I am moving down towards the Chesapeake, this is a much larger body of water than I’m used to and having lived further inland what tidal issues may exist. Is anyone familiar with any good reading material on such things?
Chesapeake
Haven’t lived in that area for years, lots of years, but most of the bay has small tides as I remember. Tons of backwaters to paddle in until you get used to the bigger water.
Bill H.
some books on Chesapeake region
Sea Kayaking Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay
Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland
30 Kayaking Tours within One Hour of Washington D.C.
Maryland and Delaware Canoe Trails
Quiet Water (New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania)
Local
online clubs, forums, REI books may have a few.
SKM’s
“Deep Trouble” series. Will seriously open your eyes. Worked for me.
Tidal range
– Last Updated: Jan-22-15 10:58 AM EST –
The tidal range on the Chesapeake is quite small, so it's less of a factor overall than general wind and weather conditions.
Sea Kayaking Maryland's Chesapeake Bay is a book that I used a lot when I was getting started.
You should definitely check out the local sea kayaking club, Chesapeake Paddlers Association (www.cpakayaker.com). There are lots of folks in the club with many years of experience kayaking the Chesapeake and its environs.
ps I love your moniker. I remember family trips with my father muttering "pennsyltuckey" under his breath while we drove through western PA.
CPA
Cheaspeake Paddlers Association, is a good starting point for local info. Their organizers are top notch, and have their act together. They should be of help, on the local waters. They have a few sub -groups called Piracies. The Piracies are in different regions, of the Chesapeake.
http://www.cpakayaker.com
Chesapeake reading list
If you’re moving to the Chesapeake, you’ll need to know about blue crabs, and the best way to do that is by reading William Warner’s “Beautiful Swimmers.”
http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Swimmers-Watermen-Crabs-Chesapeake/dp/0316923354
It is a lovely and elegant work of literature.
More ambitious would be John Barth’s “The Sot-Weed Factor,” a fictionalized account of early Bay settlement as seen through the eyes of a less than reputable poet/scalawag.
http://www.amazon.com/Sot-Weed-Factor-Anchor-Literary-Library/dp/0385240880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421979266&sr=8-1&keywords=sot+weed+factor
Beautifully written, insightful and downright hilarious, it’s one of the best American novels ever.