May 31, 2017

We left Gladesville and traveled 12 miles to Annapolis.  Jim

Naval Academy in Annapolis

Jim & Ellie

and Ellie joined us there and are learning how to be great crew members.  Ellie's job is write the blog so I am letting her have it. Hello everyone, we arrived late this afternoon, driving in from Sturgeon Bay, Wi.  We are very impressed with the number of sail boats in this boatyard.  They are getting ready for the Annapolis to Newport race, which begins this weekend.  One of the pictures is Penny with a find, nice lines.   We did some provisioning this evening, Penny and Jim remembered how to get in the back of the minivan.  Tomorrow, we will go by water taxi to downtown Annapolis and the Navel Academy.  The water is still and the harbor is quiet it must be time to retire.  

Penny Shopping At Local Bin

May 30, 2017

Today was couch potato day.  It was cold, windy and wet.  The

marina we are in Gladesville has nothing to do or see.  So we spent the day inside a small boat.  Jim tried to take a walkabout but was back in about 7 minutes.  I tried my hand at making Maryland Crabcakes tonight for supper.  I did pretty good if I say so myself.

I do think the crab had a lot to do with it tho.  About 7:00pm

we looked out the window and there were about 5 or 6 Hobiecat

type sailboats running around in our little bay.  It looked like they were racing or practicing racing.  The weather was still cold, wet, and misting plus thundering, but they were out there working those

boats.  They could stop on a dime, turn a very small circle and very

quiet.  The men (2 on each one) were moving back and forth, rolling under the boom and looking like they were enjoying themselves.  Jim and I watched for a few minutes and then went back to our warm, cozy, & dry living room.  Tomorrow off to

Out having fun on a lousy day

Annapolis and hopefully sunny skies

May 29, 2017

Happy Memorial Day!  Hard to believe that it is the beginning of summer, and day after tomorrow it will be 4 months. OMG!!!!

We left Cambridge this morning around 8:00AM, there was very little wind, but foggy.  The world around us was 50 shades of grey and wet.  The only color we saw was our Great Loop flag.  Not many boats out until we reached the Chesapeake.  There must have been some kind of fish running, as there were boats of every type, and size trolling of something.  A few were catching, but the majority were doing what most fishermen do, patiently waiting for a an unlucky fish to swim by.  I saw a Pelican fly by, I didn't think they were this far north.  Maybe he is doing the Great Loop too.  Today there were more power boats on the water than sailboats, but that all changed when we got to the marina.  I think we were the only power boat and the only one with live aboard people.  We are going to stay here in Glensville another day and then on to Annapolis to pick up another crew. 

Grey Morning

Are those Mountains?

Happy Memorial Day

A fishing fisherman

May 28, 2017

Flash to the past

I took a nice walk around town today.  Cambridge is a nice town whose downtown has fallen to despair now that Walmart has come in and driven out the mom and pop stores.  The downtown is right on the creek with history everywhere.  Harriet Tubman used Cambridge as a stepping stone for her Underground Railroad, she was born in here only a few miles away.  There is a crab seafood market that was founded in1890 and still owned by the same family. The staff includes 3 brothers, 2 great-grandsons, and a great, great grandson.  The J.M. Clayton Co. is a Chesapeake Bay landmark. There is a Episcopal Church that was founded in1692. The Alter window was made by Tiffany. The dock master's office is a light house and the dock has several working boats, watermen catching crabs, and oysters for the Clayton Co. (seafood market).  The main street to the dock is named High St.  The street is lined with beautiful mansions, many decorated for Memorial Day.  I am sure 10 years ago Cambridge was a totally different city, vibrant, colorful. Tomorrow we are off to who knows where. We are tired of sitting and doing nothing.

1692 church

May 27, 2017

What can I say, it was a very slow, easy, lazy day around here. It started out with us sleeping in and continued that way all day.  Jim washed the Potomac river water off the boat and I cleaned  the dead flies and dirt from the inside.  When that was all done we got a taxi

to take us to Walmart.  The highlight of our day.  When we got back, that was it for the day.  It was 12:30pm.  Needless to say I

A Really Ugly Light House

Morning Calm

First Sight Of Cambridge, MD

did not take the camera from its case today.  So you will just have see all the things that you haven't seen yet.  Not sure what that is, but we will both enjoy looking.  Tomorrow I am going to explore all the pretty houses around the marina.

A Waterman At W
ork

May 26, 2017

Last night Jim and I experienced another new type of weather on

the boat.  HAIL.  Just before dark the storm that was rolling in got here and the winds jumped up to at least 30 MPH and the hail started coming down.  It was just pea size, but the weather alert

said some areas could expect nickel size hail and winds up to 60MPH.  Then just as quickly as it started, it quit and became dead silent.  No wind, rain, and then the sun came out.  This morning when we got ready to leave the sun was out but the wind was blowing.  By the time we got out into the Choptank River the waves were between 2 and 3 feet.  Luckily our trip was short and we got

all tucked in before the winds really started howling. Only boats out were the fishing boats and us.   Once again 

our luck held out and we missed the worse of it.  Cambridge is

another nice town.  It is larger than Oxford and St. Michael's, but

rough waters

Our welcome buoy to Cambridge

not as quaint.  There are some beautiful victorian homes here and  I plan take pictures tomorrow to share. We are here for 3 or 4 days

Hail

because of the holiday traffic.  Then we are off to Annapolis.

Floating Hail

 

May 25, 2017

Clouds Rolling In

Get Your Raincoat

Today was a do nothing day and we did nothing.  The sun came up with a blue sky, calm winds and everything a sailor wants in a day.  We stayed in port.  I guess we were lazy, but really we had no place to go.  Our reservations in Cambridge are for tomorrow, so we just stayed put.  Jim ordered some belts, and I did some laundry.  I must admit it felt good.  We did have breakfast at the Morris Inn (Oldest privately owned inn in America). It was OK but I have had better.  I told Jim I think the room we were eating in use to be the stable. Jim rode the ferry over to Bellevue and back.  Tonight the clouds rolled in and another storm is coming.  I guess there is coastal flooding.  The water was up to the top of the docks and over some.  It only makes sense.  We are moving tomorrow, it is only 12 miles tho.   

Beautiful afternoon in Oxford

Pretty Iris

May 24, 2017

Today we moved about 30 miles to Oxford, Maryland. It was founded in 1683.  Morris Inn (1710) is a local landmark and self described as the "Oldest Inn In America".  Michener is reported to have written "Chesapeake" here.  The oldest privately owned ferry

the Oxford-Bellvue Ferry is said to be the oldest in service (1683).

History in and around the Chesapeake just oozes out of everything.

Even the boat yard that is next door has a collection of antique boats and they are redone and look fabulous.  Jim was in heaven walking around and looking at them.  The town looks a lot like St. Michael's just smaller.  The whole town is 1/2 mile long.  It has a bank, post office, small grocer, and lots of boat yards.  The weather

is hanging tough, wet, rainy, and cold.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better as we are spending another day here before we move on to 

Cambridge and Memorial Day Weekend.

One of many antique boats

Light House having a bad day

Morris Inn 1710

May 23, 2017

Light House at Marina

It was a dreary rainy day at St. Michael's.  But that didn't stop us from wandering around the town.  It is a delightful place.  People who like tiny houses would love it.  The houses are colorful and

Antique sailing vessel

very nicely maintained.  There is a great maritime marina where we spent a lot of the day.  I learned a lot about the oystering and crabbing in Chesapeake Bay.  For dinner we once again enjoyed Maryland crab and they are great.  We have about another week

Tiny House

in Maryland so more crab in our future.  Tomorrow we are heading toward Oxford or Easton. If you are ever on the Eastern shore of Maryland be sure and see St. Michael's.

Christ Church 1672

May 22, 2017

We left the Solomons on a rainy, grey morning.  Our destination was 50 miles up the Chesapeake.  At first the waters were choppy but as the morning wore on the waters became calmer.  Soon it was as smooth and soft as silk.  Our colored world went from technicolor to 50 shades of grey.  It looked and felt like we were floating not on the water but in the air.  There was no wave action and the air was very quiet.  It was surreal.  If I were drinking I would have sworn I was in the twilight zone.  I could travel like this until we were off the Great Lakes.  We reached St. Micheals about 2:00pm.  It is a charming town.  It earned its claim to fame

in 1813 when during the war the British attacked the town to destroy the 7 shipyards.  The town people tricked the British by hanging lanterns in their trees to cause the British to fire their cannons to high.  The city was founded in1696.  A quick walkabout

1 of 3 Light Houses today

lead me to believe it is a great place to see and enjoy.  We will be here tomorrow .  So I will give you a tour of the town then.

soft grey world

2

3

St. Michaels, Maryland

May 21, 2017

Today was our last day in Virginia.  We have been in Virginia for several days, and also Maryland.  When you are in the Chesapeake,

or the Potomac  River, the water belongs to Maryland, the land

belongs to Virginia on the west side, and Maryland on the east.

Our trip today on the Chesapeake was completely in Maryland. 

As we went up the bay it was so large that you could make out the shore but not clearly.  The lighthouses are out in the water and not on the shore.  In the 1800's they were in a boat but they converted

Point No Point Lighthouse

Solomon Island

them to a more permanent structure.  One was Wolf Point, and the other was Point No Point.  It sure would have been a lonely place to live.  We are in the Solomons, it is a series of islands.  They are 

Wolf Point Lighthouse

very charming.  Nice homes, and lots and lots of boats, mostly

sailboats.  The marina had a loaner car so we got to grocery shopping and out to dinner like land lovers do.  It felt strange to

drive, but I did it successfully. Maryland crab is yummy too.

May 20, 2017

Our crew left this morning and we stayed behind in Colonial Beach with small craft warnings.  We will leave tomorrow.  This

past week has been fun but crazy.  We saw some great things, ate some amazing seafood, and had a super fine time.  I even learned, (I hope) a little about my computer so I can make a blog that is

more  readable.  Our trip into Washington was just amazing.

It was very high on our bucket list to do on this trip and the weather couldn't have been any better.  For us to have a Bald Eagle fly over head at Arlington, Marine One fly by us at the Washington Monument, experience large gun ( cannon fire) on 

the Potomac River just like people did durning the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War was beyond our expectations.  If anything ever convinced us that this was the right thing for us to do, yesterday was it.  I am going to share more of our Washington

Jefferson from the Potomac 

pictures.  Better yet come experience it yourselves.

Wish you were with us!

Air Force Memorial

Our Capitol

May 19, 2017

We left Washington DC this morning with clear skies and no wind.  Went went under the bridge

that is HWY 30. We heard on the radio that we had to wait to go any further on the Potamc River

in front of the target range as they were getting ready to fire.  We waited for about 10 minutes 

and there was a very large bang.  We saw the smoke from the cannon and a big puff of smoke from the landing.  We were told it was ok to proceed on to Colonial Beach as quickly as possible.  Shortly

there after one of our engines got hot and we had to stop.  The fan belt was slipping.  Jim fixed it and while he was fixing it another blast from the target range went off.  So I guess we can say we were

under fire on the Potomac River.  Another great thing happened, only it was yesterday.  I took a picture of a helicopter by the Washington Monument.  Upon cropping and enlarging, I found out that it was the President's copter, Marine One.  We were going by the Lincoln Memorial and a Bald Eagle 

flew by on his way to Theodore Roosevelt's Memorial (his island in the Potomac River).  It was a very memorable.  Tonight we are back at Colonial Beach.  Our crew is jumping ship tomorrow, and of course the weather is heading down hill.  So two nights in Colonial Beach.  Can't wait till the crew gets here. 

Target range

Marine One

DC at sunset

DC sunrise

Our Mascot