc. Showers? It'll be the first time I've seen clear water under my hull since I left Florida. Any snorkeling options? as much as I love young people nightlife, I don't know if Ocean city nightlife is really my scene. Woudl be nice to go fishing, swimming, etc.

5. Norfolk - my favorite chesapeake bay destination. There is an active salsa dance scene there so I'm going to have a blast relaxing by hospital point.

6. Tangier Island - I've been meaning to visit here. Looks like I can anchor on the south side and beach the dinghy, walk north to the island. The other option is to pick up a slip. Slip sounds appealing. Everyone is telling me its a '1 day' stop and there isn't much else to do. I have friends that really wanna come out and take the ferry over. We'd spend a weekend there. If it isn't worth it, I'll skip meeting my friends.

7. May stop by Solomons, MD, but I've been here plenty of times. Eastern shore might be a better plan. St Michaels before I tuck back in to the West River, where my home port is.

I'll update this thread with logs, links to position updates, etc. I'd LOVE and GREATLY APPRECIATE any input you have! Thank you.