This past Tuesday we left Baltimore and cruised down the Patapsco River then south in the Chesapeake, passed under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (which is really two bridges), turned right up the Severn River, finally into Spa Creek to the Annapolis mooring field. Since we are post-season most of the rental moorings were free so we chose one close to the town dinghy dock.
We had never visited Annapolis before and while we expected a boaters' haven, which it is, I was surprised how large the city is and that its the Maryland State Capitol (who knew?). The historic buildings are beautiful and packed tightly together. We had to walk a ways to find green space for the pooches. Lots of shops, restaurants, bars, etc.
I probably should have picked a different mooring as ours was exposed to waves from the river/bay and we had a rolly night. Since Wednesday had good cruising weather predicted while Thursday didn't, we stayed in Annapolis just the one night. We left about noon Wednesday at about the same time as the Pride of Baltimore II. We cruised down the Severn and angled south down the Bay while the Pride hoisted sails and turned up the bay to sail to Chestertown for the Downrigging Weekend.
Conditions were OK for cruising to St. Michaels MD, although you need to go way south around one point, then back north around another, then south again in the Miles River. We anchored in Fogg Cove, right off the grounds of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The plan was to stay until at least Saturday for their annual Oyster Festival, which is a big deal here. A quick cost/benefit calculation prompted us to buy a 1-year family membership at the Museum, yielding these perks:
- Use of their dinghy dock and 24 hr. access to their grounds.
- Ability to tour their excellent exhibits at leisure.
- Free entrance to the Oyster Festival for us and guests.
- Unlimited use of their HOT SHOWER facilities.
It was a no-brainer. Plus we can use same perks on our return trip northwards.
So we had 2 full days to explore St. Michaels and the museum, which was real nice. Sheila is taken by their octagonal Chesapeake light house, which used to sit on screw piles out in the bay.
On Saturday my niece and her husband, Michelle and Dave Homsher, drove down Saturday from their new home north of Philly and joined us for the Oyster Festival (good weather - huge crowds - quite the success) and tasting some local beer and seafood in town. They brought us some much appreciated supplies :
- 24 cans of this (official cruise 2013/14 beer)
- and a rare bottle of this (proof of why grapes dominate in wine making?)
It was great fun to see them and catch up on their lives.
We would have left on Sunday to continue southwards, but high winds have kept us here for 2 extra days, and it will be tomorrow that we head farther down the Bay to Solomon's MD, which is about halfway down the bay on the western shore. As great as exploring the Chesapeake is, we are anxious to get all the way down to Norfolk VA and into the official ICW. We'll see what the weatherman says.
Here is Spray anchored in Fogg Cove.
Posted with Blogsy
How were the oysters? Uncle larry
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