Navigator on the Loop: Annapolis, MD

Annapolis is by far our favorite city so far on this trip. We had an uneventful trip form St. Michaels to Annapolis on Saturday, May 17. Our intention was to stay a few days, rent a car and tour Washington DC. The weather has a way of altering our plans and we stayed a full week.

After docking, etc. we had a wonderful evening with Al and Marianne, friends who live in Annapolis and winter at Palm Harbor Club, our condo assn. First we had cocktails on our boat with them and Larry and Jan from Panacea. Then we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Annapolis Yacht Club with their friends John and Kathy. Larry and Jan from were invited to join us but had to decline as their dog, Chloe, was sick.

The beautiful sunrise woke us early by shining right into our bedroom. After the early start we attended Mass at St. Mary's Church only about a block from the marina. After Mass we walked though downtown and to our surprise the liquor store was open. As a joke I told Jan I would see if they had any Black Jack Cola. I enjoy a bottle on occasion and it is hard to find. They had two six packs and I purchased them both. This is only a minor reason to like Annapolis. We enjoyed walking around and took a trolley ride with Larry and Jan. The trolley rides are a good way to learn about the city we are in, learn our way around and decide what we want to research further.

On my walk to pick up the rental car on Monday morning I saw the vacant corner lot with four decorated chickens. A little further I saw more in front of businesses. One was a jail bird in front of a bail bond store and another was a dalmatian in front of a fire house. We made a shopping trip by car with Larry and Jan and did some other errands. Being without a vehicle makes us be more resourceful in keeping the boat stocked. We enjoyed a wonderful meal with Larry and Jan at Al and Marianne's house. They are sponsors for the midshipmen and it was very interesting learning about the life of a midshipman.

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, at Marianne's suggestion, we drove to New Carrollton and took the subway into Washington DC with Larry and Jan. Washington was amazingly interesting and I will do a separate post for it.

Thursday and Friday were not good travel days so we stayed in Annapolis. Mark and Jane from Average Looper were on a mooring ball and we met them for breakfast at Chuck and Ruth's Delly. Yes, I spelled Delly the way they spell it, look at the picture below. It was such an interesting, eclectic place that we returned another day for a light dinner with Larry and Jan. Legend has it that the state legislators meet there and they do have menu items named after them.

Larry and I toured the Naval Academy. It was graduation week and a lot of activity. I was in awe of all the midshipmen, all in uniform, for their intelligence and physical fitness. They select less than 9% of their applicants. I will make a separate post for the Academy.

Since the rental car worked so well for Washington, we rented another car on Friday and drove to the inner harbor at Baltimore. Jan and I visited several years ago and chose not to go there by boat. The area has really been redeveloped and we are very glad we saw it so prosperous now. There are many upscale restaurants and tourist attractions. Again, we have enough pictures for a separate post.

After a full week we left Annapolis. It was great being there and in retrospect, the weather delay worked out very well.