A Day In Annapolis, MD

Monday, June 22, 2009 Ian, Joan and Kevin toured the Naval Academy and the Maryland State House. Kevin served as an up close and personal docent. The United States Naval Academy is probably the most interesting and important site in Annapolis, the Naval Academy runs along the Severn River and abuts downtown Annapolis. Men and women enter from every part of the United States and foreign countries to undergo rigorous study in subjects that indlude literature, navigation, and nuclear engineering. The USNA, established in 1845 on the site of the U.S. Army forrt, occupies 329 waterfront acres. The centerpiece of the campus is the bright copper-clad dome of the interdenominational U.S. Naval Academy Chapel.

The Chapel

The Maryland State House was completed in 1780. The State House is the oldest state capitol in continuos legislative use; it's also the only in which the U.S. Congress has sat (1783 - 84). It is here that George Washington resigned as commander in chief of the Continential Army and where the Treaty of Paris was ratified, ending the Revolutionary War.

The Dome

With tired feet from a bust day of tours, the crew took the water taxi to O'Leary's for dinner.

Taking to the Waters For Beautiful Annapolis

Sunday, June 21, 2009 Island Hopper traveled 19 miles to Annapolis, MD. Berthing for two nights at Yacht Basin Marina, just a five minute walk from the small town. In 1649 a group of Puritan settlers moved from Virginia to a spot at the mouth f the Severn River, where they established a community called Providence. Lord Baltimore, who held the royal charter to settle Maryland, named the area around the town Anne Arundel County, after his wife; in 1684 Anne Arundel Town was established across from Providence on the Severn's south side. Ten years later, Anne Arundel Town became the capital of of Maryland and was renamed Annapolis after princess Anne, who later became queen. It received its city charter in 1708 and became a major port, particularly for the export of tobacco. In 1774 patriots here matched their Boston counterparts by burning the Peggy Stewart, a ship loaded with taxed tea. Annapolis later served as the nation's first peacetime capital (1783 - 84) Today the city's considerable colonial and early republican heritage is largely intact, and because it's all within walking distance and highly accessible. Although it has long since been overtaken by Baltimore as the major Maryland port, Annapolis is still a popular pleasure - boating destination.

Today was a walking tour of the town and then a dinner at The Chart House.

The Water Taxi

St. Michaels Wooden Boat Show

Crab Art At The Museum Boat Show

Saturday, June 20, 2009 Another wet and soggy day. The weather has been very unusual for this time of the year. Again the crew put on their weather gear to tour the museum and boat show.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, one of the regions finest, chronicles the Bay's rich history of boat building, commercial fishing, navigating, and hunting in compelling detail. Exhibits among nine buildings on the 18 acre waterfront site include two of the bay's unique skipjacks among the museums more than 80 historic regional boats. There is also the restored 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse, a working boatyard, and a "waterman's wharf" with shanties and oystering and crabbing tools. After a few hours of looking at boat show boats, Joan and Debbie were suffering from "Boat Fatigue". The crew took a break for lunch. After lunch Ian and Kevin went back to the museum for more boat viewing, while Debbie & Joan went shopping and later had wine at the St. Michael's Winery. They ate dinner at Kevin's favorite restaurant, The Bistro. Never a bad meal yet!! The crew walked home again tonight.

Island Hopper Heads To St. Michaels, MD

Friday, June 19, 2009 Island Hopper left Rock Hall at 10:00 AM to travel to Bob Pascal's St. Michael's Harbour Inn. After securing the boat the crew had lunch aboard island Hopper and then walked into the town center. St. Michael's, once a shipbuilding center, is today one of the region's premier leisure-time destinations. It's ever-growing popularity has resulted in more and more shops, cafes, waterfront restaurants, and inns. In warmer months tourists and boaters crowd its narrow streets and snug harbor. Talbot Street is lined with restaurants, galleries, and all manner of shops. Joan and Debbie went into many shops during their first day. But they were happy that many shops are still left for tomorrow. The crew had dinner at 208 Talbot Restaurant & Wine Bar. The restaurant is unobtrusively situated on St. Michael's busy main street. 208 Talbot, long a favorite among discriminating diners, has several intimate dining rooms with exposed brick walls and brick floors. The crew walked back to the boat ( about 2 miles) to burn off some dinner calories.

Off to Rock Hall, MD - Island Hopper's Summer Berth

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Island Hopper Pulled To Exchange Props

Island Hopper departed Baltimore's Inner Harbor to travel 22 miles to Haven Harbour Marina in Rock Hall, MD. Kevin and Debbie took Ian and Joan around the small town of Rock Hall. They enjoyed seeing the town and all the sail boats at the many local marinas. The crew ate dinner at Osprey Point Inn. The chef is back from last year and the food was outstanding.

Osprey Point Inn

Exploring Baltimore

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 After breakfast the Island Hopper Crew donned rain gear to greet the misty wet day. They boarded the water taxi for Fort McHenry. The star-shape fort is forever associated with Francis Scott Key and "The Star-Spangled Banner," which Key penned while watching the British bombardment of Baltimore during the War of 1812. Key had been detained onboard a truce ship, where he had been negotiating the release of one Dr. William Beanes, when the bombardment began; Key knew too much about the attack plan to be released. Through the next day and night, as the battle raged, Key strained be sure, through the smoke and the haze, that the flag still flew above Fort McHenry - indicating the Baltimore's defenders held firm. "By the dawn's early light" of September 14, 1814, he saw the 30 - foot by 42- foot "Star-Spangled Banner" still aloft and was inspired to pen the words to a poem. The flag that flew above Fort McHenry that day had 15 stars and 15 stripes, and was hand-sewn for the fort. A visit to the fort includes a

15 - minute history film, guided tour, and frequent living - history displays on summer weekends.

From the fort the dampened crew took a water taxi to a restaurant for lunch and then back on the water taxi to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

The aquarium is the most visited attraction in Maryland and has more than 10,000 fish, sharks, dolphins, and amphibians dwelling in 2 million gallons of water. The Animal Planet Australia; Wild Extremes exhibits mics a river running through a gorge. The aquarium also features reptiles, birds, plants, and mammals in its rain- forest environment, inside a glass pyramid 64 feet high. The design of the aquarium is amazing and the fish were beautiful to watch. After an action packed day the Island Hopper Crew stayed at Inner Harbor for dinner at the Rusty Scupper. The seafood dinners were wonderful.

Ian and Joan Arrive From Scotland

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Joan and Ian Downs boarded Island Hopper at 9:30 PM at the Baltimore Inner Harbor Marine Center, Baltimore, MD. They had a safe and uneventful flight to America. As always Kevin and Debbie are delighted they could join them for a well planned voyage.