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Ships Log November 5, 2005 Annapolis, Maryland - Chesapeake Bay

It ranks as one of the sailing capitols of the world. Threading our way through a naval anchorage and three separate sailboat races, we approached the Annapolis inner harbor on an 80 degree sunny Saturday. Luckily, we arrived early in the afternoon and found a $25 mooring ball; within three hours they were all taken. This was the Naval Academy Homecoming weekend (Navy won the football game). The downtown restaurants and docks were bustling with people. WOW, was it ever crowded!

The docks were formerly a slave market and tobacco shipping center. A statue of Alex Halley reading to children stands at the head of the harbor. His Roots character Kunta Kinte was sold at this market. Frederick Douglass grew up in nearby St. Michael's and built a summer home in Annapolis. A museum dedicated to this slave turned great human rights activist and orator lies just off the city circle. Unfortunately it was closed for renovation.

This small city is rich in history-political, military, naval, and cultural. The Maryland Statehouse dominates the hill overlooking the bay. It was in this building in 1783 that George Washington gave his speech to the Continental Congress resigning his military commission and retiring from public life. There was not a dry eye in the house. Of course he became President of the US six years later.

The narrow streets are tightly lined with buildings of classic early American architecture, most dating from the mid 1700's. Many are made of brick, but some like the “Shiplap House” were of wooden construction. We had a great time wandering the streets after the weekend crowds left and sailors passing through on their way south met in the local establishments. We again ran into the Johnsons of s/v Shearwater.