Layday at St Michael’s

St Michael’s is located on the Miles River and is named for the Archangel St Michael after the Christ Episcopal Church of St Michael the Archangel parish founded in 1677. The town is full of historic homes, inns, restaurants, very unique shoppes and has a brewery and a winery. It is also home to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum so lots going on in this busy harbor. The picture of the signage gives you an idea of how quaint the town is.

The Museum is currently building the new Maryland Dove , a representation of the vessel that accompanied the first European settlers to Maryland in 1634. Quite the project that will take approximately three years with twelve full time expert shipwrights. A wonderful display of various skipjacks and the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse are right there to view. The campus itself is 18 acres and the perfect place for families to picnic and play.

Union jacks are flying everywhere! St Mary’s Park is the location of one of the two cannons commemorating “ the town that fooled the British” during the War of 1812. The story goes that when the British began shelling St Michael’s in 1813 the residents placed lanterns into the tops of the trees in order to fool the redcoats into shooting too high. The private home called Cannonball House has the evidence! The person on the bench is not Nandad. 

Another picture of the wooden boats at the museum. That is Nandad in the background and the Hooper Lighthouse.

This afternoon Nana and Nandad are taking a small watercraft tour of the harbor. Leaving for Chesapeake City tomorrow but this spot sure deserves a stop another time. 

NH is docked at St Michael’s

NH cruised up the Chesapeake Bay leaving Tilgham Island on our starboard side, round Eastern Bay and Deep Water Point into the Miles River to St Michael’s. This was the most traffic we have witnessed on this trip with sailboats, motorboats, cargo ships and the coastguard passing us by.

After NH is safely secured into her dock and a good scrubbing makes her nice and shiny Nandad is happy to have his treat.

Solomons Island : Sunday 5/16

After a lovely evening on Anchorage NH left for the Solomons Island which as the crow flies is only twelve miles,  however with the way bay and the river flows it is approximately 42 NM. We cruised out the Potomac River into the Chesapeake Bay and up into the Patuxent River. Today was a perfect day for cruising the bay with lots of sunshine and very little wind. At 4.30pm we were ready for a short bike ride courtesy of Safe Harbor  Zahnisers.

This is just another beautiful home on the way into the Solomons.

Solomons is the home to the Calvert Marine Museum where you can see an exhibit of J.C. Lore Oyster House which depicts the seafood harvesting and processing business which once flourished in Solomons. In 1870 , because of Issac Solomon’s oyster packing facilities, the island was renamed. The Island is also home to the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. When on our bike ride we came across this display. This is reminder to all how important it is to make some positive changes to our environment. 

A little before sunset this lovely classical boat came cruising past. Tomorrow Nana and Nandad are heading to St Michael’s 

Our route today. NH is now in Maryland. 

Before leaving Solomons on Monday morning Nana and Nandad were able to attend Mass at Our  Lady Star of the Sea. 

On our walk we came across these perfect black and white Retriever’s. Now initially Nana thought they were real! 

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the State Dog of Maryland, a working dog breed that recover waterfowl for hunters. 

Nana also discovered that those box covered structures she noticed along the bay are called duck blinds ! 

Who would have guessed!

Mount Vernon 5/15

New Horizon found her way today to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon was George Washington’s home for 45 years. It was really extra special to arrive by boat and a perfect day for walking the grounds. We spent a few hours touring the house, grounds, gardens, memorials, and museum. We did not have time  to visit the Distillery and Gristmill which is three miles from the site. The Generals whiskey is still made on-site. At the Education Center they have wonderful exhibits and the Revolutionary War 4D Theater is a must. 

Did you know that George Washington had only one tooth left by the time he was elected President! His dentures were made from ivory, human and animal teeth. 

The picture below is a very serious Nana - in the background Martha and George Washington’s Tomb. George died 1799 at Mount Vernon from a severe throat infection and Martha died three years later. In December 1800 Martha chose to free her late husband’s slaves ( George Washington left directions for the emancipation of all the slaves that he owned, after the death of Martha Washington) and signed a deed of manumission. The original burial vault is located nearby and the tomb was completed in 1831.

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There is also a memorial to all the slaves that worked on the farm over the years. There are no records that document the number of enslaved or free African- Americans who are buried in the cemetery. Estimates range from 100 to 150. 

After leaving Mount Vernon NH cruised back down the Potomac River and dropped anchor at Breton Bay beside Protestant Point near Lovers Point! North Shore ( Mile 25). A great beef stew was ready just in time to watch yet another sunset. A lovely quite spot. Apologies for the blurry picture which was taken from a picture I took with the camera and than the iPhone. Sunset was 8.10pm. 

Georgetown 5/14

Nana and Nandad once again took the water taxi this time to Georgetown where Nandad really enjoyed strolling around the University and taking in all the wonderful olde world buildings. We had the perfect lunch at a wonderful restaurant right at the River with the background of the JFK Performing Arts Building and the Watergate buildings. We really will have to return to attend a performance. 

Now after four day in Washington we have noticed an increase in the planes that are flying in and out of the airport - a sign that things are beginning to open up again. Also extensive military presence is noted with the multiple helicopters flying overhead. They make your boat shuddered and there is no real schedule, which of course is intentional. Military Installations include Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Naval Support Facility Anacostia,Washington Navy Yard and Fort Mc Nair. 

The above picture is Nana contemplating while watching the Capital

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial 

Washington DC 5/11 to 5/ 15

NH at her slip at the Capital Yacht Club right down town within walking and biking distance to all that Washington has to offer. Now Nandad was very excited and was really thrilled to cruise under the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.

Nana and Nandad will spend four nights at the Marina and plan to visit all the memorials, monument and any outdoor facilities that we are permitted to access. It is very strange to be able to bike right up to the monument, no crowds, no fuss , as due to COVID and events of Jan 6th Washington is still in lockdown mode. The Wharf area is really still underdevelopment but so far they have created quite the area for walking, dining and enjoying the waterfront. On our first night we decided to do the Old Trolley Moonlight tour and covered a lot of ground.

Wednesday Nana and Nandad repeated the tour of the memorials but this time by bike. It was really something special. We took the water taxi to Alexandria and had a wonderful dinner at Landini Brothers that lasted two hours - it reminded us of Italy. Great food, good wine and great service.

Monday May 10th Anchor at Chapman Cove

Well after a very long day Nana and Nandad decided to drop anchor at Chapman Cove. Although only a few miles from Mount Vernon it was close to six in the evening and from past experiences we have learned that it’s best not to tempt fate! The River is much wider than Nana expected and the scenery is really quite magnificent. The mouth of the River is more broad and flat while the upstream is more forested with cliffs and big houses lining the shore. 

Tuesday morning we got up early expecting to visit Mount Vernon by boat! Well unfortunately the dock for the boats was closed and the Anchorage area very shallow so it was decided to call it a day, take some pictures and perhaps take a cruise boat from Washington. 

Beautiful Mount Vernon from NH with the little red tug that did manage to anchor and dingy to the dock. It has a two foot draft!