Aboard Sauvy B: Chesapeake Eastern Shore

We've been busy with a couple of week-long stops and finding little to no internet service at many marinas. I've got some catching up to do, so here goes.

Friday, May 26 - Monday, May 29
Memorial Weekend

We have finally left Solomons MD for a short crossing of the Chesapeake Bay to the "Eastern Shore". This side of the Chesapeake is more remote, less populated and known for small historic towns popular as summer and weekend destinations for many years.

Our first stop is Cambridge (Maryland, not Massachusetts). The city operates a large marina with an eclectic group of boats. The dockmaster's office is in this reproduction lighthouse, which also houses a small, but well-done, museum.

Replica lighthouse, Cambridge MD

A group of local crab boats dock here. We have seen these boats working in the bay and had a chance to talk to the locals to learn more about their methods. Crabs are caught with baited trotlines suspended between floats.

A local seafood company, a fourth generation family business, sells picked crab from their nearby office. Yes, we did stock up! Yum! Chesapeake crab is exceptionally sweet and tasty. Robert is perfecting his crab cake recipe.

Crab boat, Cambridge MD

Since this is Memorial weekend, here's the local war memorial. It's in a lovely waterfront park where Boka has enjoyed chasing squirrels.

War memorial, Cambridge MD

The town is struggling to renovate it's downtown area. Several cute shops and nice restaurants are surrounded by boarded up buildings. A small historic home district is mostly well maintained.

Historic home, Cambridge MD

We make another short cruise to another Eastern Shore town, St. Michaels. En route, Boka gets a mid-morning snack.

Snack time en route

BIG mistake traveling on Memorial Day as we pass dozens of boats leaving the Eastern Shore, heading back home to wherever on the Western Shore. Finally we arrive at our dock in the center of the action at St. Michaels.

St Michaels Harbor

A peaceful sunset promises a nice day tomorrow. The Maryland state flag, visible in this photo, is an unusual heraldic style.

Sunset, St Michaels MD

Tuesday, May 30 - Wednesday, May 31, 2017

St. Michaels has the wonderful Calvert Maritime Museum which happens to be next door to our marina AND is dog friendly. We spend almost the entire day touring an exhausting variety of buildings and an extensive boat collection. This lighthouse was once deployed about 40 miles south of St. Michaels, 5 miles from shore. After being decommissioned it was moved to the museum where it is open for tours.

Hooper Strait Lighthouse, 1879

The Edna E. Lockwood, an 1889 bugeye (oyster dredge sailboat), is getting a new log hull, compliments of museum volunteers. The hull was made from 9 yellow pine logs, hollowed out to the desired shape.

Edna E. Lockwood - new hull taking shape

These logs have been milled on site in preparation for use in the new hull.

Logs ready for new boat hull

A large workshop facilitates the ongoing renovations at the museum.

Calvert Maritime Museum workshop

Classes are offered that teach boat-building skills and allow the general public to assist in renovations.

Calvert Maritime Museum workshop

We saw several of these sailboats with an engine mounted in the dinghy, which was connected to its stern. Not sure what these are all about.

Sailboat with external motor

Also on the museum grounds was a very nice indoor exhibit on the transition over time of the peoples using the Bay waters and living along it's shores.

Calvert Maritime Museum

Robert enjoys a display of vintage fishing tackle. Other exhibits included a variety of historic boats and an indoor exhibit on decoys and firearms used for hunting.