Solomons, MD to Annapolis, MD

Date            May 24-27, 2012                            
Day             331-334
Departure    Spring Cove Marina, Solomons, MD 8:45 am
Arrival         Yacht Basin Co., Annapolis, MD  2:25pm
Miles              52.3             
Cumulative   5391.1

Before we left Spring Cove Marina, we needed to get to a CVS pharmacy to fill a prescription for Bob.  Fortunately, there was a CVS only about a mile away, so we took the marina bicycles and headed off at 7:45 am.  We arrived at CVS as they were opening, they filled the prescription in record time and we were headed back to the boat within 10 minutes.  By 8:45 am we had cast off our lines and were pulling away from the dock, headed for Annapolis, MD.  We had another delightful day on Chesapeake Bay.  Clear blue skies, light winds  from the south and waves that were no more than 1 foot.  We encountered a few more boats on the water than we have in recent days, due to the unofficial start of the long Memorial Day weekend.  One of the things I had wanted to see on this trip was the Thomas Point Lighthouse.  It is a "screwpile" type lighthouse and we have a painting of it in our home in Connecticut.  I wasn't disappointed!

Thomas Point Lighthouse

Marc's Ark and Jim's Joy had left Solomons about two hours before us.  They were already docked in Annapolis and waiting for us to arrive .  Shortly after we arrived in Annapolis on Thursday, we made the short walk to the urgent care clinic to have Bob's elbow rechecked.  We explained why we were there, the doctor looked at the elbow, said it looked like the antibiotics were working, but wanted to see him again on Saturday.  Fortunately, it is close by to the boat and we can walk there in about 5 minutes.  On Friday we decided to take a trolley tour with Marc's Ark and Jim's Joy.  We find these tours fun, relaxing and informative.  Saturday, Marc's Ark and Jim's Joy left for Baltimore, but Brown-Eyed Girl (Ginny and Craig) arrived.  We decided to tour the US Naval Academy, but first a trip back to the doctor.  Bob was very happy to hear that the doctor would not have to drain his elbow again and that the swelling had gone down.  The doctor did advise him, however, to have it rechecked again in a few days.  Now off to the Academy.  We signed up for a guided walking tour and learned about some of the history and what the buildings were.  This year, they have a record 22,000 nominations for attendance, however, they will only accept 1,100 appointments. Then on Sunday, we went to the Annapolis Maritime Museum which is housed in the last remaining oyster packing plant in the area, the McNasby Oyster Company building.  Following are pictures of the sights in and around downtown Annapolis.

A duplex - housing for the academic staff at the Naval Academy

John Paul Jones' crypt

Model collection made by French prisoners of war.  The models are made from bones!

This large wooden POW model bears the name "Amazon" on its stern with a host of lovely decorative carvings.  Unlike its British namesake, however, it represents a French frigate of c. 1800.  The rigging is authentic - and very brittle.

Victory Bell - rung whenever Navy beats Army in ANY sports activity except football.  There is another bell used for that.

Tecumseh, painted by the Naval midshipmen on different occasions

Black Crowned Night Heron perched near our boat

"Bill" the Naval Academy mascot

Inside the general purpose hall, formerly used for ice hockey and graduations

A view up an alleyway of the Annapolis capitol building

Flat-Iron building

Artifacts from the McNasby's Seafood and Oyster Co.  This was a packing house, not a cannery.  The oysters were not cooked or pasteurized and the cans were not hermetically sealed.   The packed oysters would stay fresh for two weeks as long as they were kept on ice or in refrigerated trucks.  McNasby's "Pearl Brand" oysters were shipped as far west as Cedar Rapids, IA and served in fine restaurants throughout the Northeast

Looking over a war memorial to the Chesapeake Bay