May 31, 2011 Solomons, MD

When last we updated, we were in Oxford, MD and were leaving the next day(May 27) for Cambridge, MD.  This we did on a perfectly gorgeous day. The distance was only 10 miles, and it was very pretty. We were able to tie to a T-head and this makes the docking of the boat much easier.  NO backing, etc.  We planned to stay in Cambridge through Memorial Day, so as to avoid the water traffic that accompanies the first real boating holiday of the year.  In other works, we wanted to avoid the "crazies". 

Immediately upon getting tied off, I walked to a local electronics service center that had been recommended to us for work on the generator.  I knew it was Friday before Memorial Day, but took the chance.  A technician, Gene, drove me back to the boat and upon some testing, determined that the generator, while running, was not was not genning.  It was producing 4 volts instead of 120.  Luckily, he was ready to go on holiday and he worked fast and the cost was not prohibitive.  We decided to wait until we get back home to have the generator fixed.

Cambridge has several good restaurants, including Jimmie(name of the male crabs) and Sooks(name of the female crabs).We ate there with the Reves and the food was excellent.  The town is old and has not fully succumbed to the urban blight of many of the towns we have visited.  I guess the lawyers keep the downtown, around the courthouse, busy.  There are several condo projects around the harbor and it is quite pretty. 

On Saturday(May 28), we took the $8 guided walking tour of the old homes and the downtown.  Several MD governors have hailed from here and several of the homes were early 1700s.  The main street from the marina has been redone with bricks.  James Michener describes High Street as one of the most beautiful in the country in his book "Chesapeake."

On Sunday(May 29) we attended the Episcopal Church with the Reves.  The church is from the middle 1700s and is very pretty.  It contains a Tiffany window and several other beautiful stained glass windows.  The Rose window over the main door was stunning.  The minister asked if we were "boat people" and indicated that we had that "aura".  Not sure what he meant.   Getting back to the boat, we said goodbye to the Reves as they left to continue their Great Loop.  They are very nice people and we have enjoyed our time with them. 

Monday, Memorial Day 2011 included a very nice ceremony at the marina.  It included some speeches, none too long, prayers, a flyover, and 3 honor guards, the Highway Patrol, the Police Dept, and the local VFW.  It was very hot and several people passed out during the ceremony, including an elderly gent carrying a Maryland Flag in the VFW Color Gurard. 

Veterans being honored on Memorial Day, 2011



The Nathan

 After the ceremony, we heard about a FREE, the four letter F Word that all cruisers really like, cruise on the Nathan, a SkipJack that makes Cambridge its home.  They usually charge an admission, but on special holidays, they do free cruises.  So we went, and it was wonderful.  A volunteer crew motors to the center of the Choptank river and cuts the motor, raises the huge sails and sails for about 30 minutes.  Although relatively new (1994), this authentic SkipJack shows just how hard the work of fishing, crabbing, and oystering in the 1800s was.  The mast was 65 feet tall, from one tree.  A crew of 5 would work from September through March harvesting oysters in the river and Chesapeake Bay.  The Nathan was built by the county to promote tourism, history, and awareness of Dorchester County.  Betsy, posessing a 50-Ton USCG License, was legally allowed to "Captain" the Nathan.



Betsy at the helm of the Nathan, a Chesapeake SkipJack



Nathan Sail

Tuesday(May 31), we left Cambridge to head back across the bay to Solomons.  We are on our way South now and plan to stop at various places on the way.  The Chesapeake was like glass with waves less than 1 foot.  The Spring Cove Marina in Solomons is one of our favorites and we will stay here two nights. Betsy went to the Food Lion and I went to the Barber Shop.  The marina provides a Golf Cart Shuttle, all electric and solar powered, to take boaters around the area.  This is very handy.  One nice feature of Spring Cove is that the West Marine is about a block away. 

It is very hot here, with temps in the mid 90's and a heat index of over 100.  This pattern is to stay around for several days.

Thursday, it is on to Yorktown, another of our favorite places.  

Betsy adds:  Rick gets a little carried away about the 50 ton license thing....anyone who wanted to have their picture taken was allowed to stand at the helm!  Good thing he finally made it to the barber shop...I was going to make him put his hair in a pony tail if he didn't get it cut soon.  It is so hot we are both suffering from delirium.  Having a great time.  We agree we would rather be too hot rather than freezing to death like we did on our loop trip.