Journal Entry 6: Lewes, DE to Dewey Beach, DE via the Lewes Rehoboth Canal
Date: May 25, 2007
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Weather: Clear
Wind: Southwest: 5 – 7 knots
Tide: Ebb, 1.5 – 2.0 knots
Distance: 10 nautical miles
I was anxious to get started. Having left the wind and waves of the open waters of the Delaware Bay, the row through the calm protected waters of the Lewes Rehoboth Canal would be easy. The canal extends in a southeast direction from the Town of Lewes through the open marshes of west side of Cape Henlopen state park. The marshes provide protected habitat for nesting birds and wildlife. Nearing Rehoboth, the Canal turns south ending at the head of Rehoboth Bay. My plan was to row from Lewes to the sailing beach on the east side of Rehoboth Bay, just south of Dewey Beach. The morning was calm and clear. The forecast was for a beautiful spring day.
I picked up John Geisel, my cameraman and production engineer, along with his wife Betsey at 8:00 AM to drive south to Lewes. John and Betsey would provide transportation support and do some additional filming along the way. We talked about the Odyssey, the weather, the tide and the current through the canal. I expected to complete this 10 nautical mile section in about 2 hours. Starting at 10:00 AM I would be finished in time for lunch.
We unloaded and assembled the boat and gear at the DNREC boat launch in Lewes next to the historic lightship “Overfalls”. Several fishermen launched their boats. A young couple launched a pair of kayaks. The couple planned to paddle their kayaks out to Delaware Bay, head south and explore the lighthouse in Breakwater Harbor at the confluence of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Rowing against the ebbing tide, I passed under the high bridge in Lewes and was on my way. Just past the high bridge, there is a much smaller railroad bridge. The ebbing canal waters passed through the narrow opening of the railroad bridge. Even though this was the end of the ebb tide, the flow of water created a strong unstable current. As I rowed between the narrow pilings of the bridge, I thought about how much more unstable the current would be during the height of the tide.
Past the railroad bridge the canal broadens. Open green marshes extend along both sides. The boat slipped quietly along. The rhythmic strokes of the oars did not startle the ducks, shorebirds and other wildlife which rested or feed along the banks. For the next several miles I enjoyed the peaceful environment of the open marsh on this calm, cool, spring morning.
Approaching Rehoboth, the open marshes are replaced by stately vacation homes. With manicured lawns and landscaped gardens they presented a very different environment than the marshes. The noise of lawn mowers, construction, and traffic replaced the stillness of the marsh, that had been broken only by the quiet calls of birds. I passed underneath the Route 1 Bridge. Above me I could hear the sounds of trucks and cars heading north and south between the resort towns.
John and Betsey were waiting on a pier about a half mile south of the Bridge. We talked about the trip so far, made plans to meet at the sailing beach south of Dewey and talked again about lunch. (You burn a lot of calories rowing for 2 hours and you spend a lot of time thinking about food.) The navigation system indicated the sailing beach was about 3 miles away. I said I would meet John and Betsey in 45 minutes to an hour.
A number of small marinas are located along the canal as it nears the head of Rehoboth Bay. An inlet with a long rock jetty along each side extends south into the Bay. The tide running through this narrow inlet causes stronger currents. Rounding the buoy at the south side of the jetty I headed east onto the open waters of Rehoboth Bay.
The Bay water was a bit choppy after rowing through the smooth water of the canal. I was surprised at the sudden motion of the boat as I was bounced around in the waves. But these were very small waves, less than 6 inches. Certainly less than some of the large 2 to 3 foot waves I had experienced in Delaware Bay. As I thought back on the Delaware Bay and its large waves, I was happy to be rowing the last mile toward the sailing beach, on the calm water of Rehoboth Bay. John and Betsey were waiting on the beach.
Business and personal commitments were going to keep me off the water for the next week. This morning’s row, through the calm waters of the Lewes Rehoboth Canal and Rehoboth Bay, was a nice way to end the first segment of the Delmarva Odyssey. Now it was time for lunch!