Focus on Fitness at the US Naval Academy; Happy Hour in Eastport, MD

We cut the corner to Chesapeake Bay by motoring through Knapps Narrows shortly after hauling anchor and received a bridge opening from the friendliest of bridge tenders.  Winds on the bay were too light to sail so we motored NW to Annapolis passing several large tankers at anchor in the process and picked up city mooring ball #4 right off the Naval Academy and a stones throw from the dinghy dock.  We requested a holding tank pump out and enjoyed lunch on the mooring taking in all the activity of the harbor - school kids on field trips, sailboats arriving, tourist boats departing. Once ashore, we passed through Naval Academy security and joined the 2 pm tour where we saw their top notch athletic facilities (especially their indoor pool) and learned that students at the academy must participate in a sport or exercise three hours each day. Winchester native Joe Bellino - a Heisman trophy winner was one of two Heisman trophy winners to have attended the Naval Academy and we saw the Naval Academy's special tribute to him while at the athletic center. We saw the former armory, dorm room, and beautiful chapel where John Paul Jones (first US Naval war hero) was laid to rest.  Mottos of the Academy include:  “I haven’t yet begun to fight”, “Damn the torpedos” and “Honor, Courage, Commitment”.

After poking around downtown Annapolis, we dinghied across the harbor to Eastport for happy hour at the Boatyard Bar where we saw much sailing memorabilia including the 1960 Flying Dutchman class flag - corresponding to the year that Harry’s uncle Frank won the Flying Dutchman Nationals. We dropped by Severn Sailing Association (where we race Snipes) to see the new clubhouse. Then we finished the evening with a dinghy tour up Spa Creek past luxurious waterfront homes and boats until the point where the creek became a wetland and all development stopped, opening our eyes to another part of Annapolis that we'd never experienced before.

The open bridge at Knapp Narrows

Bancroft Hall where the midshipmen sleep and eat

Tranquil Spa Creek