CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Day 296
Miles Traveled: 0
Total Miles Traveled: 4059


  We decided to stay at Chesapeake City for another day since the wind and wave conditions on Delaware Bay would be better the next day.  We took advantage of the extra day and went to the C & D Canal Museum which is located right next to the anchorage.  On the short dinghy ride over, Dan & Jacque of "Horizon Chaser" noticed the tip of a log sticking out of the water.  They were able to lasso the log with a line and tow it to the dinghy dock.  Given its size, getting it out of the water was impossible.  There was a small boat ramp just a few yards away, so "Snagboat Dan" towed it over and Craig and Dan (of "Seahorse") were able to pull it out of the water.  It was a very large log and would have caused some significant damage to a boat prop if hit.  The US Corp of Engineers have an office here and several of its workers put it in a truck and took it away.   

"Snagboat Dan" towing the log to the boat dock

the infamous log - a prop's worst nightmare - 

  After getting the prop busting log taken care of, we proceeded on to the museum to learn more about the C&D Canal.  In the mid 1600's, Augustine Herman (a Dutch mapmaker) observed that the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware Bay were only separated by a narrow strip of land.  He proposed that a waterway be built to connect the two bodies of water to shorten the water route by 300 miles from Baltimore to Philadelphia.  No longer would vessels have to go all the way down the Delaware River, out into the ocean, and then all the way up the Chesapeake to get from Philadelphia to Baltimore.  In 1804 construction began.  After several long delays due to financing, the canal was finally complete in 1829.  The initial canal was 14 miles long, 10 feet deep, and 66 feet wide.  Four locks were used to pass vessels through the various water levels.  Teams of mules and horses towed the watercraft through the canal.  Loss of water in the locks due to evaporation, use of the lock, and leakage, was a problem.  A steam operated pump had to be installed to lift water into the upper part of the canal.  The museum is housed in the original pumphouse.  Inside the museum, the original steam operated pumping engine and waterwheel remain for visitors to admire. 

backside of the C & D Canal Museum
the original pumphouse

the original steam operated pumping engine that moved the waterwheel

the original waterwheel used to move water to the upper levels of the canal

   

  After touring the museum and having some lunch, Dan changed the Racor fuel filter while Angie worked on the blog post.  Anticipating some rain, we ate leftovers aboard.  Of course, it never did rain.  Dan & Jacque of "Horizon Chaser" dinghied over for a nightcap and we enjoyed another Cheasapeake City sunset in the cockpit of "Seahorse".

another great sunset at Chesapeake City, MD