Sept 13-17, 2014 Annapolis, MD

It was ify this morning.  Small Craft advisories out for tonight so we should be fine since we’d be in Annapolis by mid afternoon.  The ify part was getting there since the bay was churning a bit and the other issue was finding a secure spot in the predicted north winds.   But there’s any number of anchorages around here, and the Weems Creek anchorage look like a good possibility so we left.  Took only about 5 minutes to get off the dock.  Had to thread our way through a phalanx of fishing boats on the Putexant but soon we were out in the Bay dodging crab pots. 

Annapolis is a favorite stop.  There is always some event going on and with so much history and places to visit, a lengthy stay or repeated visits are almost a must.  

All this little blips are sailboats

Baltimore is a busy ocean port and consequently we saw numerous freighters on their way up or down the Bay.   We passed closely by one which was verys large and empty.  That was about the only excitement for 3 hours.   But as we neared Annapolis we ran into at least a hundred sailboats moving down the bay.  It was some sailboat race.  I had the small radar on at the time and the display lite up with hordes of targets. 

We came around Tolly Point after threading our way through all the sailboats and headed towards the harbor which is adjacent to the Naval Academy.  There are exactly 5 yellow mooring available.  Yellow denotes moorings for boats 45-55 feet.  That’s our color.

 I wasn't expecting any to be unoccupied but we by-passed the anchorage and swung into the harbor just in case.  And low and behold we could see there were three available!  We headed for the one on the end,  #40.

On our mooring.  Academy in the background

It was sprinkling as we made out way up the edge of the mooring field.  But once we were within 100 yards of #40 it started pouring.  Seems we always end up locking, docking or anchoring in the rain.  Maybe we should shower more often and be less offensive to the rain and shower gods? 

I maneuvered the boat slowly to the mooring ball while Mary, in her rain jacket,  mouthed ever more flamboyant exhortations for more speed.  Now, we've done this mooring thing at least a dozen times and what we (or is that I?) learned is that slow is better so one is able to pluck the pendant (line on the mooring ball)  up to the boat and thread one of our boat lines through the eye (loop at the end of the pendant) before the boat begins to drift away.  You cant very easily hold a 26 ton boat with bare hands in a stiff wind.  And yes, we've tried.

Paddle boarders

Ignoring the urge for speed I went slow and were able to easily threaded both our port and starboard lines through eye and secured.  And that's when the rain started letting up.  And its also when a bunch of kids went by us on paddle boards.

We gave in to a lazy urge and simply called the Marina and paid the mooring fee for two nights by phone and then settled in to relax.

Last year I had opened an account with Annapolis and their public wifi.  The account still works but it expired so there was a zero balance.  Yes, you have to pay a nominal fee.  The Wifi signal extends well out in the harbor and even to the anchorage where we’ll probably go on Monday.  The down side is that its slow.  Not glacially, but  slow enough to be annoying.  Its our only alternative though. 

It was a cool night and we woke up to temperature in the 60’s here with a cold north wind.  Mary wanted to go to church at the Naval Academy and they are kind enough to have services near 11am.

 I was up a early before Mary was awake and tackled the internet connection here thinking I might have something configured incorrectly.  No luck.  The connection was like going back in time to the days of 300 baud modems and their lightening fast response.

Anyway I went up and got the dinghy ready to lower.  Had to pump some air since it as so cold the air contracted leaving the tubes a bit soft.  Mary staggered up around 9:30 and after some coffee I started the generator to top off the batteries but also to ensure we had enough current running through the hoist so the dinghy could be let down.

We went through our normal dinghy launch routine and it went just fine.  I do have to get the oil changed in the outboard while we're here. Its due and I don’t think I can do it while its in the water since the likelihood of a spill is pretty high.

Looking out Ego Alley towards Spa Creek and the anchorage 

We headed over to the dinghy dock which is located at the end of a canal known as Ego Alley.  There's sort of a little park/public space, Market Square at the foot of the canal.  Very nice.

The Naval Academy is a few blocks away but we only discovered that after we had walked a half mile to the main entrance.   The main entrance leads right to the Visitor Center where the expected security check point is located.  Picture ID is required to gain entry to the grounds.  I mention this so you understand why ended up at a Starbucks on Dock street near Ego Alley instead of  the Academy.

Maryland State House

After some coffee and a few munchies we took off up Main street towards the State House where we learned that Washington resigned his commission.  And the Governors Mansion which, we were told, was vacant at the moment because the governor and his family were living in Baltimore so their kids attend their school.

Large Sailboat anchored near the end of Spa Creek

We hung around the market area on Main street for a bit and then returned to the dinghy and took it for a ride up Spa Creek.  Spa Creek empties into the harbor right where we were moored.  The creek itself winds up about a mile.  Its lined with stately homes, and condo/marina developments.  Its also deep enough to serve as an anchorage evidenced by several anchored boats up and down the creek.

Not a golfer's boat

As we came out of the creek we passed by several marinas, some with substantial yachts well into the 100+ foot range.  One caught my eye, Winning Drive.  I though it was a pro golfer.  Turns out the boat belongs to the owner of the Ravens .

We came back to our boat and I fought with the internet again for a while before giving up.  Decided to take the garbage to the dock and retie the dinghy to the side of the boat instead of the swim platform where it can get pretty noisy.  Besides we are on the last ball and hanging out in the one of the channels a bit so tying it on the side made sense.

The packer game was being broadcast on a channel we were picking up on our satellite.  And since we do have a stock holder on board it was necessary to at least view some of the game.

I  grilled kabobs at half time and then I started up the generator and engaged in further troubleshooting of the starboard battery bank which appears to be fine except sometimes not so fine when reading some of the battery management gadgets we have on board.  Oh well.  At least we have power to charge our tablets and phones and watch TV.  Luckily we have a satellite and don't need to rely on streaming video across the internet.

Next morning I called a dinghy repair place about getting the dinghy oil changed and a few other things taken care of.  And they, located on second avenue right across the water from where we are moored,  could do it.

 They had no launch or retrieval facilities, so I rushed to get the dinghy over to the launch ramp about half way up Spa Creek.  They met me there and we got it up on a trailer and then hauled it off to their facility which, as I said, is about 250 yards from where we are anchored.  But the ride there wove around half of Eastport to the tune of 5 miles and 20 minutes.  Nick and Fred the mechanics said they’d try and get it completed by this afternoon.  Yeah!

Meanwhile Mary had called the water taxi and it came to the boat and plucked her and the laundry (and my laptop) off our boat and deposited her and all the stuff at the dock by the Marina office which is situated on Dock street at Ego Alley.  I walked over from the dinghy repair place which is actually in the neighborhood of Eastport which only about a mile away from the marina office.

We started laundry and then we sat in Starbucks for awhile using their functional internet.  Mary went off to church at the Naval Academy while I stayed at Starbucks and took advantage of their internet connection.

When she returned the the laundry was done so we strolled up to Jimmy Johns on Main street, had a sandwich and then walked back up towards the State House and the surrounding area.  Found a pottery place with a really neat wine dispenser made out of a granite block. We didn't buy it.  Yet. It weighed about 10 pounds. 

Spa Creek and the mooring filed in the distance, Back Creek in the foreground

We walked back down Main and across the bridge to stroll around Eastport and Back Creek.  Back Creek is another creek very near Spa Creek.  The two form sort of a peninsula.  Spa Creek empties right into the Harbor and is near all the activities while Back Creek is much quieter and away from most of the night life.

As we wandered around waiting for the dinghy to be completed, we found a canvas shop which  had marine grade heavy duty vinyl remnants they were willing to sell.  We need to recover our dinghy back rests.  We didn't buy those yet either.  Guess we weren't in a buying mood?

The dinghy place called and said it was almost ready so we strolled over to the Chart House restaurant which lies directly in front of the dinghy repair shop.

Mary took the water taxi back to the marina office while I paid for the dinghy and rode with one of the guys back to the Spa Creek launch ramp where we put it in the water.

It wouldn't start.  Turns out he changed the fuel and water filter so I had to really pump the priming bulb.  Ran great after that.

Drove over to where Mary was waiting and we got all the laundry in the dinghy and headed back to the boat for a quite night.

It was really rolly during the night with some pretty steep swells.  And we acquired quite a number of ducks on the swim platform.  I'm guessing they were using it as a nice protected place so they could stay out of the winds and quack all night about their smart choice.  Sweet creatures that they are, we were treated to some generous calling cards on the swim platform.

Even though we had a rough night punctuated by gabby ducks, we were up and moving by 11 this morning.  We took the dinghy over to Back Creek so I could run it at speed and do a little exploring.  And, we also decided to buy that marine grade vinyl from the canvas guy who's shop was only a few blocks from Back Creek.

Little park at the 2nd street dinghy dock on Back Creek

One of the neat things about Annapolis is their dinghy docks which are situated at the end of almost every street that dead ends at one of the creeks.  Makes doing errands pretty convenient.

Took about an hour to dinghy over to Back Creek and spend $20 for little over a square yard of some really fine marine vinyl. 

We went from Back Creek straight to Ego Alley and the dinghy dock there so we could head into the Academy and sign up for one of the tours.

At the Visitor Center we first watched a short movie about the Academy before Mary Ann, our tour guide, gathered us together.  There were about 15 people in the group.  She took us around the place and answered a number of questions.  For example the female student population is 24% of the approximately 4000 students.  There is an 87% graduation rate.  After 2 years you sign an agreement to stay there.  If you leave flunk out you have to pay back the room/board/tuition expenses.  During the first two years you can leave without the penalty.

And yes Marine cadets and Naval cadets make up the student body

We went through the aquatic/sports center and a few other non academic buildings on our way to the main dormitory.

Bancroft Hall and the assembly area.

Bancroft Hall, the only dormitory at the Academy, and it is huge.  We were able to go inside.  Its unlike any dorm I've ever been in.  Lots of marble and high ceilings with depictions of naval events around the top half.

In Bancroft Hall heading to the second floor

 There are three main entrance doors.  Tradition dictates that only graduated (commissioned) officers can use the center door.  Midshipman are relegated to the side doors.  Visitors like us can pass through any door we desire.

We were led in and up the main stairs to a second floor display area with a few artifacts and memorials to past Naval heroes.  On the floor below we were able to see a representative dorm room.  Thinking back to college and the dorm rooms, these were gigantic.  Of course that was before we were informed that the two beds were a rarity and there were usually 3 or 4.  Each room had a shower but toilets were outside the rooms in central area.  

The exhibit hall in Bancroft Hall

John Paul Jones is interred under the Academy Chapel in an oddly ornate crypt.  How he came to be laid to rest here is an interesting story.

John Paul Jones crypt.

The tour ended at the Chapel and even though the museum was just across the street we elected to skip it for the moment and head over to Pussers for a quick lunch.  If you find yourself in Annapolis, your almost obligated to stop in at Pussers.  It's right on Ego Alley and is one of the hot spots of Annapolis night life.

After stuffing ourselves we strolled back up Main street to that pottery place right across from the State House.  This time we bought the wine dispenser.

Hope your all comfy?

We walked back to the dock only to find 4 ducks relaxing on our dinghy.  One person, noting my annoyance mentioned there were about a dozen on it a few hours before.

Thanks for the gift

Ducks poop.  And these maliciously decided to demonstrate their ability  right on the seat where I sit to drive!   I had to go grab some some paper towels from the marina bathroom to clean it all off. 

We eventually went back to the boat where I continued my duck poop cleaning efforts since the ducks from last night left some sizable memorabilia on the swim platform.  Later  I took the dinghy out for a short run up the Severn River before it got too dark.  Very cool, especially with the Academy fronting the shore.   But I confess my real reason for taking the dingy out was to retrieve a fender that had worked loose from our boat and was happily floating away towards the river.   My rescue attempt was successful.

In the Chart House looking at our boat through the window

We decided to head over to the Chart House for a drink and some hors d'oeuvre.  We took the dinghy the couple hundred yards to the dinghy dock at the end of second street and enjoyed a few hours there.   

Nordhavn squeezing in to Ego Alley

After a peaceful night, we woke up rather early and by 11 were tied up at the dinghy dock in Ego Alley again.  The previous evening a huge, 80+ foot Nordhavn yacht had squeezed it's way down Ego Alley and tied up along the wall there.  And as it was told to me, Ego Alley is so named because huge yachts like this often tie up here, one bigger than the next.

Heading to the assembly area

We headed to the Academy again because there was supposed to be an assembly, or formation as they term it, at noon.  This is where most of the students get into their assigned groups or companies and stand at attention before marching into Bancroft Hall. 

Assembled

So we watched and it was impressive. Visitors are required to stay behind a white line painted on the concrete in front of the assembly area which is right in front of the main entrance to Bancroft Hall.   It was an impressive sight with all these midshipmen in their black uniforms in formation.

They had a bagpipe group playing and the individual companies would march out
 and enter Bancroft hall through various doors all to the stirring sounds of bagpipes and drums.  Took about 15-20 minutes and several thousand cadets were inside eating lunch.

The ATFP (Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection) individuals who are really cadets who've chosen that career path were everywhere.  They wear these red arm bands and act as very diligent police officers controlling the spectators.  Very nice and informative.  Any of them would answer questions.

The actual flag John Paul Jones flew

After formation was over we headed to the Museum.  What an amazing place.  Its chock full of very well done exhibits and artifacts.  Not to be missed.  I think we spent a couple of hours there.  on the second floor was an exhibit of model ships of the sailing era.  Some of those models were so intricate it difficult to understand how they assembled them.   And ironically there was a class on naval history conducted by a marine captain with 15 or students in a small classroom on this floor.  The student were surprisingly looking incredibly bored.

We left the museum, exited the grounds and ate lunch at MiddletonTavern.  Not sure if this is true, but supposedly George Washington ate here.  It an old place.  You have to exit the min building to enter the washrooms.

After lunch we wandered up to St. Johns College near Church and State Circle.  We walked around a bit.  It’s a classic small college, with these common red brick buildings and walkways.   Very ivy league-ish.

We made our way back down  East street and decided to detour through the Naval Academy since it was a shorter route.  Lo and behold we were treated to another spectacle.  They were conducting a “practice” formation.  But this time the Academy marching band.  This was a practice for the formal parade on Friday and the Rutgers football game the following day.

The Marching Band is in the center

Watching the formation it was noticeable when the more senior companies went by in contrast to the more junior companies.  They crispness of the senior cadets was quite noticeable in contrast to the junior companies which were more ragged than precise in their drill.

We walked back to the dinghy after and luckily there was no duck poop to greet us.  Headed back to the boat but stopped to gas up the dinghy first.

Field Trip had arrived earlier and taken a mooring near us so we stopped by them for a cocktails and then returned to our boat.  We collected all our the recyclables and took them to shore.  We'll be towing the dinghy so I setup the towing harness and secured the crane.

We're leaving tomorrow at 8am for the 50 mile journey.  We'll first be going across the Bay to the Choptank River, then to Broad Creek and finally San Domingo Creek where we'll anchor for a few days while we explore St. Michaels.