Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Today's Pics

You never know what you'll see on the Chesapeake. Lots of military R&D in this area.

Stealth Boats?


They came screaming by at very high speeds — probably 60+ knots.



Even saw a drone fly overhead...

Couldn't get to my camera quick enough... 
So I copped a pic.

Wonder if they got our picture?  

Kinda like the boatpics.com helicopter only faster.

Georgetown, Maryland

At the end of the day...

 Cut from Marinalife.com

Vibrant Small Town Boating Hub

The remote yet vibrant small town boating hub of Georgetown, Maryland, is eight miles past the confluence of the Upper Chesapeake Bay and the serpentine Sassafras River. Once a thriving port that was a base of continental supplies during the Revolution, the British, led by Admiral George Cockburn, decided to come on up during the War of 1812 and torch the town.

At least, that was the plan until they ran into Catherine “Kitty” Knight, a well connected niece of a Maryland Assembly member renowned for her beauty and determination. By the time the British troops climbed the hill to the last few houses in Georgetown, the village below was a bonfire. Most of the residents had fled. Not Kitty Knight. She refused to leave her bedridden neighbor. Admiral Cockburn was about to set fire to the house when Kitty Knight confronted him. He warned her to leave. She refused, saying, “If you burn this house, you burn me with it.” Struck by her bravery and her beauty, he spared that house and the one next to it.
The Kitty Knight House is now a restaurant and pub. Just up the hill from where we're tied up.

We've not explored the area yet, but our favorite discovery so far? —  as the sun goes down it's so quiet, just taking the boys out for their evening walk was a zen-like experience.


The skies looked kinda spooky at sunset, but the day ended much better than it started.
We think we'll enjoy the peace and quiet for a few days. Maybe drop the dink in the water and explore the Sassafras River... lot's of pretty places to photograph and the weather forecast shows to be sunny and mild.

August on the Chesapeake?
In 2010, when we were last here, it was 104°

Start smellin' roses.

Cheers,

Istaboa

One last thing.


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Decision Made

and we turned around...

To all who've asked, we said our plan was to reverse course and head back whenever we decide to... well I guess that was today at Chesapeake City, MD.

We had loose knit plans to go up to NYC, Long Island Sound, and beyond, but early this morning and unable to sleep,  I pondered the circumstances, ran the numbers regarding time, money, and our good weather window, looked at the forecast/radar on the internet , and decided to wake Mel at 5:00AM to discuss our immediate future. Around 8:00AM a severe thunderstorm blew threw and both of our cell phones started alarming a tornado warning... Omen? The storm took the same route as our intended course down the Delaware Bay. The tornado did much damage on the Jersey coast.
We both decided Long Island Sound and New England were to be saved for another time... maybe next year. That dream is still alive and life is good... no whining.

So if you follow our tracks today they will lead you away from the Delaware Bay and way the hell up the Sassafras River to Georgetown, MD.


It's one of those quaint little eastern shore towns with pretty rolling hills topped by appropriately eye-catching homes with grounds that visually blend into the river.
It's blissfully quiet for now, not much but the sounds of egrets and eagles with the distant hum of an outboard motor somewhere off in the distance, but the cruising guides say the weekend will bring out the ski boats and jet skis.
We'll have moved by then, but it's nice for now.

So as we head south we'll take our time to explore those interesting locales we passed by on the way up. Maybe back to Annapolis; just because we liked it so much. There was much we still wanted to see and do there. Maybe visit our friends in St. Michaels.

I'll have to admit, we're disappointed... We should have left in May, not July... but life gets in the way sometimes and it's the only life we have... so that's okay.

Sometimes, things work out as they should.

Cheers,

Istaboa


Hangin At The Yacht Club

Not our usual, but it was fun.


We were walking distance from everything Annapolis.

The AYC Racing Fleet

Behind the bridge at Spa Creek

Monday, August 12, 2013

Today's Run


Not a long run... not a fun run... but not bad at all.
Not much net so we're short on content.

This area is a bit strange, a huge ship just passed by. Maybe 50' from our beam where we're tied up at a little marina in Chesapeake City.
Schaefer's Canal House Marina...
They're just restarting an old marina and working really hard to make it go. Nice folks.



Cheers,

Istaboa

Ego Alley

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon... doesn't that look fun?



"Ego Alley" in Annapolis is a small, narrow waterway that leads to the heart of the city.  It got it's name from the endless parade of boats and yachts that traverse this dead end canal, usually only to see and be seen.

Today's Pics

Been quite busy for a couple of transients. We've ran into folks we have seen in a while, met new friends, and made the best out of our 5 days in Annapolis.

Saturday night with Josh, our Compass Cay buddy, and dinner last night again with Pete.
We've really been having a blast here, but it's time to go.

Got a couple of good pics of the boys and a really nice one of Mel and Mud in there natural position.

Radar's hair still hasn't grown back... looks like a receding hairline... kinda like mine.


Cheers,

Istaboa

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Today's Pics

The end of Plebe summer.


The US Naval Academy is a beautiful place







Getting to know Annapolis

Last night was entertaining...

Searching for knowledge and experience about the Cape May canal and further north, we made contact with Bill, the owner of 'Jenny' a 46 Nordhavn, who lives just across Spa Creek.
We met up at the Boat Yard Bar and Grill, which is a local favorite watering hole that caters to the boating community here in Annapolis.
After a beer we decided to have dinner at the Eastport Yacht Club.


A great view of the Bay Bridge and the Severn River.
We had a nice time and Bill and Ann were kind enough to offer many suggestions and tips on heading north. Very nice folks.

We're really liking Annapolis a lot, we could spend a month here. There's so much maritime history.
Who knows... we may... or not.

Cheers,

Istaboa