Provisioning on the Chesapeake

[Sparx]

We are planning a fall cruise on the Chesapeake. The question of provisioning stops has come up. We are looking for suggestions for places to get groceries within reasonable walking distance from an anchorage or dinghy landing.

We have gotten a slip at marinas and used courtesy cars to provision. But here I am asking about places that do not require using a marina. The ideal would be a place to land the dinghy with short walk to the store.

For example Rock Hall has a nice grocery, but I dont know of an access point where we could land the dinghy within reasonable walking distance.

Annapolis? Is there still a bus that runs out by the Giant store? Other suggestions?

Deale?

Solomons?

Cambridge has a small and expensive market downtown. The full on Food Lion grocery is a bit of a hike from the city dock. There may be a closer access point.

[AA3JY]

Tie up at the free harbor bulkhead or tie up to one of Waterman's Restaurant slips for lunch..that will be the closest point to the grocery store in Rock Hall.

[Creedence]

You are firmly in “if you get lost, just pull in some where’s and ask directions” territory! Not to sound pedantic. But you cannot pull into a marina in the Chesapeake and fail to find a great spot.

I’d load the boat up for 4-5 days of self sustainability just to be safe should you really feel compelled to anchor (bring a crab trap too!), but you can easily load up at any of the marinas there.

So many great memories over there make me truly envious of you. Go out and have fun. Don’t over think it, it’s a very permissive cruising ground. (Of course never under think it too).

I also really recommend a stop at Tangier Island as well.

Have fun!!

And I just re-read your post about the marina avoidance. Annapolis is very easy to anchor in and runs. Dinghy to the municipal sea wall. I recommend Hampton,VA too!

[Bean Counter]

Do you have Active Captain, if not it is worth getting for all these sorts of questions.

[Sparx]

Originally Posted by AA3JY

Tie up at the free harbor bulkhead or tie up to one of Waterman's Restaurant slips for lunch..that will be the closest point to the grocery store in Rock Hall.

I had forgotten about the Rock Hall town wharf. So thanks for the suggestion. With our catamaran beam we dont fit in most slips, but the wharf we can do. I have not been in Rock Hall harbor before but have visited the town a few times.

[Cuvee]

In St Michaels, Graul's Market is 1.6 miles from the public dinghy dock next to the Crab Claw Restaurant. Uber is available in St Michael.

Unfortunately, the downtown Acme Market that was a 5 minute walk from the dinghy dock closed in 2017.

[Bill O]

If you have uber/lift/car you can go lots of places. If you have bikes these are also doable.

To list a few:

MD.
Annapolis by car.
St. Michaels by car.
Solomons by car.
Leonardtown (Potomac) by car, public transportation

VA.
Irvington by car, public transportation to Kilmarnock
Urbanna walking distance
Deltaville by car (Deltaville Marina has a loaner car available)
Hampton by car

[thomm225]

You've named a bunch of places in the northern part of the bay.

If you will be venturing down into Virginia and the lower bay, there's a Harris Teeter Grocery Store and a Rite Aids plus Sub Way etc that you can see from your boat and if the wind is Southerly, it's a nice calm anchorage with a park right on the water.

You could take turns going to the store and staying with the dinghy etc

There's also a Pizza place and post office nearby .......and a McDonalds plus an ABC Store!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ha...!4d-76.2537957

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by thomm225

You've named a bunch of places in the northern part of the bay.

If you will be venturing down into Virginia and the lower bay, there's a Harris Teeter Grocery Store and a Rite Aids plus Sub Way etc that you can see from your boat and if the wind is Southerly, it's a nice calm anchorage with a park right on the water.

You could take turns going to the store and staying with the dinghy etc

There's also a Pizza place and post office nearby .......and a McDonalds plus an ABC Store!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ha...!4d-76.2537957

Forgot about that one. Typically that's a car ride from one of the marinas in Little Creek, but a good provisioning stop coming in/before you leave the bay. Usually someone from the marina will drive you to the store.
Never tired it from the dinghy though.

[TheOffice]

Not sure about a bus for the Annapolis Giant. If you use the dinghy dock to the left of Jabin's in Eastport you are about 1 mile away from Giant. Or anchor in Weems Creek and you are close to Graul's.

[brazenarticle]

I was pleasantly surprised how well Uber worked out for provisioning trips while cruising. Not many places still have loaner cars and the big grocery stores seem to usually be at least a couple miles from dinghy spots.
One suggestion - if you don't already have the Uber app on your phone set it up before heading out.

[thomm225]

Oh and there's a laundry mat there as well if you can believe it.

Right on the water! You can park your dinghy in front of it!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/So...!4d-76.2537957

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Forgot about that one. Typically that's a car ride from one of the marinas in Little Creek, but a good provisioning stop coming in/before you leave the bay. Usually someone from the marina will drive you to the store.
Never tired it from the dinghy though.

This place is west from Little Creek a few miles.

There's the Food Lion near Little Creek and Salty Dog for sailboat parts etc. If he doesn't have it, he'll order it for you and many times can get it in a day

[Woodland Hills]

I had a coughing Uber driver who gave me a terrible flu last year, how do you keep from getting Covid in an Uber? I’m guessing it’s still warm enough down there to roil all the windows down? Don’t forget that you will need two cars: one to get there and one to get back. That will get you two tickets for the Covid lottery not one.....

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by thomm225

This place is west from Little Creek a few miles.

There's the Food Lion near Little Creek and Salty Dog for sailboat parts etc. If he doesn't have it, he'll order it for you and many times can get it in a day

Yes I'm aware of that and why you need a car to get to the stores.