The Chesapeake Bay has multiple creeks with the same name (Fishing, Dividing, Mill, etc.). We spent the last three nights at Mill Creek below the Potomac and then traveled from there to Mill Creek near Solomon’s Island today (42 nm). It was blowing hard yesterday from the north and it continued with a bit less strength through the night. We waited until about 8 am, when the winds dropped to below 10 kts to take off. The weather buoy on the Potomac showed waves less than 1 foot, but when we got out in the bay, the waves were a might higher (at least 3 ft) and hitting us right on the nose–not very comfortable. It took until about noon for things to lay down a bit, and it was smooth from then on. The other issue was the temperature that dropped into the 30’s overnight. When we left it was 39˚F, which in Ithaca would be a heat wave in the winter, but it was a bit brisk on the water. The positive thing was that the sun was out, it was a beautiful day, and we got to Solomons without a problem.
Speaking of problems, when I looked in the engine compartment this morning, I saw a pool of red fluid. At first, I thought it was a diesel leak (marine diesel is dyed red), but it turned out to be coolant. The coolant runs through tubes in the water heater, so we can make hot water while the engine is running. The coolant was dripping out of the connection between the hoses and the inlet and outlet of the water heater. It must have been a contraction of the hose because of the cold, which in turn loosened the hose clamps. I just tightened the hose clamps and all was well. Nice to have an easy fix.
