Go Navy! Annapolis and the U.S, Naval Academy

Calvert Cliffs

We spent our last day in Solomon's Island lounging around the pool and trying to stay cool. There were unseasonably warm temperatures for the are in the low to  mid 90's and the humidity was really high also. We felt like we were back in Louisiana. A sign of the times, we guess, we were watching some 10-12 year old boys horsing around in the pool when one of them announced, "hey, do you want to play Navy seals?" He then demonstrated how he would try and sneak up behind another boy and horse hold him under water for at least 10 seconds. However, he told how the victim could try and shoot him, but would probably result in him breaking his neck! Capt. Larry lamented how much this has changed from "cowboys and Indians" when you just shot the hell out of the redskins! Anyway, we found the scenario amusing and timely.

Fish rearing or holding farm

Cove Point Light

Bloody Point Bar Light

Thomas Point Shoal Light

Stumbling back to Bavarian Cream from Pussar's Landing

The next morning we wanted to get an early start for Annopolis. Fuel prices had dropped to $3.59.9 for diesel at our marina and we wanted to take advantage of this. However, we were told that they had run out of diesel the previous day, but were expecting a delivery early that morning. Jane started calling other local marinas and found one that had fuel for $3.62.9 a gallon, so we took off and topped off there. Because we had stayed put in marinas for so long, it was our first fuel purchase in a month. We headed out into the Chesapeake and started for Annapolis. Almost immediately after we entered the bay we spotted the Calvert Cliffs which were carved out by the flow of the Susquehanna River when ocean levels were lower during periods of glaciation. It was warm and humid, but we had some air flow on the water, and there were no biting flies today. The trip was uneventful until we got to Annapolis harbor. Here we encountered 3 smaller navy ships that blew their horns at us and crossed our course. In every instance we had the right of way according to the "rules of the road," but had to reduce speed to avoid a confrontation. Now, we're not ones to take on an armed naval vessel, but they obviously could see that we were a recreational vessel running the edges of the channel to avoid them, and had every right to be where we were. Yet their actions forced us to alters ours. It seems the least they could do was call us on the radio and advise us of their intentions. Anyway, we made it into Annapolis and tied up at the Annapolis City docks in the heart of downtown. After we got cleaned up we went out to dinner a Pussar's Landing which is a far cry from the one we visited in Tortola (still Capt. Larry's favorite place in the world).

Going NAVY!

Dahlgren Hall

Bancroft Hall- a dormitory and site for meal formation

Bancroft Hall entrance foyer

Inside the chapel

The rear of the chapel

The next morning we got up and headed over to the U.S. Naval Academy. We signed up for a walking tour and had a terrifically knowledgeable guide who was also very entertaining. It was also a good time to visit as graduation had taken place last week. This place was awesome! We know we keep saying that all of these places are better and better, but the naval academy was really the best! We got to see pictures of all of the sport-winning midshipmen and some that became really famous later on. We learned of the tough requirements for getting into the academy (19,000 applicants for around 1200 positions), and the strict schedules and disciplinary requirements the middies have to adhere to. We toured Dahlgren Hall and the Bancroft Hall dormitory. We went to the beautiful chapel and the crypt of John Paul Jones, all of which was simply amazing. Then we toured the academy's museum that featured exhibits of the navy's outstanding leaders and academy graduates, and also housed the world's second largest model ship exhibit.

Crypt of John Paul Jones

One of the ship models

It was all so inspiring. If you ever get to Annapolis, we absolutely recommend a visit to the academy. You will not be disappointed!

Go NAVY! Beat Army!

At Chick & Ruth's Delly

Back on Bavarian Cream

With our looper friends

Heading back to Nauti Nell

A storm front passed through the area after we left the academy, and the next day the conditions on the bay didn't sound too promising with wind gusts to 30 knots! So we decided to spend an extra day in Annapolis and resolve some issues we were having with the boat. One of the problems were were experiencing was the starboard engine overheating when we got up on plane. It would run at 7-8 knot trawler speed all day long, but put it up on plane and the engine would overheat. Capt. Larry deduced that we must have a partially blocked seacock, so we decided to clean it out. We opened the water strainer and the seacock and rammed a wooden dowel through it. Capt. Larry felt some initial resistance, and after a couple of attempts, felt that the seacock was cleaned. Also, our port trim tab hydraulic line was leaking. This was the one we had repaired in Thunderbolt, GA by the marinas "hydraulics expert." Well, his fix didn't work, so Capt. Larry went to a nearby hardware store and bought some new compression fittings and did his own fix. We also had to replace the vent fitting to the holding tank which broke off when Capt. Larry tried to remove the vent hose to ensure that the vent was not blocked (this is the really fun stuff!). Finally, we had a major crisis. The head stopped working. Capt. Larry troubleshot the situation and was pretty sure the vacuum pump motor was burned up. We would have to get this fixed at a major marina that had access to several parts stores. In the meantime, we would have to get a large supply of Annapolis City Dock restroom tokens so we could use their facilities. At night Jane would just have to pee in a bucket we had on board and empty overboard when no one was looking. After all, it would be just a couple of days of this before we got to Cape May, NJ where they had serious repair facilities. Well, while Capt. Larry was off using the restroom facilities, Jane decided to clean the head. When Capt. Larry got back she told him that when she was cleaning the head switch, the head motor started running. Capt. Larry had forgot to check the switch and had probably turned it off when he was using the head the day before. We didn't think about this, because the pump had been turned on since we left. Jane had solved our head problem. Since a pump motor ran around $300, Jane was going to be treated to dinner of her choice that night. She had invited fellow loopers Twyla and Mike Chapman from Nauti Nell to join us for docktails, and we all ended up at a nearby restaurant that was featured on Man vs. Food TV program. It was a fun evening.