Saturday, October 22nd

The alarm sounds at 6 AM.  We emerge from the warmth and comfort of our sleeping bags to a chilly, 50 degree morning.  At 6:30 AM, first light filters through a layer of early morning clouds.  The gravitational pull of life ashore is weakening.  The diesel springs to life.  Docklines are stowed.  At precisely 7 AM, our ties to land are severed as Cutter Loose inches out of her slip. As if to applaud our newfound freedom, we are treated to a magnificent sunrise as we leave Swan Creek behind and round can 5 into the familiar waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  Day one of our winter cruise is officially underway.



[caption id="attachment_1578" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Passing under the Bay Bridge, the unoffical starting line of our winter cruise"][/caption]

As predicted, the wind today is from the northwest at 12 knots.  Cutter Loose is southbound on a comfortable beam reach.  At 9 AM, we pass under the Bay Bridge.  A Navy submarine appears on our starboard beam as we sail by the entrance to Annapolis harbor.

South of Annapolis, there is little traffic on the Bay.  By 5 PM, Cutter Loose is anchored in Back Creek at Solomons Island, MD.  Today's journey covers 55 nautical miles.  Clear skies tonight promise a calm and quiet, albeit chilly anchorage.