Chesapeake Bay Exploration V
17 May 2007 | Swan Creek, Md.
Jim Lea
Yesterday (Thursday) we got up and bundled up against the lower temperatures, and headed out Harness Creek into South River, then out into the bay and up into the Annapolis inner harbor. Not being peak cruising season (we did see a fleet of 10 cruising boats sail off down the bay), we were able to pick up a town mooring for the night, and headed ashore. Although the day had started cool, by now it had warmed up to 70F (20C), so was quite comfortable for a walking tour of the town. We first went into the Harbormaster's Office to register and pay for the mooring, $25 per night, then set out to tour the town. We first went to the Naval Academy, whose campus dominates the town, where we went through security and into the campus. It is very impressive in both its size and the elegance of the buildings. Only some were open to the public, but what we saw really impressed us. The chapel has a crypt underneath where the body of naval Captain John Paul Jones is contained in a sarcophagus, together with a lot of information on his exploits. Back in town, we visited a large historic home of one of the signatories to the declaration of Independence. Our main purpose was to visit the famous gardens. And they were beautiful with the roses in full bloom and the foliage still that bright spring green. After that, we headed up to the State Capitol building where we again went through security, this time with an airport-type X-ray machine. I was surprised to be allowed in with my little Gerber multi-tool, as it has a couple of knife blades, but they didn't stop me. Again, although there were tours available, we just wandered on our own, not wanting to spend an hour on a tour (too much information!). But we saw where the Continental Congress met during the revolution to hammer out the new constitution, and learned that Annapolis was, for a short time, the United States capitol. Back at the waterfront, we decided to run back to the boat and grab the dirty laundry. When there is a convenient laundromat, you do it, as you're never sure where the next one will be! And while waiting, we visited a boating shop and a couple of wine shops, and naturally made a few purchases! Back at the boat, with the clean laundry, we settled in for the night and had dinner in the cockpit, finishing the Butter Chicken. And as the sun set across the town to the west, the temperatures dropped with it. So we tucked down below with the Espar keeping it warm and dry. This Morning I jumped out of bed to turn on the Espar, and... Nothing! After an hour of fiddling, with no real information on it, we decided to go ashore and buy an electric heater. We quickly found one in the hardware store next to the dinghy dock, so, after mailing some post cards, buying a paper and crossword book, we headed back to the boat and dropped the mooring, heading out into the face of a cold north wind (another "Cold front from Canada") and off north. In mid -afternoon we pulled into Swan Creek, described in our 5 year old guide as a nice quiet anchorage. Well, the other thousand or so boats aren't making much noise, but it is certainly not remote. But safely down below, we plugged in our new heater and started the generator to fire it up, and spent a nice cozy night. We continue to look at the Delaware Bay and discuss when we will run down it. Based on tides and the wind forecast, it looks like next Wednesday. So we plan, unless the forecast tomorrow is different, to head up the nearby Chester River tomorrow for a few days. It is navigable for about 25 miles, and has a nice town, Chesterton, about 15 miles up, so it sounds interesting. Then we will spend a day or two heading up to the head of the Chesapeake and across the C&D canal to Delaware Bay.