July 11 - 16, 2014 St. Michaels MD

We wanted to take our time getting to St. Michaels, so we planned a 3 day trip for Judie and I. After getting back into the Bay we headed north past the Cove Point Lighthouse and the large Liquefied Natural Gas unloading and storage facility. The LNG terminal was built about 1980 and has been used off and on since for receiving natural gas from overseas. We also passed the twin unit Calvert Cliffs Nuclear plant.

Cove Point Light

LNG terminal and large storage tanks back on land.

After traveling 32 miles, we put down the anchor in Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank River. (passed a Corp of Engineer's dredge just before turning into our anchorage) A fairly quiet area except for all of the crab boats starting at 4:00 in the morning. The moon was so full and bright that you could barely see the stars as the reflection off of the water made it seem more like twilight that midnight. We were joined by two smaller sailboats.

Next day, we slept in a little and raised the anchor about 8:30 for our 7 mile trip back to the Bay. Then turned north another 34 miles to another anchorage. On the way we passed by two groups of sport fisherman after stripped bass. There were about 40 boats in the first group and 60 in the second. We had to go about a quarter mile off-line to cruise around them. Poor fish never had a chance! The anchorage was well protected but the wind never let up and stayed at 10-15 mph all night. Here are some pictures of the views of the area around the anchorage taken from the boat.

The next morning, Sunday, we completed our trip to St. Michaels - only 7 miles away. We left the anchorage about 9:30 and were safe in our slip by 11:00. St. Michaels is a town that has successfully made the transition from watermen to tourists. It was one of our favorite places when we lived here 30 years ago and still is today. There are great marinas, restaurants, shops, houses, churches and museums all within walking distance. Bikes and feet are all you  need to enjoy this place. That afternoon we washed the outside of the boat and took a nice walking tour to reacquaint ourselves with the area and learn what was new.

The Crab Claw - a favorite old restaurant. Many memories of when we came over on the Gilbane boat.

Racing Log Canoe being readied to load on a trailer.

Carpenter Street Saloon - a local favorite and now ours.

Neat storefronts and shops

St. Michaels - surprise!

Ana's - great Italian food

Judie loves all the trim work.

The next day we had to move the boat to a more protected slip in the marina because of forecasted storms with strong winds. It turned out to be a lot more work than we thought and the fact that the staff helping us could not agree on how we should tie up added time and frustration. But we "got er done". Naps were in order that afternoon and then off to the Maritime Museum. The great thing here is the fact that they make and repair boats and you have complete access to the work area to watch, ask questions, and talk to the workers (there were men and women working there). The other new area for us was the display of guns used to hunt ducks/geese in the fall. Big guns mounted in boats, and often with multiple barrels. If you have read Michener's "Chesapeake" you probably remember the section about them. Seems a little unfair to the waterfowl, but had to put meet on the table. The guns, of course, were illegal,

Not certain who has who?

A lady was restoring this boat.

I learned how to make a sailing mast from 8 separate pieces of wood!

You can see the big guns and the "multi-barreled" ones!

Restored from a 1902 ship, (in great detail).

Our last day we revisited the museum to see some areas we had missed, there was a nice collection about tug boats with videos and displays about engines. they even had a model set up where, like the model trains many of us had, you could use a tug to push a barge and see if you could keep from wrecking anything. Ger did well - no damage! Later in the day we did some wine tasting and studied charts for the next days trip to Rock Hall, MD.

Chocolate Zin!

July 8 - 10, 2014 Solomons MD

Had a long way to travel today, 51 miles, so up at 5:00 and out smoothly at 6:00. The first half of the trip was a little rough with 1-2 foot waves and 3-4 foot swells, but all calmed down as soon as we got north of the Potomac and into MD waters.

Light House with "Out House".

Tall ship headed south, we were headed north.

That afternoon we washed the boat and rested up a little. Mike and Lois had been at Solomon's while we had family time and so we had dinner on R Island and got caught up. Ger fixed chicken breasts on the grill and Judie made rice and snow peas. A bottle of wine finished us off.

 

Next day we did some laundry in the morning and launched the dingy. In the afternoon we motored over to the Calvert Maritime Museum and spent several hours learning about the Calvert Cliffs that line the western shore of the Bay for about 30 miles going north. They had mockups of the cliffs, videos/movies explaining the geological shifts and the ebb and flow of ice ages and global warming millions of years ago, and the formation of the Bay as we know it today. Simply Amazing!! Some really cool skeletons also, one being one of only two in the world of a 50 foot shark.

Even the camera is shaking just looking at it

The museum also had a nice collection of recent boats and a light house that had been moved there after retiring from active service. It was completely restored and the living quarters looked comfortable - a nice small apartment.

Later that afternoon we went for a nice ride in the dingy ride looking at all the boats. There are about 8 marina's at Solomons and all were very full and busy. Wanted to go out to dinner, but a storm warning was issued so we ate on the boat and called it an early evening. Good thing we did as we got 4" of water in the dingy and I had to borrow a pump to get it out. Never thought of having something to bail out water..... Next day was off and on rain, so we caught a ride to the grocery store and did some chores around the boat. Next morning we fueled up and headed for St. Michaels MD. We are getting about 3.7 miles per gal.  - which feels good until you see it in print! Mike took our photo leaving - Ger at the upper helm station and Judie tending to lines on the starboard side.



June 26 - July 7, 2014 Some Family Time (Revised ending)

We left Crisfield on Thursday headed for Reedville VA to meet up with our son Gary and our grandsons Gavin and Jonas. Sometimes it takes a few side trips. The wind and the waves we both high and from the wrong direction so we ducked back into Onancock Creek and anchored just short of the marina in a quiet cove across from green marker 37. Had a quiet afternoon and evening.

One sailboat joined us in our anchorage.

Next day, Friday, we headed to Deltaville to re-supply as there is no easy grocery store to get to in Reedville. Same wind and waves. Stayed at Dozier's Regatta Point Marina, barrowed a courtesy car, stopped at the IGA and the seafood shop, and had a nice Saturday getting the boat ready for company. Sunday we got up early, did our customary pump of the waste system and headed north. Arrived at Buzzards Point Marina in Reedville about 11:00 and found out that we were in "technology hell". The wifi was very weak and only worked if you were sitting up at a picnic table  on a small hill near the office. One bar on the cell phone and definitely no TV. The closest restaurant was 5 miles away, no loaner car, and nothing was open on Monday and Tuesday. "This is Reedville folks  - we're pretty laid back here.." was the dockmaster's explanation.

The gang arrived about 1:30 on Monday. Gary brought all the fixings for grilled sausage and salads, so we fired up the grill and ate till we were stuffed. The boys really like sausage! We called it "lupper", as it served as lunch and supper. Later we watched the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and hit the sack.

Our first large ship on the Bay - a car carrier headed to Baltimore.

Fishing boats at the fish oil and "other products" plant at Reedville.

The picnic table on the grassy hill for wifi.

On Tuesday, it was up early (for Gavin), and we caught the 10:00 ferry for a 90 minute ride to Tangier. Tangier is an old waterman town on Tangier Island in the middle of the Bay. In 1960 the population was about 1500, and as the waterman's plight continues downward, the current population is about 500. They have a volunteer fire dept., medical facilities, small airport, and several restaurants and souvenir shops for tourists. We had great crab cakes at the "Fisherman's Corner" and then took a guided golf cart tour of the island - about a 15 minute ride. The island also has a great museum about the local history. Many of the explanations that accompany the exhibits, are hand written by the local folks. There was a lot of information and Gavin, in particular, tried to take it all in. We needed to be back at the boat by 2:15 for a 2:30 departure, so not a lot of time on the island. There are 2 Bed and Breakfast places and it would be fun to spend the night.

Tangier's Marina

public docks

oldest church

They only plant them 3 feet deep as the water table is 4 feet.

Photo of hurricane Sandy impact

in it's hay day!

small Maryland Blue Crab.

crab trap

popular overnight place

lunch spot.

trash can by the ferry docks

Watched the second "pirates" movie before hitting the sack. Hurricane Arthur started it's northerly trek, so we rented a car, readied the boat in Reedville and headed for Gary and Amy's house for the holiday. By the time we got everything ready to leave on Wednesday, stopped at 5-guys for lunch and Walmart for prescription refills, we got to Annandale about 4:30. On the 4th, we had fun playing games and relaxing before heading out to watch the DC fireworks show. Amy had located a great viewing spot at the "Air Force Monument to 911" overlooking the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery with a great view of the Mall area of DC. Gary and Ger got there about 5:00 to stake out the spot and everyone else arrived about 7:00. Had a great time and we could also see many fireworks from other communities. Some of them went on until the ride home after 10:00.

The crowd begins to assemble...

The Air Force Monument to 911

fuzzy picture of fireworks and the Washington Monument. Camera lessons required.
 

Saturday the boys left for their mother's place and the rest of us went to the Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian, and then out to dinner at "Rosa Mexicana" for a fantastic dinner and smooth tequila. On Sunday, after a great "Amy outdoes herself" breakfast, Judie and Gerry returned to the boat stopping at West Marine and the grocery store on the way. Since we had a car, we drove into Reedville proper and found a pleasant surprise! Wonderfully restored/kept homes and "the Crazy Crab" restaurant wit excellent shrimp and grits, and crab cakes.

Judie's favorite

Too Much??

The Crazy Crab

The Banker's House, he used personal money to keep town alive in the Depression.

Monday was return the car and get ready to head for the Solomon's.