June 26-27                                    Annapolis, Maryland

With only a four hour journey to our next destination, we decided to depart later than usual.  We would enjoy Sunday breakfast at the nearby Hidden Harbor Café, a local favorite. Immaculately clean and decorated with nautical items, it held only ten small tables.  An outdoor deck accommodated larger groups and was filled with diners enjoying the delightfully sunny but cool weather. This charming waterside restaurant offered an extensive breakfast menu.  I enjoyed one of their specialty omelets and David opted for eggs and sausage gravy over biscuits.  He was in heaven!  After such indulgence, we needed the long walk back to the boat!

Shortly before eleven, we left the dock in a 4 knot wind.  Perfect cruising conditions for a powerboat!  The bay was smooth and glistening in the sunshine.  Boats of all sizes and types were everywhere.  One had to be constantly watching to be sure sailboats with sails unfurled (hoping to catch a gust of wind) did not try to cross our bow.

The beauty of the shore in this area is marred by the large facility jutting into the bay to receive liquid natural gas.  Huge liners come here and unload into an underwater tunnel that transports the product to storage tanks.  Clearly visible in the same area are the towers of a nuclear facility, another energy producing source.  Environmentalists and guardians of the bay strongly oppose the presence of both but the governmental and militaristic interests of the state are deemed more important.

Maryland’s state capitol dome is clearly visible as one enters the mouth of the Severn River which leads into the center of Annapolis. Built in 1779, it is the oldest state house in the nation in continuous use.  It was here that the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War, was ratified by colonial leaders.  On the northern shore, the impressive dome of the chapel at the Naval Academy is a landmark sighting.

We had chosen to stay at a marina near the entrance to the bay.  Chesapeake Harbor Marina is surrounded by three-storied condos and is hidden from view.  Following our GPS, we looked for the marina but could not locate it.  Finally, we observed several boats leaving the bay and heading toward the beach where they seemed to disappear.  Locating the red and green markers, we made the same route and found an opening behind and between the condos.  With approximately 200 slips, boats were crowded into a small man-made cove.  

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Chesapeake Harbor Marina has only 15 transient slips.  We were told we could have space if we came after 3:00 PM and left before noon on Tuesday.  That fit our schedule and we agreed.  We were informed later by other boaters that the waiting time for a resident slip here is at least three years. The facilities are clean, modern, and convenient.  A small beach is on the property and a recommended seafood restaurant is within the marina.

Ahead of us on the dock was a very unusual boat.  It had a wooden hull, extensive teak trim, a wooden mast and was pristine from top to bottom.  Bernadette  is a 71' Trumpy Fantail built by John Trumpy in Annapolis in the 1950's.  It is a twin to the former presidential yacht sold by Jimmy Carter and now a charter vessel in Washington, D.C.  Only six or seven Trumpys exist.  This beautiful boat is lovingly cared for almost daily by its owner who comes to the marina to clean, polish, and enjoy.

On this evening, we went to the beach to enjoy the sunset, sat on a bench, and made profound statements on a myriad of subjects as we looked at the water, the birds and the boats.  Grateful for another beautiful day and for each other!

Monday was a good day to visit the historical center of Annapolis as the weekend crowds would be gone.  The marina shuttle transported us to the state capitol and we enjoyed strolling the streets lined with centuries-old buildings and perusing the many lovely shops.  Lunch was at Galway Irish Pub, a local favorite for corned beef Reuben sandwiches and delicious Irish potato fries.  I enjoyed the BEST crab cake and fried oysters but David declared the Reuben was "almost as good as the one you make."  Diplomatic guy!