No wind to sail to Swan Creek. Took about 3 1/2 hrs under power. Pleasant trip. Sunny, but not hot nor humid. Mooring balls 2-7 are for transients, and we picked up #3 easily. Took Poltergeist to the dinghy dock and office (closes 3pm). Chris and Mr. Walter took our $30 fee, and pointed out showers and laundry for our use. Also there is a trolley that will take you into town from 11a-8p on weekdays. On weekends they run a bit later in the evening. $1.00 per person per trip. Tips appreciated. You call and they meet you wherever you are. Driver was a friendly older gent.

We walked about and visited the beach, and looked at some boats in the former Gratitude Yacht Yard. Then dinghy’d back, rested, had salmon, steamed pea pods and rice for dinner. Popcorn for treat. Nice evening in cockpit. Plenty of stars, and Mars and Saturn prominent.

May 26th. Coffee/breakfast, then kayaked down SwanCreek for an hour, saw multiple Moon jellies (surprise, since so much rain and salinity likely low) and many osprey nests and chicks (all singletons). In one case, we saw an osprey nest right on the surface of a pier, not on a piling or navigation marker.

This was unusual since it’s not protected from ground based predators.  Several duck blinds, in varying degrees of repair and complexity. Spoke to a friendly Brit on the hook with his Shannon about depths, which he had sounded at 7 feet with a plumb. We likely could anchor there given this info.

Dinghy to marina. Took trolley to downtown Rockhall (trolley driver very friendly) and explored on foot. Ate at Waterman’s crab house -Had decadent nachos with shrimp, scallops and crab to share, and Tommy had crab cake,and I had fried oysters. Got to see Rockhall Museum located in the Municipal center on Civic St., but Tolchester Beach Revisited was closed, due to death of curator, and Waterman’s Museum will have to wait for next visit. Inside the Rock Hall Museum were a few unusual artifacts, included one of the oldest medical X-Ray machines still in existence.  It was operated by a foot pedal that had manual timer on it. The timer had a maximum setting of 10 minutes (yikes! – Today’s X-Ray machines typically radiate for only 20 milliseconds.)

Saw a small oyster boat restoration museum next to a sailing consignment shop which was also worth the time. Got friendly licks from a dog named Chessie at the consignment shop.

In town center, found a cluster of tiny house shops, gaily painted, with green grass and paths linking them. Since it was early, not all were open, but those shops that were open featured teas, brick-a-brac, and shopkeepers who were happy to chat and give directions and advice as to what was interesting in their town.

Among them was the visitor center, and the Tiny Free Library, appropriately named! We found that an annual historic  car show was coming to Rock Hall on Saturday,  Another much anticipated event is the annual “Pirates & Wenches Festival” each August, which brings tourists, costumes, contests, and alcohol-fueled antics to the normally sedate area.

Got a tour of historic Durding’s Ice Cream and soda shop by the two very outgoing and enthusiastic waitresses, and enjoyed ice cream cones in an old-fashioned venue. This store dates back to 1870 when it started out as a pharmacy of sorts and then transformed into an ice cream and soda fountain shop around 1930. The place has been meticulously restored and includes an old pay phone and the original apothecary cabinetry and some of the bottled remedy’s of the time. The ice cream cones were excellent and the graciousness and knowledge of the two ladies running the place was even better.

Then more walking along residential streets with beautiful lawns and landscaping and back to Swan Creek marina via trolley and back to the mooring buoy via Poltergeist. Dinner was crock pot Boston Butt and sauerkraut. More stargazing with chocolate accompaniment.

May 27th. This a.m. had coffee and breakfast,then dropped the mooring and embarked upon a long leisurely sail, mostly close hauled, which we enjoyed, but which did not take us close to our plotted course, and then motored in from about 7 foot knoll light back to the marina. Re-calibration of auto-pilot performed, as Tom moved the position of the Garmin heading sensor, since metal near its original placement was found to be affecting its readings. Very busy at the marina, with plenty of transient traffic for the restaurant as a good weather Memorial Day Weekend begins. Daddy made a leftover dinner of pork, lamb, and pea pods.