A bucket list item of mine for decades has been gunkholin’ the Chesapeake Bay. I’m glad you asked, according to Wikipedia:

Gunkholing is a boating term referring to a type of cruising in shallow or shoal water, meandering from place to place, spending the nights in coves. The term refers to the gunk, or mud, typical of the creeks, coves, marshes, sloughs, and rivers that are referred to as gunkholes. While not necessary, gunkholers typically seek out the serenity of isolated anchorages over the crowds of marinas and popular bays, and a minimal draft is preferred, since gunkholers tend to go as far up and into the gunkholes as possible, seeking ever more inaccessible destinations.

https://en.wikipedia.org

I would amend this definition for my own purposes—cruise the Chesapeake Bay, choose quiet coves, and explore beautiful waterways—destination, distance, and duration dictated by weather, winds, and whim.

In May/June 2022, Jim Engle, a seasoned old salt with a lifetime of sailing experience was gracious enough to share ten days aboard Grey Fox, his 38′ foot, ocean capable Alajuela cutter, a veteran of three winters in the Bahamas and trips to Bermuda.

Here was our itinerary:

• Day 01, May 26 — Left Hudgins VA (Queen’s Creek Marina) for Solomons but unfavorable winds shortened our destination to Reedville.
• Day 02, May 27 — Visited the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum with its elaborate miniature railroad warehouse, motored to Mill Creek for the night with some evening storms.
• Day 03, May 28 — Sailed from Mill Creek to Solomons MD, anchored out near Spring Cove Marina, ate ice cream at Roy Rogers, and walked to Tiki Bar Solomons Island to listen to the modern country band, Triple Rail Turn
• Day 04, May 29 — Visited Calvert Marine Museum where we saw radio-controlled Skipjack sailing, tried to return to the Tiki bar but it was packed, listened to a long evening of rumbling that we presumed was fireworks but turned out to be Naval ordinance testing!
• Day 05, May 30 — Motorsailed from Solomons to Annapolis where we used a mooring ball, shower
• Day 06, May 31 — Spent the day in Annapolis, ate a full breakfast at Chick and Ruth’s, walked to Bacon Sails and Marine Supply, people watched on Ego Alley, ate dinner at The Federal House, and then listened to the Unified Jazz Ensemble, a quartet (vibraphone, horn, drums, bass) that plays weekly at 49 West.
• Day 07, June 01 — Sailed from Annapolis across the bay to San Domingo Creek, the backdoor to St. Michaels MD on the Eastern shore, relaxed with cold drinks at Sprouts.
• Day 08, June 02 — Ate breakfast at The Galley, visited the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, waited out severe evening storms with 40+ knot winds
• Day 09, June 03 — Sailed back across the bay with excellent wind from St. Michaels to Solomons, anchored out at Drum Point
• Day 10, June 04 — Motored from Solomons to Queen’s Creek Marina to end the trip.

Here is a rough map of the route.

Here are some pictures from the trip.