Saturday, June 28, 2014 (St. Michaels, MD, to Cape May, NJ): Once again weather outfoxes our desire to lay low for the Sabbath. St. Michaels would have made an ideal stop. The prediction of high winds ahead of Hurricane Arthur, which is a strengthening tropical storm at the moment, causes us to follow the good weather.

Friday, June 27, 2014 (Onancock to St. Michaels, MD): We depart Onancock at 07:15 bound for St. Michaels. The day bears no similarity to yesterday. There isn't a breath of wind or a cloud in the sky. We amble out the creek and say good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Osprey and ease out into an oiled bay. At 30 knots we have good water and keep an eye out for fish weirs,

Thursday, June 26, 2014 (Virginia Beach to Onancock): After a delightful 3 days with friends Judy and Mike at their yacht club we head out at 08:20, bound for Onancock on the eastern Virginia shore. The forecast couldn't be better. Without a cloud in the sky, fitful breezes mostly out of the west leave cat's paws on the glistening surface of Lynnhaven Bay. Turning into the Chesapeake, we are greeted by flat calm. Since our route will take us up the eastern shore past Cape Charles we choose to pass through the Bay Bridge Tunnel in the Chesapeake Channel between the second and third "islands." As soon as we pass beneath the bridge complex

Monday, June 23, 2014 (Atlantic Yacht Basin to Virginia Beach): North- or southbound in the stretch between Chesapeake and Norfolk, traffic passes through the Great Bridge Lock and a number of lift bridges on a schedule. Schedules do vary with season and are published at http://www.offshoreblue.com/ under the cruising tab.

Sunday, June 22, 2014 (Dowry Creek to Chesapeake, VA): We leave Dowry Creek at 06:30 in the calm after the storm.The mirror surface of the Pungo River and the Alligator-Pungo Canal is broken only by the occasional fish jumping. Captain Pilot Blackthorne (autopilot) at the helm is programmed to the entrance of the canal. He never makes a mistake. We enjoy a leisurely breakfast of toast and cheese washed down with rich cappucino while watching the scenery and the water ahead. Trees in the distance poke through a layer of mist