Haven Harbour, Rock Hall, MD

Sunday, July 12, 2009 Debbie and Kevin did laundry and prepared Island Hopper for their departure tomorrow morning. They head back to Cincinnati, and will return to the boat in early August. It was a great 4+ weeks on the boat. They spent the last night sitting on the stern looking out over the water. LIFE IS GOOD! Especially when you are traveling with your partner and your best friend. MV Island Hopper traveled 758 miles this past 4 weeks. 540 Miles were traveled with Joan and Ian. 218 Miles were cruised with Ed and Barb.

Haven Harbour, Rock Hall,MD

Saturday, July 11, 2009 Barb and Debbie went on an early morning 7 mile bike ride, while Ed and Kevin washed Island Hopper. At noon Kevin drove Barb and Ed to Baltimore to catch a plane home. Debbie & Kevin had a wonderful time cruising with them. It is always nice to spend time on the water with good friends.

Herrington Harbour to Rock Hall, MD - Haven Harbour - Homeport

Even Tate Needed A Blanket For Our Cool Morning Start

Friday, July 10, 2009 Island Hopper left the dock in Herrington Harbour at 9:05 AM. Weather is another sunny day with clear blue skies. Wind North 5 - 10 and Seas 1. Temperatures are in the low 70's for a cool start. It is a sweatshirt and jacket day. Another great day for cruising. Island Hopper arrived at Haven Harbour at 1:00 PM. (http://www.havenharbour.com/)

The crew bicycled 5 miles around Rock Hall. They had a wonderful dinner at Osprey Point Inn. (http://www.ospreypoint.com/)

Solomons Island to Herring Bay, Herrington Harbour Marina South

July 9, 2009

Island Hopper departed the dock at 9:05 AM. Today's journey is 40 miles to Herrington Harbour South Marina - Resort (http://www.herringtonharbour.com/) on Herring Bay. The weather is clear skies, sunny Winds 5 - 10 Northeast, Seas 1 --2 and temperatures in the lower 80's. Another pleasant day on the water. From the water, the shore south of Herring Bay is very attractive. Houses stand high on hills with their lawns sweeping down to the beach, or they cluster together under cool shade trees along the steep hillsides, or nestle in groups behind the sandy beaches. In addition to its beauty, Herring Bay is an important provisioning and repair center, for both power and sailboats. QUICK FACT: LNG TERMINAL Just south of St. Leonard on the Chesapeake Bay in Cove Point, MD lies Dominion Cove Point LNG, one of the country's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facilities. The Cove Point facility began receiving shipments between 1978 and 1980 and was re-opened by Columbia Gas in 1995, when it was used to liquefy, store and distribute domestic natural gas for use in mid-Atlantic. After several changes in ownership, Dominion received its first shipment at Cove Point in 2003. The LNG facility sits on just over 1000 acres, the majority of which is under protection; in addition to 800 acres under conversation management, 190 acres are freshwater marsh, and a country park accounts for another 80 acres of the property. Dominion says it is working with the environmental community to ensure the endangered plant and animal life. In and around the property is researched and maintained. Dominion is also a part of the Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust, a partnership with the Sierra Club and the Maryland Conservation Council.

Island Hopper arrived at Herrington Harbour South at 1:15 PM. Herrington Harbour, tropically themed, is one of the most popular resort marinas on the Bay. The marina offers slips, restaurants, lounges, an inn and a range of services and amenities. South's well groomed grounds include sandy beaches, picnic tables and grills, and numerous recreation facilities.

Kevin at The Herrington Harbour Beach Dock

View From The Beach Dock

The crew explored the resort and then took a shuttle into a small beach town, North Beach. It has a boardwalk and a few shops. After cocktails on the stern, Barb, Ed, Debbie & Kevin walked to the resort's restaurant, Mangoes. They were entertained by BAD karaoke. Wow, what a night! Lot's of laughs.

Sign Outside the Restaurant

White Point Marina to Solomons Island, MD

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Pool at White Point Marina

Island Hopper departed the White Point Marina Dock at 9:00 AM sharp. The weather is sunny with blue skies and temperatures in the low 80's. The Winds are North 5 - 10, Seas 1 - 2. Today's cruise is approximately 40 miles. ETA is 1:00 PM at Zahniser's Yachting Center on Solomons Island. Solomons Island is a major boating center located at the mouth of the Patuxent River, in southern Calvert County, Maryland. Solomons offers several full service marinas, shops, restaurants, museums, and a boardwalk overlooking the Patuxent. Zahniser's Yachting Center is the most comprehensive marine facility on the Chesapeake Bay. The marina is centrally located in the town of Solomons Island. Nestled in the heart of historic Solomons Island, Zahniser's blends the beauty of a pristine yacht club and the technical expertise of an award winning repair yard. Barb, Ed, Debbie & Kevin biked into the town for shopping and sight-seeing. They ate dinner at CD Cafe.

Colonial Beach to White Point Marina, Yeocomico River

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Barb and Debbie got up early to ride 4 miles (round trip) on their bikes into the town for coffee at Java Stop. Island Hopper departed the dock at 9:40 AM for a 30 mile cruise to the Yeocomico River. The weather was sunny with blue skies, temperature in the low 80's. There was a nice cool breeze off the water. Winds 5 - 10 Southwest and Seas fairly flat. The Yeocomico is an attractive river with three forks. Shannon Branch extends to starboard as you enter; West Yeocomico River forms the middle fork almost dead ahead; and South Yeocomico River goes to the south (port) and branches to Mill and Lodge creeks. Island Hopper docked at White Point Marina (http://www.whitepointmarina.com/) on the Yeocomico River at White Point Creek. It is a family owned marina with many amenities that include a pool, tennis courts, gas grills and a courtesy car.

The Island Hopper Crew took the rental car into Kinsale, VA to provision the boat with more wine and beer. Kinsale, chartered in 1706, is a quaint maritime villiage still considered one of the best deepwater ports of the lower Potomac River. Kinsale was a busy commercial shipping hub until the early 20th century - shipping tobacco, timber and tomatoes. Kinsale Museum, housed in a restored 18th - century pub, chronicles this illustrious history. The crew did not get to tour the museum, since it is only open Wednesday - Sunday. Tonight the crew grilled steaks for dinner. Another good meal with great friends and a fantastic water view!

China and All!

Ed and Barb Enjoying The Steak Dinner

Kevin Eating Dinner On The Stern

Washington D.C. to Colonial Beach, VA

Monday, July 6, 2009 The Island Hopper crew got up early for a 7:00 AM departure to take on fuel and pump out. Today the weather is sunny with clear blue skies. Winds North 5 - 10, Seas flat, and temperature in the low 80s. It was a pleasant day to travel. The cruise today was 70 miles. Island Hopper arrived at Colonial Beach around 2:45 PM. Since Colonial Beach is a nothing town, the crew bought tuna steaks at the fish market in D.C. to grill for dinner.

Ed On The Dock

Sunset Over The Bow Of Island Hopper

Changing of the Crew

Joan & Ian Downs

Sunday, July 5, 2009 Joan and Ian Downs departed Island Hopper at 8:45 AM to catch a cab to Dulles Airport. They will continue their holiday for three more days along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Clyde Cruising Club Flag

(Joan & Ian's Club In Scotland)

NOTE TO JOAN & IAN: Thank you so much for traveling from Ayr, Scotland to travel on Island Hopper for almost three weeks. We enjoyed spending time with you and sharing the history of America. As always we enjoy your company and friendship. The time travels much too quickly when you are here. Wishing you Peace and Happiness until we meet up again! Love, Debbie & Kevin

Barb & Ed Daniel

At 12:00 Noon Ed and Barb Daniels, friends from Cincinnati boarded Island Hopper for a 6 day cruise. Debbie & Kevin are looking forward to spending time with them. The crew went to the local grocery to provision for the week. After relaxing on the boat they took a cab to the Dupont Circle neighborhood to have dinner at Hank's Oyster Bar. The food was great. After dinner they walked across the street for coffee at Java House. Later they took a cab back to the boat. Tate was patiently waiting for his family to return.

Island Hopper's Crew Celebrates the 4th of July

Saturday, July 4, 2009 HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY !!!!!!! Joan, Ian, Debbie and Kevin left Island Hopper at 9:45 AM to take the Circulator to the new Smithsonian exhibit, The National Museum of the American Indian. The National Museum of the American Indian is the sixteenth museum of the Smithsonian Institution. It is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. Established by an act of Congress in 1989, the museum works in collaboration with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic expression, and empowering the Indian voice. The museum's extensive collections, assembled largely by George Gustav Heye (1874–1957), encompass a vast range of cultural material—including more that 800,000 works of extraordinary aesthetic, religious, and historical significance, as well as articles produced for everyday, utilitarian use. The collections span all major culture areas of the Americas, representing virtually all tribes of the United States, most of those of Canada, and a significant number of cultures from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Chronologically, the collections include artifacts from Paleo-Indian to contemporary arts and crafts. The museum's holdings also include film and audiovisual collections, paper archives, and a photography archive of more than 300,000 images depicting both historic and contemporary Native American life. The National Museum of the American Indian comprises three facilities, each designed following consultations between museum staff and Native peoples. In all of its activities, the National Museum of the American Indian acknowledges the diversity of cultures and the continuity of cultural knowledge among indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere and Hawaii, incorporating Native methodologies for the handling, documentation, care, and presentation of collections. NMAI actively strives to find new approaches to the study and representation of the history, materials, and cultures of Native peoples. The National Museum of the American Indian is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of the Native cultures of the Western Hemisphere, past, present, and future, through partnership with Native people and others. The museum works to support the continuance of culture and traditional values. At 5:00 PM 24 guest boarded Island Hopper for the July 4th celebration and fireworks over the river. Guests included: Liz, Robert, Emma and Alistair Hall, Tom Lang, Aynsley Hopper and Ella Lang, Ian and Joan Downs, Beth, Eric, Kit and Kristin Allgaier, Bill, Meghan and Nora Buck, Barb and Ed Daniel, Elise and David-Craig Mann, Jessica Rogers, Debbie & Kevin Hopper and a very surprise appearance by Karen Hopper. After appetizers and a barbecue dinner, everyone enjoyed watching the fireworks from the bow and bridge of the boat. It was a fantastic evening celebrating this great day in historic Washington, D.C. with family and friends.

Daniel Family

David Craig & Elise Mann, Jessica Rogers, Ed & Barb Daniel

Buck Family

Meghan, Bill & Nora Buck

Hall Family

Robert, Liz, Duncan, Emma and Alistair

Allgaier Family

Beth, Kristen, Karen Hopper, Kit & Eric

Down Family

Joan & Ian

Hopper Family

Tom, Aynsley, Ella, Debbie and Kevin

Aynsley, Tom & Ella

Our Beautiful Granddaughter Ella

More To Do And See In Washington, D.C.

Friday, July 3, 2009 Joan and Ian left the boat at 9:30 for more sightseeing in D.C. Kevin and Debbie prepared the boat for the arrival of guests. Aynsley, Tom and Ella came to the boat at 12:20 PM. The made the 8 hour journey from Cincinnati, Ohio. Aynsley, Tom, Ella, Debbie & Kevin walked to the fish market and had lunch at Phillips restaurant on the water.

The Local Fish Market

At 5:30 PM the Hall family arrived at the boat. Liz, Robert and Duncan came from Mendam, NJ. Emma flew in from San Francisco, CA. Alistair, who is working in DC for the summer, joined the fun also. It was so nice to have everyone on the boat. Joan and Ian enjoyed meeting Kevin's family.

Joan & Ian Downs

After appetizers the group went to Le Madeline in Georgetown for dinner. After dinner they walked across the street for Pink Ice yogurt. What a wonderful evening with family and friends!

Aynsley & Emma

Tom and Ella

Exploring Washington DC

Thursday, July 2, 2009 Joan, Ian, Debbie & Kevin left the boat at 9:30 AM to take the Circulator to Georgetown. After exploring the shops they ate an all American lunch at Johnny Rockets. After lunch they took the Circulator to Union Station. At 3:00 they met John Hicks, an aide for Congressman Steve Driehaus for a private tour of the Capital. It was a great tour and everyone enjoyed the 2 hour tour.

The Capital

Union Central

It was back to the boat to get ready for dinner at Hooks in Georgetown. The restaurant had wonderful seafood. Another great day in Washington, DC.

Dinner at Hooks in Georgetown

Capital Yacht Club, Washington D.C.

Captain Kevin readying MV Island Hopper for Departure

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Leaving Colonial Beach Yacht Club

Island Hopper departed the dock at 9:15 AM heading to the Capital Yacht Club in Washington, DC. Winds are 5 out of the Southwest. It was a calm cruise down the beautiful and scenic Potomac River.

Capital Yacht Club (CYC) was formed on October 19, 1892 by nine yachtsman who met on the naptha powered launch ALERT in order to hire a watchman to keep an eye on their vessels anchored in the newly formed Washington Channel. This was not long after the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) had begun a massive dredging project that created East Potomac Park, the Tidal Basin and created many of the features of the SW Washington Waterfront that we are familiar with today. The SW waterfront was still a working seaport, with fish wharfs, municipal piers for tobacco and farm produce, numerous ice and coal docks, towing companies and coastal steamship wharfs projecting into the Channel. CYC’s first facility was converted from a coal scow to a two level clubhouse known as THE ARK that was moored on the West side of the Washington Channel at the foot of ninth street beginning in 1894. By 1900 the club had grown to 30 members and leased property at 700 Water Street on which they built a 1 and a half story wooden building. The club continued to grow and in 1922 CYC moved into a new clubhouse near the club’s current location. This building was the classic yacht club with peaked roof, copula and second story balcony that we have many pictures of. CYC facilities at this time included a marine railway! From its inception, CYC was heavily involved with racing. Several regattas were held each year and CYC was a charter member of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA) that began informally in 1906 and Incorporated in 1910. Racing was occasionally interrupted by war, but little else.

The crew relaxed and then took a cab into Georgetown for dinner at the Equinox restaurant. Equinox was chic with fabulous food.