Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey

Leaving Washington DC was kind of a let-down, even though we are anxious to move on.  Services on the Potomac River were very scarce and unreliable.  Boats docked at Solomons Island - met "Pumpkin" here and also at Delaware City Marina later...

 On our first day after leaving DC, we had a hard time finding gas.  The first marina we checked was closed (even tho' it was before 4:00, and the info we had was they were open till 5:00.
Then Tuesday morning, the first marina we stopped at said they didn't pump gas on Tuesday! (So, keep in mind getting to these marinas in the first place, is a challenge -winding into little creeks, back and forth avoiding shallow water). 
The next marina had only diesel gas at the fuel dock, so we had to go back, under the bridge, to the gasoline dock, where it was a challenge to tie up to their dock.  We did get gas!  And stayed for lunch at the seafood restaurant, where Don had a great Hot Beef sandwich, while we saw older ladies eating mounds of oysters and crabs (shells everywhere!).   Lots of local (Down East)  happenings here!

On to Annapolis, MD, where the US Naval Academy is.  Lots of good looking Midshipmen everywhere - on the street, restaurants, shopping.... they're very polite and regimented!

Our marina was on the "Ego Alley" - where boats constantly paraded in and out of this harbor showing off their boats or "bow bunnies", whatever the case may be.  Maryland Statehouse in the background, shops, historical row houses and the Naval Academy within walking distance.


Bow bunnies?  I just remember seeing lots of good looking boats.

We toured the Naval Academy - Wow! What an operation!  Lots of history and very impressive buildings, including the Chapel - isn't it outstanding!  And the brief organ concert we heard was out of this world!
Very impressed with the Naval Academy.  They have 20,000 apps. per year and only 1200 are accepted.  20% are female   They get a free, top quality, education and $1000 a month for expenses.   They are not permitted to marry until after graduation and must live in the dorm all 4 years.  They graduate as Navy officers and are required to serve in the Navy or Marines for a minimum of 5 years.  Many make it a career.  Jimmy Carter graduated from here. 
 

History everywhere........


Look at this - I've got my own Midshipmen!

Hey, I'm flattered.  It took 4 young, buff and good looking Midshipmen to replace me.












Saw this Delaware version of the Coast Guard, I guess, in the C & D Canal (Chesapeake & Delaware).  Now we are in Delaware waters.

Anchoring out here was very peaceful.  Not much traffic and calm seas.


Delaware City - Memorial Day weekend celebration - Steel drum music at the marina, Car Show and crab legs at Crabby Dick's in the Delaware City Hotel!

 Don's favorite!  and there's lots of seafood in these parts........


I get hungry just looking at this picture.



Passing Atlantic City - Casinos - didn't stop, though...

A little about the boating part of the trip.  From Annapolis we went north on Chesapeake Bay to the  C & D canal, crossed to the Delaware Bay and then south to Cape May, NJ.  This is open water and we were out of sight of land for about an hour.  At Cape May we went out into the Atlantic Ocean until Atlantic City .  The ocean was getting a little rough for us so we took the inside route(ICW) to the Messiquin inlet were the ICW ends.  From there it was back on the ocean to New York harbor.  The tide was going out when we went through the inlet to the Atlantic and we had the roughest ride ever, 6' to 8' waves.  We made it with out a scratch but everything in the cabin pretty much came dislodged.   We're writing this in New York City and next time we'll talk about our experiences here.  db
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