Quiet Waters Park to Shaw Bay

Our stay in Quiet Waters Park was a mixed blessing. We were thrilled to see the miles of expansive park that surrounded our little anchorage and knew this was the perfect place for Marie to bring the kids, and only a three hour drive from where she was visiting. As for us, not only is the West Marine within a mile or so walking distance, but so are some good eats at ‘Gramps’ and the Giant grocery is just around that corner. We hit ‘Tiffany’s for Boaters,’ dined on eggs benedict and did some provisioning including preparations for the kids. On our way back, we met a mother a son on the long park path. With camera in hand, she was attempting to digitally capture the local species of birds, including a particular woodpecker. Her son seemed to have an endless arsenal of rapid fire of questions when it seemed to hit him that we really had a boat anchored close. We offered to show them Hold Fast. His mom sized us up, and then put us in her vehicle to drive us to the end of the park and location of our dingy. Her son was not timid and wanted to see and understand everything on the boat. It was great fun!

Coming to this anchorage was part of our ‘plan’ to meet Marie and the kids on Saturday. It was not to be. Marie’s car had other plans. Plans that required temporary fixes until a proper fix was arranged, all before she made her long journey back to Jacksonville. We exchanged emails, left each other messages and finally talked on the phone. The closest we got to the kids that weekend was to hear their squeals in the background on the phone. Plan B is to meet in Jacksonville sometime in October. In the meantime, there is always Skype.

We had been warned that this anchorage would be busy over the weekend as it was a favorite place by the locals. A fair warning. Boats of all types came and went. Even with the turnaround of boats, there tended to be about 20-25 boats in the anchorage at any time during the day. At night, it was reduced to six or so. We feel blessed to have met a local couple that frequent the spot. They are interested in moving from a Rinker 31 to a trawler in a few years and doing some coastal cruising and/or the Loop. We tried to help them with any questions or concerns they might have. In the process, we were able to share with each other our love for Christ. This opened all kinds of doors for discussion. We spent Saturday evening and all Sunday with them, talking about boats and the Bible, and they fed us a wonderful meal. By dusk, they were the last boat to leave the anchorage. Suddenly we were completely alone in the anchorage that had been so vibrant during the weekend. I think I know now how mom felt when everyone left her house after Christmas. You do not want it to end, knowing very well it will, then seem surprised by the loneliness. We worked silently stowing the dingy and engine and preparing for our sail the next day. Sad it was over but thanking God we had met new friends that we will never forget. We hope to see them again, either on the Chesapeake or out on mission.

Today’s sail was the best we had yet on the Chesapeake. Winds were NW and most of the time we could keep our course on some doable point of sail. A lot of jibing and only about 45 minutes of patiently waiting on better wind when we dropped down to two knots of speed. It was such a fair sailing day that one sailboat came out of their way to cross out path and say ‘hello.’ Shaw Bay is a fairly open anchorage, plenty of room. There are four other boats anchored here tonight, most of us sailed all the way up to the anchorage. Some days we are frustrated with Hold Fast. Today, she redeemed herself. Another blessing!

From Quiet Waters Park to Shaw Bay

So far, our Alfa long-distance wi-fi is working flawlessly.

Love to all,
Dena

{GMST}38|51.375|N|076|11.072|W|Anchored|Shaw Bay{GEND}
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