Gemini Loop: The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

First of all, thanks to Speedy who asked about the USS Constellation from the Baltimore posting. I checked and found that this is the second USS Constellation, not the sister ship to the USS Constitution in Boston. It is an interesting ship in its own right, though. You can find out more about it at constellation .

The C and D Canal is an old canal linking the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River. The first proposal for building this canal was in 1661. The original canal was completed in 1829 and had four locks. It has been expanded and deepened since that time to accommodate vessels up to 886 ft. Luckily we didn't see anything bigger than a barge.

There are five bridges across the canal, all of which are high enough for passage without opening. There was also a gas pipeline across the canal. The scenery went from rolling pastoral hills on the Chesapeake Bay side to flat marshland on the Delaware River side. About halfway through the canal is a marina where Cousin Rich lived on his boat for several years before coming to Savannah.

We saw young ducks and geese, and lots of osprey mothers sitting their nests. We also saw hundreds of dead fish - mostly large ones - in ones and twos, all along the north Chesapeake area to the Delaware River. There was also a great deal of debris in the water - logs, branches, lumber and lots of seaweed. We had to pay attention as we cruised along.

Tomorrow (Thursday) we will drive to Savannah to attend Chris' graduation from The Savannah College of Art and Design and to celebrate Olivia's birthday. I can't wait to see all my babies!