CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2024-2025 (21)

 CODA : Michael returns to CODA 

15 October 2024

Army Corps of Engineers Mooring Basin, Chesapeake City,  Maryland 

The green circle covers the swinging radius of CODA at anchor. We did not move despite a second windy night here and some nocturnal moving of boats in the basin.

Marc-  Michael returned to CODA this evening and I can feel less stress. The basin cleared out of many of its boats during the morning.  I did try to make a mad dash over to the free dock but a large trawler pulled up first and a second powerboat came in from the canal.  Oh well I am happy over in my corner of the harbor.  At 08:00 the large gate to the US Army Corps of Engineers opened and I headed over to visit the C & D Canal museum.  I am always fascinated by the different designs of the several canals we pass through on this trip.  The original canal here had three locks: two here at Chesapeake City and one at the eastern end at Delaware City.  The topography here is mostly flat with no flowing rivers but some large ponds.  The engineers designed a steam engine pumping system using a giant cypress  (Mindy you were correct) water wheel to raise water to fill the locks from the outflow creek of a pond when boats passed through (the 19th century system is still intact despite the removal of the locks here).  

View of a portion of the giant Cypress waterwheel.

The 19th century locks at Delaware City remain but are no longer in use.

A US Army cat protecting the premises.

Life-size bronze statue of a barge mule and its friends.

CODA in a nearly empty basin in late afternoon.