Annapolis

Cambridge Public Library

We sailed up to Annapolis on Friday and took a mooring buoy belonging to the City Marina. That put us right in the heart of Annapolis' downtown and tourist center. There were thousands of tourists everywhere.

Our first stop (after showers at the marina) was to the famous Fawcett store where they sell all things marine. It is famous among boaters and it is reputed to have more things in stock than even West Marine. We did pick up some hard to find items that we've been looking for for a while. We bought replacement 8w fluorescent bulbs and a replacement for a broken sail batten. Looking around though I noted several items I recognize that were priced 75% higher than West Marine. Since West Marine is already 30 to 50% higher in price than other suppliers, I decided to shop as little as possible at Fawcetts. I should have expected it because Fawcetts has valet parking.

Next we walked over to the US Naval Academy. We walked around the campus and visited the museum. It was very impressive. I was impressed by the artifacts of so many famous people, John Paul Jones, Halsey, Rickover, Nimitz and many more.

The next morning Libby and I walked all around the historic district. It is like Schenectady's Stockade on steroids. The houses were not only historic and not only had Washington slept there, but also Jefferson, Madison, Franklin and the others. They not only slept there but they agreed to form the constitutional convention. That's really historic.

Saturday afternoon we sailed south again heading to meet Gerry and Phyllis later in the week. It was a splendid day with 25 knot winds, warm and sunny. There were hundreds of sailboats coming out of Annapolis.

Libby and I decided that we're not much for cities. Even cities reputed to be the sailing capital. We are gunkholers (see below). However, we also agreed that we much admire the sailors in Annapolis. They really use their boats, and they are expert sailors.

Unfortunately, that same afternoon, one of the boats we admired lost its skipper. The 72 year old skipper, publisher of the Annapolis newspaper, was sailing alone. He disappeared and they still haven't found his body. What a shame.

Yesterday we worked on repainting the non-skid surfaces on deck. We can only do half at once, because we live aboard and we need some surface to walk on.

Today is the first really rainy day we've seen since leaving New York last October. Wow. I guess it really has been dry for the southwest US.

Gunkhole A shallow cove or channel nearly unnavigable because of mud, rocks, or vegetation.

Gunkholer A species of boater that is inexorable drawn to gunkholes in search of seclusion, adventure, wildlife - or just by an ungovernable urge to see what's around the next bend. Gunkholers are readily identified by their lack of concern at running aground.