As April approached, A and I were stir-crazy from the surprisingly cold DC winter. I obsessively checked the long-term forecast every morning, hoping for a break. In mid-April, warmer weather moved in, and we decided to check out Janes Island State Park.
Located on the eastern shore of Maryland, Janes Island features a state campground bordering an expansive salt marsh. The marsh, ideal estuary habitat for birds, sea trout and stripers, has 30+ miles of kayak "water trails" to explore. Our plan: escape the District Friday afternoon, stay at the campground Friday night, and then kayak-camp at a backcountry campsite (in the marsh) Saturday night.
Friday night, we arrived at the campground after dark, setting up our tent by headlamp. We went to sleep with the sounds of light rain on the tent and Great Horned Owls in the pine trees above.
Waking up at the campground -- first views of the salt marsh
Saturday morning, we awoke to blue skies and warm weather. We rented kayaks from a local outfitter, somehow made our backpacking gear fit, and paddled out for our backcountry campsite.
Adrienne stoked -- winter begone
Our backcountry site was located on a tiny island in the middle of the salt marsh. There was a platform for a tent, a tree for shade, and that's about it. Excited to have found a remote spot on a beautiful weekend, we got to work unpacking. Tent was set up again, air mattresses filled again. Spirits were high. What could go wrong.
With some wind forecasted, we opted to set up our tent under a tree.
After setting up camp, we paddled out to the beach separating the salt marsh from the Chesapeake Bay. It was beautiful. We found white sand, and not a single other person. It almost felt Caribbean.
Chesapeake Bay
Our own beach for the day
Biologist in her element
Walking the beach, I casually checked the NOAA forecast. Yikes! Small craft advisory for the Bay. Forecasted winds for Saturday night of 25-40 mph, with gusts to 55. Scary weather to be on a tiny, exposed island bordering the Bay.
We considered our plight. One option was to tough it out at our backcountry site. We could double-stake the tent. However, kayaking back to the mainland the next morning in high winds (with loaded boats) didn't sound fun. Another option was to abandon the backcountry site, and head back to the mainland campground. Feeling a bit defeated, we decided to take down our tent for the second time that day and head for solid land.
And good thing we did. That night, bruising winds descended. We awoke to the sounds of wind ripping through our tent. The night was chaotic. A combination of trying to ignore the windstorm, worrying about falling tree limbs, racing to save gear from flying off, and ultimately sleeping in the backseat of our rental car.
But we survived. And looking back, it was an awesome adventure to start the season.
Exploring the salt march "water trails"...the calm before the storm
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