ANNAPOLIS - Sailing Center and Naval Academy

We left Tangier Island early to take advantage of the calmer conditions. Winds (and therefore the seas) usually pick up as the day progresses. Because the Bay was calm we could travel at 22 knots, making good time. The trip was less choppy than the last 2 days and the only large waves were from the wakes of the large commercial vessels.



As we scooted along, we were watching activity cutting the surface of the water and wondered what critter might be making the disturbance. Then we saw rays just under the surface with their “wing” tips breaking the surface as they gracefully glided through the water.

As we moved north, we noticed our odometer showing we have traveled 1500 nautical miles.

Today we traveled 82 miles, arriving at Yacht Basin Company Marina in Annapolis before noon. Annapolis is the sailor’s mecca. Sailboats (and motor boats and super yachts and kayaks and paddle boards) are everywhere! It’s a very busy harbor but in a much different way than Norfolk. Here it’s almost all pleasure craft - and a few fancy and expensive cars. 

Annapolis is all about boats - all sizes, all kinds.

Antique and sports cars are on
display in the morning

After getting settled in our slip, including having lunch on the boat and starting laundry, we determined that we are much drier in the cabin after our trip today. Before starting out we moved everything up off the floor and put it on the settee and lowered table turned into a bed. We now think our leaks come from the forward portholes. Marvin walked around downtown looking for caulk but decided duct tape would work temporarily since he couldn't find caulk. While he taped up the outside of the ports he noticed an unsealed gap around the ring holding the window in place. We hope that’s the issue. 

A maritime antique shop brought back memories of the outfit
Marvin donned for senior high school career day.
The suit was hot and the hemet and weighted shoes were heavy!

While we were continuing to dry out the cabin, we decided to walk around historic downtown Annapolis and the waterfront. It was during the walk-about that we decided to stay in Annapolis for 2 days for r and r and to gawk at the gawkers.




  
Over the two days we walked and walked, exploring Annapolis and, crossing the bridge over the Severn River, Eastport. In Eastport we found a great restaurant at the recommendation of a local boat live-aboard called Boatyard Bar and Grill. 

On the second morning, the tide was very high, topping some sea walls and flooding into a low parking lot. On one of our walks passing by a waterfront watering hole we saw a modified bicycle-built-for-two with 2 kitties, each in their own carrier, strapped to the bike. The carriers had little fans inside to keep 
them cool.

Both were sound asleep undisturbed by the hundred people walking by looking at them. Doing what cats do! One looked like Mango except that he was sleeping upside down which Mango doesn’t do. I wish I had taken more pictures and hung around long enough to meet their owner. I’m sure there’s an interesting story there.






It is heartening to see so many historic buildings being used and restored in the downtown area. The harbor town is bustling on land and on the water. Restaurants and ice cream shops are numerous and fabulous. We particularly enjoyed the NY-style deli diner "Chick and Ruth's Delly" (that's the Southern spelling) With an expansive menu and cheap prices for good food, this small diner was crowded with the convergence of tourists, sailors, locals, and politicos. Annapolis is the capitol of Maryland and it’s beautiful historic government campus is within a large traffic circle. Seems like a pretty egalitarian juxtaposition of government with the people and community.

Maryland Governor's Residence 

There’s a lot to do and see in Annapolis and we wish we could spend a bit longer. We missed taking the Naval Academy tour, Terry and Suzanne highly recommended, but caught a glimpse of the cadets in town and assembled on the parade ground.

That damn date with the New York reservation seems to define our plans, so we will be moving on in the morning - weather permitting and hoping we have found the source of our pesky leak.

The port lights being taped and a day-long targeting by our small fan, the bulkhead seems to be mostly dried out. The salt water is slow to dry when you want it to and quick to dry and leave salt crystals everywhere on the boat when you don’t. So it’s a daily wash after a saltwater outing. But, at least, we were able to abandon the dinette-bed and put the bedding back in the V-berth for a good night's rest. Now, we'll have to wait and see if the porthole taping stops the leak.

Onward to the dreaded C and D Canal and Delaware Bay - next port, New Jersey!

NOTE: We are behind in blog posting due to the miserable internet at the last couple marinas. We will catch up with better wifi and hopefully be installing our own on board wifi network soon.

Thanks for reading these missives!