VIEWS FROM THE CREW: Fall Cruise on SIGMACHI... Alan & Jeanne Cecil: Day# 1.....

Land of my paternal ancestors,...Dorchester County, Little Choptank River, Church Creek and James Island.

Amazingly clear Autumn windless, warm and clear day was what the crew of SIGMACHI experienced on our 1st day of Fall cruising the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland .  We didn't get away from the slip at Nabbs Creek in northeastern Anne Arundel County  until almost 12 Noon on Friday Oct 8th, 2021 mostly  because my " Co- Captain Jeanne" was tied up with her real-estate business in Western Baltimore County Maryland!

Heh, Jeanne's business keeps those DD Johnson & Towers 6 -71 twin diesels in the bilge of SIGMACHI purring...

In a fuel conservation move I piloted SIGMACHI at 1,100 RPM  for the entire day from the time SIGMACHI cleared the Stoney Creek Draw Bridge with the blessing of the Draw Bridge Operator wishing us a good trip! We shall see what we shall see on the fuel burn rate when we fill up at Somers Cove Marina, our principle destination, fot three or four days for the J. Millard Tawes Crab Feast on Oct.23.  It is one of my bucket list items ... that particular crab feast draws hundreds of folks to enjoy those  premiere crustaceans  know as steamed blue crabs and talk politics!

With about 55 miles down of the smooth waters down today in perfect cruising weather; tomorrow perhaps some thunder storms... With a happy crew and a content ship's cat , Molly, we'll first try to properly fill the air chambers of our  RIB (dinghy) and position it properly on the swim platform.  We want to explore some of the upper reaches of bays, rivers, sounds, and beaches that SIGMACHI  can't navigate!

October is my favorite time to cruise the Chesapeake.  Gone are many of the crowds & the penetrating heat with ever-present humidity!  Tonight, as I write, we are in Madison Bay off of the Little Choptank River near Church Creek we turned the air- conditioners "off" and our open sliding salon windows let a cool breeze circulate. Ah, life is good!

At the mouth of the Little Choptank is the mostly disappeared James Island.  I so would like to visit what little of it is left....it is part  of my " paternal family history." In colonial times, Thomas Pattison was given a "patent" (land grant) by the Royal Governor on James Island.  My father's lineage dates  back to the Pattison and North  families!

OK, all for this evening.

Tight Lines!

Alan
Alan & Jeanne Cecil
M/V SIGMACHI
(AGLCA, MTOA, RMHYC,  & LCYC)


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