Portsmouth, Virginia to Solomons Island, Maryland

Kevin preparing "Island Hopper" for departure

Thursday, June 5, 2008 We left the marina at 8:00 AM. We have 113 mile to go today. It should take us about 6 1/2 hours to get to Solomons Island. (http://www.sba.solomons.md.us/ ) The skies are sunny and temperatures are already in the 80s with high humidity. The winds are N 5 - 10 with the seas 1 -2 ft. on the Chesapeake Bay.

Sailors standing at attention waiting to come ashore

A Light in the Chesapeake Bay

The air feels much cooler with the winds over the water. It was a pleasant run today. We arrived at Hospitality Harbor Marina at 2:30 PM. (http://www.solomonsmd.hiselect.com/)

"Island Hopper" Approaching the Marina

Solomons Island Solomons Island, just inside the mouth of the Patuxent River, has developed since the 1970s into one of Chesapeake's top destinations for cruising boaters. Discovered by the boating crowd, it has turned into a modern yachting center filled with marinas offering a myriad of amenities. Retirement retreats and weekend residences edge a shoreline now cleared of derelict boats, crab shacks and rickety piers. Isaac Solomon established the first oyster-canning plant in 1867 and, since that time, Solomons has been a major boat building and waterfront community. The first bugeye (oyster- dredging sailing vessel) was built in Solomons in 1879, and during the 1930s, the yard of M.M. Davis and Son produced many famous racing yachts. Most everything in Solomons is available by foot, but bicycles can be rented for faster travel. The town is less than 1 1/2 miles long and has a single two lane road traveling its entire distance. Museums, shops and restaurants are scattered throughout the town. Seafood is featured prominently at many of the restaurants. Many of the town's small cottages have been converted into unique gift and clothing stores. This should be a quaint town to visit.

Debbie's Favorite House on Solomons Island

We walked into the town, which turned out to be a round trip walk of about 4 miles. The town is quaint and small with a couple dozen restaurants and bars and a few shops filled with tourist items. We stopped at the grocery store on the way back and bought fresh shrimps, salmon, asparagus and curry couscous for dinner back on the boat. It was a quiet and relaxing evening.