Journal Entry 4: Bowers Beach — Slaughter Beach
Date: May 20, 2007
Time: 02:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Weather: Clear
Wind: West: 10 to 15 knots, gusts to 20 knots
Tide: Ebb, 1.5 – 2.0 knots
Distance: 15 nautical miles
Leaving the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control public boat launch on the Murderkill River in Bowers Beach, I headed directly east. The west wind, which had been blowing for most of the morning, immediately caught the boat and with the ebb tide pushed me out into the Bay. The day was sunny and warm. The wind was strong blowing between 10 to 15 knots. To take advantage of the tide and minimize the effects of the wind, I kept the boat tucked in close to the Delaware shoreline. The low dune along the marshes provided a small break from the wind.
The Bay’s shoreline from Bowers Beach to the Mispillion River extends in a southeast direction. This allowed me to take advantage of the west wind. By keeping the boat close to shore I could minimize the chop and waves created by the wind. Cruising along at 5.5 to 6 knots, the row to the north side of the jetty at the Mispillion River took less than 2 hours.
Slaughter Beach is on the south side of the Mispillion River. A one mile long jetty juts out into the Bay from the mouth of the Mispillion. To get to Slaughter Beach, I would have to row out into the Bay, around the mouth of the jetty, and back to shore. Heading out along the jetty, I felt the full force of the west wind. I had been well protected hugging the Delaware shoreline. Now, I was fully exposed to the wind. Blowing at 10 to 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots, the boat flew out along the jetty and out onto the open waters of the Bay. Rounding the mouth of the jetty, I could see the water the south. The area I would have to row back through to reach Slaughter Beach. The conditions did not look good!
Turning south and west, I was hit by the gusting wind. I turned the bow of the boat into the wind, dug in and rowed hard. The tide continued to push me down the Bay. As a result, the boat took a diagonal course back to the calm and safety of the protected shoreline.
The trip out to the end of the jetty took about 10 minutes. The row back in to Slaughter Beach, took the better part of an hour. Speed out 6 to 6.5 knots. Speed in 1.5 to 2.5 knots. Rowing under these conditions is not only physically challenging, it is mentally demanding as well. Each stroke requires consideration of the wind, the waves and their direction. The oarsman is constantly correcting the amount of pull on one or both oars to maintain the direction of the boat. A small rowing boat is much like a bicycle. Without forward progress, it becomes less stable and more susceptible to tipping over.
Finally reaching the protection of the Slaughter Beach shoreline, I headed south to meet up with my support team. They were easily spotted on the beach wearing the light green Delmarva Odyssey “T” shirt.
This area of the Bay is a noted habitat for migrating shorebirds. The birds stop along the shoreline to feed on the eggs of the horseshoe crab. Birdwatchers, environmental researchers and visitors to the area have enjoyed viewing the interaction of these species for years.
On May 23, 2007 the State of Delaware, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control officially opened a new educational facility at the mouth of the Mispillion River. The DuPont Nature Center was made possible through significant grants from the DuPont Corporation and PSE&G. It is an educational facility dedicated to the shorebirds and the ecology of the Delaware Estuary.
The DuPont Nature Center is run by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. Dawn Webb is in charge of the Center. Dawn is a very energetic environmentalist. She has some wonderful ideas for year round programming at the Center. The Center is located at 2992 Lighthouse Road. The phone number is 302-422-1329.
DuPont, PSE&G, and the State of Delaware have worked together to make the Nature Center a reality. This private/public partnership has enabled the State to bring to Delaware a remarkable educational resource which focuses on the Delaware Bay its ecology, natural resources, and cultural resources.
I had been to the Center before its official opening with Dr. Jean Woods and Bonnie Jones of the Delaware Museum of Natural History to talk with a group of students. Jean and Bonnie discussed the interaction between the horseshoe crab and various shorebirds including the Red Knot. Surrounded by the marshes at the mouth of the River, the students were given the opportunity to view the shorebirds through Jean’s spotting telescope and to handle a live horseshoe crab.
Back at Slaughter Beach, the support crew and I packed up the boat and equipment. The wind was still blowing in from the west with gusts to 20 knots. The flags at the Slaughter Beach firehouse stood stiffly at attention. As I loaded the boat on the car I hoped that tomorrow would bring some calmer winds from the northwest. I was tired. My row in from the end of Mispillion jetty had taken its toll.