So much of the wonder of exploring the Chesapeake is sneaking back into a small river or side channel and anchoring. We met with Mike and Pegge on Avalon and got a list of their favorite anchorages from their 20 year experience here and departed from Solomons this morning on a 68 degree perfect sunny morning for the eastern shore and St. Michaels, a trip of 40 miles with light winds and a ½ knot current against us. We passed the 5,000 mile mark of our current trip today and notice that we are in another state, Maryland.
We anchored in Domingo Creek by way of serpentining first through the Choptank River and Broad Creek. This is the back door access to St. Michaels and we took the dinghy to the public dock which we shared with day oyster boats. Heat, humidity and hazy skies descended and it isn’t even summer yet. St. Michaels is a charming, upscale, historic town with restored homes, antiques, boutiques, B&Bs, spas, bistros and all made vibrant by the bells from Christ Church.
This is quite a transformation from its past life as a waterman’s enclave of fishing for oysters, clams and crabs and the history of this dichotomy and friction is told in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and their exhibit, “Whose Bay Is This?” The museum also offers some amazing boat restorations and Bob was thinking of signing me up for their day apprenticeship program to learn more—always looking for varnishing tips. We continued our search for great crabcakes and the Crab Claw Restaurant had some good offerings but I like mine spicier, but it was a good place to watch the Wed. night sailboat races.
We anchored in Domingo Creek by way of serpentining first through the Choptank River and Broad Creek. This is the back door access to St. Michaels and we took the dinghy to the public dock which we shared with day oyster boats. Heat, humidity and hazy skies descended and it isn’t even summer yet. St. Michaels is a charming, upscale, historic town with restored homes, antiques, boutiques, B&Bs, spas, bistros and all made vibrant by the bells from Christ Church.
This is quite a transformation from its past life as a waterman’s enclave of fishing for oysters, clams and crabs and the history of this dichotomy and friction is told in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and their exhibit, “Whose Bay Is This?” The museum also offers some amazing boat restorations and Bob was thinking of signing me up for their day apprenticeship program to learn more—always looking for varnishing tips. We continued our search for great crabcakes and the Crab Claw Restaurant had some good offerings but I like mine spicier, but it was a good place to watch the Wed. night sailboat races.
The area has some past and current claims to fame. During the War of 1812, the St. Michaels residents, forewarned of a British attack, hoisted lanterns into trees and ships masts, which tricked the British cannoniers and they overshot the town. Former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have both bought properties in the area, and according to locals, when they come to town, the streets are clogged with Secret Service and no one can get into a restaurant easily.
For us tonight, it was back to the boat and a quiet anchorage--heaven.
For us tonight, it was back to the boat and a quiet anchorage--heaven.
