06/03 - 06/05 Eastern Shore, Maryland gathering

Pat and Patty --
You'll be putting in Otter near Lankford -- where will you be taking Otter out?

Terraplane Tom --
We'll probably be parking in the field and launching nearby. ... depending upon where Otter will be coming out.
 
Well, we need to talk with Otter Tom about that...but we have been assuming it will come out at or near Alexandria...


El and Bill":25fjpbfi said:
Pat and Patty --
You'll be putting in Otter near Lankford -- where will you be taking Otter out?
Click to expand...
 
My personal thanks to Bill, El and Terraplane Tom (along with a few others) for replying on the general forum to my cry for help on our 30th anniversary trip. I've been hanging out here waaaay too much over the last year and feel like I already know a lot of you. For our anniversary June 7 I was leaning toward canal cruising on the Erie Canal (we went on the Thames two years ago and loved it) but how can I turn down a chance to finally see C-Dorys?

And the timing is (almost) perfect. We can fly in from the Dominican Republic to BWI around 7 PM on Friday night. So we'll be up for whatever on Saturday. We don't have a C-Dory (yet) but I was a white water raft guide for many years and would be happy to lend a hand. We love bird and wildlife watching, gunk-holing, history and old architecture.

This area sounds pefect ... so much so that I think we'll stay till Wednesday or Thursday. So any ideas on where to stay (an upscale B & B sounds great- this IS our 30th anniversary- not JUST my excuse to see be around C-Dorys), maybe a power day boat to rent, bird watching areas, etc would be appreciated.

Please let us know what we can bring and/or contribute.

Steve Toburen
Santiago, Dominican Republic
 
Pat, I think "Otter" Tom is out of town, at least I got an "out of office" e-mail response to a lunch invite early this week. He does a lot of travel with the State Dept. There's a ramp at his marina I think, just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge all the way up the Potomac which is the one he usually uses.

charlie
 
Steve --
Great to hear that you folks will be at Lankford. The locals will have to give you the input you need for b&b's etc. Where did you do your river guiding? My rafting days were on the Grand, Middle Fork, San Juan, and Desolation/Gray. So, looks like we share more than an interest in C-Dorys.
 
Tom, as requested, we plan on launching at "Long Cove" and storing our
trailer in your lot if that's OK. Also, I think we may try to arrive on Thursday if possible.

We just came back from our 3rd outing in our new C-Dory and I am more and more pleased each time. Spent the day down at Caladesi Island State Park, they've got floating docks and you can overnite there if you like..... I think the next time in a week or two we'll do just that; it will be a good first time test of the sleeping accomadations
 
Hi Steve,
Great to hear that you may join us, especially on your anniversary. Here’s some info that may help with your inquiries, including some web links.

First, the two major towns closest to our get-together are Rock Hall and Chestertown, both in Kent County. Since I live in Chestertown, I haven’t stayed in any of the B&Bs or inns – I’ve tried to pass on names of some that I’ve heard good things about, but suggest that you check them out on line and see what most appeals to you.

In the Chestertown area, which is teh county seat and probably has more to offer than Rock Hall, a general web source is: http://www.chestertown.com/lodging/ Two B&Bs that I’ve heard very nice things about are: Brampton Inn - http://www.bramptoninn.com/ and Lauretum - http://www.lauretuminn.com/

Both are outside of town, in pretty settings. If you’d like something in Chestertown itself, so that you can walk around and more easily visit restaurants, antiques stores, etc., a wonderful, older inn in the heart of Chestertown is the White Swan Tavern: http://www.whiteswantavern.com/
I’m a bit less familiar with B&Bs in Rock Hall, but a good link is:
http://www.rockhallmd.com/rhlodge/rhlodge.htm

As for boat rentals, that’s a tough one. Rolph’s Wharf Marina rents pontoon boats: http://www.rolphs.bizonthe.net/TrackerBoat.html
The only other local source I know is for sailboat charters in Rock Hall - http://www.sailingemporium.com/ and kayak rentals, which are available at three places listed at: http://kentcounty.com/paddling/Links.htm

You may have more luck with boat rentals down at Kent Narrows, about 35 minutes from Chestertown by car, but not too far from Lankford and Rock Hall by boat. Several places you might check with are:

Wild Duck Charters
210 Piney Narrows Road
Chester, MD 21619
Piney Narrows Marina
(410) 643-7200
Charter sail and power boats, (with and without captain), recently acquired 45' Coast Guard certified charter boat to carry 33 passengers plus crew of 3. May be chartered for pleasure, meetings, corporate affairs, very versatile.

Playpen Yacht Charters
422 Quarter Creek Drive
Queenstown, MD 21658
(410) 827-8827
48' Hatteras trawler with ski boat and all amenities. Half day, full day, overnight, tailored to your needs. Licensed captain, 25' boat also available.

Baker Charters and Marine
P.O. Box 303
Chester, MD 21619
Kent Narrows
(410) 827-8204
Enjoy a day on the Bay! Sportfishing, waterway tours, water taxis, hourly and daily rates. 7 days a week. April - Nov.

I haven’t been to one of these get-togethers before, but I suspect that you’ll find plenty of people willing to take you along on their C-Dory. We’re all proud parents and like to show off our babies, so I wouldn’t worry about needing a rental to avoid being left at the dock.

Hope these help. Tom knows Rock Hall much better than I, so he’ll probably have some good info.
 
It all started as a hobby to share with the family, Bill, and rapidly developed into an obsession. I didn't guide professionally till after I sold my business in 1991 and retired. When it came time to apply for my raft guide certification I had more than 4,000 miles in my log book. (And that was without a motor!)

Professional guiding was fun but did not even pay my phone bill. Now due to a frustrating tendonitis problem I'm not even sure I could row if I wanted to.

As a family we rafted the San Juan (many times), the Copper and Chitina in Alaska, the Yampa, Westwater, The Dolores (my personal favorite), the Arkansas, the Green and the Colorado both in the Grand Canyon (3 times) and Cataract Canyon. In fact, I almost drowned my son Matt, my wife Sioux and myself in Cataract during spring flood, (30,000 cfs) in a rapid with the unfortunate name "Satan's Gut".

After that I still rafted but quit being a "hair boater". Not worth it. We're hopeful a C-Dory will fulfill our passion for the water and wildlife but a little more tamely. I'm looking forward to meeting all you folks and your boats.

Steve Toburen

PS After eleven years working as a full time, unpaid volunteer here in the Dominican Republic about the only thing I miss of my previous life is rivers!
 
Whoops, John, sorry. I did not see your post until after I replied to Bill. Thanks for all the local knowledge.

Of coure, I have never even been in Maryland so all this Chesterton, Rock Hall etc. is leaving me a bit befuddled. Could someone tell me where these two towns are in relationship to where the marina is? Thanks in advance for your patience.

Steve
 
Otter lives at Belle Haven Marina, just south of Old Town, Alexandria, VA. Pat and Patty, if you cruise all the way up the Potomac to that point, we can pull her out right there. If you want to stay on the Chesapeake, I can come fetch you at any number of places. Deale, MD has a public launch that is only about a 45-minute drive from my house. Plan your post C-Dory gathering cruise as you wish and just let me know where you end up when its time to change into your wedding-going clothes!

Charlie, thanks for the reply on my behalf -- I am out of the office for some training this week. (Work is work, but I gotta keep up with my C-Brat buddies!)

Best wishes,
 
Steve,

Be not afraid! When you come here, you step back in time...be assured that what all of us say, (John, Otter, Terraplane, and more) that you are going to be welcomed in the "Eastern Shore " fashion.

So, details...follow John's advice and check out the difference between Rock Hall and Chestertown...Chestertown is a historic, beautiful, and walkable town...fine band b's and restaurants...Rock Hall is still a bit out of the way...not hardscrabble, but still a waterman's town..right on the bay.

The Rock Hall Trolley will take you anywhere you want to go. Lankford Bay Marina is 4 miles from Rock Hall, and about ten miles from Chestertown, but distance is not a feature..

Look up Huntingfield Manor band b in Rock Hall. If i were doing a romantic thing, in Chestertown, i'd be at one of the places noted by John.

Keep asking for advice.

tom/terraplane
 
Ok,ok, you probably knew this was coming...the committee agrees that a t-shirt would be a good idea, so....we have designed one...1st quality Hanes or better shirt...white..with a C.Dory boat on the front (secret), and the letter under the picture saying "rock hall, maryland"

On the back...C-Dory on C-Bay and a bit more.

We can get the shirts from our local great guy, Jeff..for only $7..and plan to sell them to you for $15...the "profit" will go to whatever we can do to make the weekend better...

So, here is the deal: send me an order..
"Quantity: 1? 2? how many
Size: x large, large, medium, small (no childrens) a few XX will be available

Agree to pay CASH when you are here.

I think you will like the shirt...kind of an icon of the event.

tom /terraplane

Isn't this exciting?
 
We would sure like to cruise up the Potomac, maybe stop at Mount Vernon...But no idea how long we should plan to go down the Chesapeake and then back up the Potomac to Alexandria.


Otter-BelleHavenMarina":1ta69jrd said:
Otter lives at Belle Haven Marina, just south of Old Town, Alexandria, VA. Pat and Patty, if you cruise all the way up the Potomac to that point, we can pull her out right there. If you want to stay on the Chesapeake, I can come fetch you at any number of places. Deale, MD has a public launch that is only about a 45-minute drive from my house. Plan your post C-Dory gathering cruise as you wish and just let me know where you end up when its time to change into your wedding-going clothes!

Charlie, thanks for the reply on my behalf -- I am out of the office for some training this week. (Work is work, but I gotta keep up with my C-Brat buddies!)

Best wishes,
Click to expand...
 
Pat--
Weather can be a factor, since the mouth of the Potomac is rather notorious when the wind fights the tide. Maybe the best thing is to make the decision about where to take out Otter after meeting all at the Gathering. Local knowledge of 'not to miss' places and long-range weather forecasts will help make the choice. Great that Tom can meet Otter for the take out at various places, so there are many options for post Gathering cruising. No need to decide now.
 
Pat, I sure concur with El and Bill about the mouth of the Potomac. That's where we live and why I decided to bring Captain's Choice up on a trailer, not that she couldn't make it, but my Bride probably wouldn't if we've got 3-5 footers and a North wind! That having been said, Bruce and Jane on Snowden came down from the Annapolis area last year to my gathering and had no problems but it's the luck of the draw!

Very nice of Tom to offer to come get you wherever! Look forward to meeting everyone!

Charlie
 
OK, then! We'll play it by ear I guess...we are used to boating in the Strait of Georgia and Rosario Strait, where rough water is no stranger...but on the other hand, Patty doesn't much enjoy the times we are bucking the big water (I just get a maniacal grin and say "This is C-Dory weather"), and I don't think I would enjoy it much in unfamiliar territory and especially not in somebody else's boat!


Captains Choice":hiys83w6 said:
Pat, I sure concur with El and Bill about the mouth of the Potomac. That's where we live and why I decided to bring Captain's Choice up on a trailer, not that she couldn't make it, but my Bride probably wouldn't if we've got 3-5 footers and a North wind! That having been said, Bruce and Jane on Snowden came down from the Annapolis area last year to my gathering and had no problems but it's the luck of the draw!

Very nice of Tom to offer to come get you wherever! Look forward to meeting everyone!

Charlie
Click to expand...
 
No need to send any money now for the t-shirts..Pay when you get here..if for some reason you had to cancel, i cans end them and just add the postage cost.

tom/terraplane
 
Pat - Patty and Kathy will have much to discuss (commiserate on). I love being out when there's a small craft advisory, and I believe Kathy would describe my grin as maniacal as well!

Tom/Terraplane: We would like four t-shirts - 1 XL, 1 L, and two S

Many thanks,
 
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