Exploring the Sassafras River- Sept. 15 - 23

 Ahhhhh, the Sassafras River.  After days of motoring in muddy, debris-filled bays and canals, here was clean, fresh water.  Beaches and bluffs of coppery sand, lined by numerous sassafras trees.

Calm anchorages with picturesque docks and boat houses,

moorings with amazing sunset views.

Georgetown Yacht Basin is a very friendly place...

We met local cruisers who had lots of suggestions for places to visit.  Thanks to Lisa and Dan for giving us a copy of  The Chesapeake Bay Guide and for driving us to the grocery store and to get our propane tank refilled.
We met up with our boat buddies on the Thomas Leigh.  Cheryl now owes Ben $1000 ...remember,  at our farewell dinner in Chesapeake City...something about a bet that we'd be crossing paths again soon.
We made new acquaintances with boaters who are also exploring the Chesapeake before heading south-  a most enjoyable happy hour(s) and sing-song aboard Majiks!
And we took possession of a Honda generator, for those times when we have stayed in one place, enjoying an anchorage for long periods, with no electric hook-ups to boost our batteries.  It's great being able to watch a movie every now and then...thanks for the speakers, Danny!  Time to watch Captain Ron... again.

A favourite stop was at Back Creek, an estuary of the Sassafras, we anchored along the Tidewater Plantation and Nature Preserve and kayaked along a "field" of American Lotus... a giant cousin of the waterlily.

We motored our dinghy ashore and hiked the mown paths of the Mount Harmon Plantation that operated as a tobacco plantation during the 1600-1700s.  In 1963 the 200 acre estate was restored; now special events, and educational program take place here.

Here are some features that we thought were quite interesting.
The ice house was dug into a hill near the main house.

The Prize House was a barn in which two tobacco casks were compressed into one for more efficient shipping.

The Osage Orange Tunnel- the fruit of this tree is not edible, but is a huge, green, bumpy version of the oranges we know,

Huge 200 year old Sycamore trees.

  The day of our hike, preparations were being made for a weekend event which included the re-enactment of a revolutionary battle (even though one didn't actually take place on this site).  In the photo above you can see three white tents being erected and by Saturday there would be a British camp to the left of the mansion, a colonial camp to the right, and lots of soldiers, merchants and settlers putting on demonstrations of life in the 1600s. Six hundred people had registered to take part, not counting the visitors.

Old Rosie is not the only unusual boat on the river.  Here are a couple that caught our attention.

Well, it's time we're moving on.  Next stop, Rock Hall, a few more nautical miles down the bay.