Annapolis

Thursday, June 1 - Saturday, June 6, 2017

Annapolis!  What an interesting city!  Water and boats and nautical stuff everywhere.  City Dock is the hub of the waterfront.

Annapolis City Dock

A block from City Dock is the US Naval Academy.  Our walking tour guide is dressed in period costume by this entrance.

US Naval Academy, Annapolis

Bancroft Hall is the largest dormitory in the world, housing all 4000 midshipmen attending the Naval Academy.

US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall

 The Beaux-Arts style building is magnificent, both inside and out.

US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall

Naval themed art is prominent.

US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall

Bet your college dorm didn't look like this!

US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall

Equally impressive is the Chapel.

US Naval Academy - Chapel

Stained glass windows all depict biblical themes with a water or boating reference.

US Naval Academy - Chapel

Nautical motifs are everywhere.

US Naval Academy, Annapolis

Officer's quarters face a lovely tree-lined street on the grounds.

US Naval Academy officer's quarters

 We toured about half of the very large museum on the grounds.

US Navel Academy Museum

We had been advised to start on the top floor with the "dockyard models" exhibit, a great choice!  During the years of the British sailing shipbuilding era, 1600 - 1830s, many ships had accurate scale models built, in conjunction with the actual ships.  Few of the original ships remain, but about 400 of the dockyard model are still around.  This museum houses 50 of them.

Dockyard model

The models were considered accurate in most details, including some interior details, and have been used to better understand construction techniques of the period.

Dockyard model, detail

The detail was exquisite!

Dockyard model, detail

 Imagine how imposing the actual ship would have been.

Dockyard model, detail

Dockyard model, detail

In the Napoleonic era, captured French soldiers made these "prisoner of war" models.  Working from memory and using whatever materials were available, usually wood and bone, these models were not considered accurate representations of real ships.

Prisoner of war model

The exquisite detail is seen in these models, too.

Prisoner of war model

Prisoner of war model

Prisoner of war model

While in Annapolis we were able to meet our good friends, Kurt and Cindy, who were in DC for some R&R.  We had a fun lunch in Alexandria and enjoyed comparing retirement experiences.

With Kurt & Cindy in Alexandria

Another day, another tour, this time of the Maryland State House.  Annapolis is the state capitol and this building is very near our marina.

Maryland State House, 1779

The interior has been beautifully restored.

Maryland State House

Maryland State House

These early chambers are no longer used for state business but have been preserved and are open for tours.

Maryland State House

The downtown area is filled with historic buildings.

Annapolis MD

The famous Chick & Ruth's Delly, where each day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by employees and customers together.

Chick & Ruth's Delly

Annapolis MD

A short walk across the Severn River bridge leads to the quaint Eastport neighborhood, filled with historic homes, more marinas, restaurants and funky shops.

Eastport

Eastport

Eastport

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.

Calvert Maritime Museum

St. Michaels has been a popular destination for many years.  A thriving short-term rental business keeps the historic homes in good repair.

St. Michaels MD

St. Michaels MD

Lots of nice shops and restaurants on the main drag.  We saw many people walking and biking around this charming small town.

St. Michaels MD

We are now on our way back to the Western Shore of the Chesapeake and Annapolis.  We pass this still-active lighthouse along the way.

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

Nearing Annapolis, we begin to see lots of boats enjoying a beautiful day.

Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis

We enter the busy Annapolis Harbor, dodging everything from SUPs (stand-up paddle boards) to mega-yachts.

Annapolis Harbor

We are finally docked for a week-long stay.

Docked in Annapolis