hideaway

[Frank]

  Took the lil boat for an overnighter on the river here at home. About 3 miles upstream is a back channel that locals avoid as it is full of old 'deadheads' from the logging days and many rocks. Judy and I explored it last year with our 12ft alum. fish boat and found a way in. It was so special to be out on a relatively busy boating weekend and here we were tucked up this backwater and had it totally to ourselves. A lil imagination and we were in Alaska our Algonquin park. It was that prestine and private. Trees right to the shore of little bays and rocky islands all around. Caught a few pickeral and had a nice quiet night. Awoke at sunrise to cool air and the sun's rays trying to break through a heavy mist coming off the water. A postcard setting. Couldn't believe I'd lived here all my life and here we were in a 'new' special anchorage so close to home. I hope the locals keep thinking its not worth the risk going in.

[Greenman]

That sounds amazing, a little slice of undiscovered paradise all to your own. What I wouldn't give for a good feed of Pickeral right now.

I am envious. Hopefully your secret getaway stays that way.

[Amgine]

Mmmm!

During our cruise that's just ending we found a couple of little getaways that seemed deserted and pristine. I'm scheduled to talk with a real estate agent about one of them, to see if it's even *possible* to own anything in that area...

The problem is I would love to post a blog about it; the beautiful sail up into it, our deciding to ignore the cruising guides and go have a look-see, the wonderful holding we found (admittedly, in an unexpected patch...) I'm just afraid other boaters will decide to make our secret get away *their* secret get away, which has happened to a couple others I've found and written about.

Maybe if I can get title to a chunk of it. In the meantime, keep your secrets!

There's a nifty back channel through the islands defining the north end of Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River, a ditch cut straight as an arrow from the main channel over to the Wisconsin channel. Along this route was a marvelous bald eagle's nest, quite huge and apparently multi-generational. With my little Skipper 21 I'd motor through here, and turn down at the Wisconsin channel, and there was a little bay a dozen or more yards downstream with a completely blind entrance, perfect for a somewhat buggy night on the hook, good casting, and convenient to the very shallow upper reaches of the Lake. So long as you didn't draw more than 2', it was an excellent secret anchorage.

[Auspicious]

I have a double handful of hideaway anchorages. Some are actually quite well known but not much used for reasons that escape me. Others are not well marked or denigrated by cruising guides. Since other sailors have shared their special places with me I'm usually pretty generous about sharing my own, although usually not where Google can find out.

Adam and I anchored last night in one of the more public hideaways. It was a good spot with nice views, other boats not too close, and lots of quiet.

Here's one story I think is nicely written. Heidi and I were on a chartered HR39 (shortly before I pulled the final trigger on Auspicious) with friends on a Moody 47 and friends of friends on a Beneteau 36. 122 feet of boats for six people!

Worton Creek is another great spot on the Eastern Shore. Janet and I really enjoyed two days there.