There’s something to be said for Southern hospitality, but I’ve never experienced a friendlier bunch of people than up here on the Chesapeake in good ole’ Maryland. I’ve only been in Annapolis for a week, but everyone is eager to talk to us and help us out whenever they can. It’s a boaters’ community of the highest order. I’ve never seen so many sailboats in one place before. They are packed into marinas along Back and Spa Creek like sardines. It’s downright difficult to find a nice spot to anchor, because there are so many mooring balls and the harbormaster patrols the creeks constantly to enforce safe anchoring. Illusion has anchored, spent a few days on a mooring, anchored again, and then re-anchored, and we will probably move her again.

After a pretty intense squall on Sunday, we aren’t sure that Back Creek is the place to settle down for the next few months. Although it was admittedly a considerable blow (wind gusts clocked in at a whooping 63 mph and power is still out in several nearby counties), it proved that the creek doesn’t have the best holding. In fact, the two large 50-something-foot sailboats anchored next to us dragged straight into the docks behind us. Not to mention that the channel was a zoo of small boats and sailboats seeking safe harbor before, during, and after the storm hit. It blew in so fast that some unfortunately were caught on the bay with their sails up (I’ve never seen a boat with a snapped mast or tattered sails before) – it was a sad night for many. But even aside from the storm, Back Creek is still a busy spot; Eastport is an active sailing community.

Annapolis is surprisingly small and navigable. Brian and I spent the last week biking and walking around without issue. The city has a large waterfront and quaint historic district, which of course I love (a la Charleston). I will post more about the city soon, after I have spent a little more time here and snapped some photos. I also plan to post about the little towns we visited on the Chesapeake during our trip up. I’ve been pretty busy and internet has been spotty over the past few weeks, but I hope to be back on my regular posting schedule soon. Stay tuned!