![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.argoknot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/9-24-12-003.jpg\" "\\"OLYMPUS")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn the mid 18th century Chestertown was a thriving British Colony and busy port. \u00a0Who knew?? (Well, clearly, I didn’t!) \u00a0It is so far up the Chester River it is hard to imagine this being such a busy port, but the number of stately brick houses and the depth of the river definitely attest to the town’s history of wealth. \u00a0Even the sidewalks are brick!<\/p>\n I know most sailors love a bit of shore leave, but I sometimes wonder if they can possibly love it as much as I do. \u00a0When I get ashore I sometimes wonder if it’s the shore leave I love most! \u00a0Walking through a beautiful town like Chestertown, seeing all the lovely homes, doing my best to get a glimpse of the interiors in some of these houses and the equally beautiful private gardens seems to be my main goal. \u00a0I’m always a little sad to go back on board. \u00a0Embarrassingly, I had never even heard of Chestertown before our visit.<\/p>\n We left in the early afternoon to take advantage of an ebbing tide and winds that should have been behind us. Sailing back down the river was somewhat less than perfect, but the sights along the shore were still bucolic, in spite of a flukey north wind that caused me some discomfort when we heeled more than I like! \u00a0At one point we heeled rather severely and I heard a crash, which was my computer flying off the nav station and sailing across the cabin. \u00a0What a distressing moment that was! \u00a0Kudos to Apple for making such a sturdy little machine. \u00a0The only damage seems to be a tiny nick in the corner. \u00a0I’ve learned my lesson not to leave it out anymore while we are underway.<\/p>\n We ended the day in another perfect spot, which makes me realize there are benefits to sailing that no land trip could ever match. \u00a0We are anchored in a quiet cove that is so undeveloped only our boat gives away what century we are in. \u00a0Trees and other fauna grow right to the banks of this little estuary off the Chester River called Queen’s Creek, and the banks are teaming with wildlife. \u00a0We took the dingy to explore this little round bay and saw a number of blue herons each staking their claim on a bit of shoreline, patiently wading the shallows. \u00a0Our dingy was ghosting along on a mirror surface with only the tiniest little rings of disturbance which I took to be insects landing on the water, which I imagined would be attracting the fish that the herons were anticipating. \u00a0When I looked a bit closer I saw that each of these little rings was being caused by a small jellyfish, and there were thousands of them! \u00a0The little bay was teeming with them. Are these the stinging nettles so famous in the Chesapeake? Further into the bay we saw a few deer drinking at the water’s edge, something we haven’t seen in many years. These days we are so familiar with deer wandering our suburban neighborhoods, eating right out of our manicured gardens. \u00a0I’d forgotten just how perfect they look in their natural setting! \u00a0Just above we noticed a bald eagle perched at the very top of a dead tree, surveying the bay. \u00a0Wouldn’t you know we left the camera on board when we set out on this wonderful exploration??<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n