5/23/18: This is the best we-almost-didn’t-come-here-town ever! I have really enjoyed Annapolis. It is much smaller than I expected. I thought it was a city. It really isn’t. It is a quaint, historical, patriotic, brick street, young adults, vibrant, sailing community. It is quite active this week, being commencement week at the Academy. There is a lot of activity and a lot of guests in town. And now it is Memorial Day weekend for families. I walked by the St Mary’s Catholic Church right about noon, and school was getting out for the weekend, and it’s only Wednesday! This St Mary’s church building was dedicated in 1860. It is not the Anglican Church in the church circle of town.
I took myself on a photo safari and walking tour. Mechanic Kenny was too perplexed 🤔 to come with me. It seems there may be air in the fuel lines or something that makes the port engine not want to start right up. So he stayed at the boat and poked around trying to solve the mystery. As I walked up the hill to toward the ‘church circle’, I saw some cute unusual little townhouses.
And garden alleys.
I found THE church in the church circle of town. It is the St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. This is the third building on this site, which was built in 1859. Of course, there must always be a church in the church circle of town, so it was never relocated.
Inside was not overly ornate, but very nice.
Of course, for each church and state house, there needs to be a tavern! This is the Reynolds Tavern. It was built between 1747 and 1755. Today it is a tea room, pub, and inn. It is right across the circle street from the church. After all that we learned back in Williamsburg, I bet there were significant government discussions back in colonial times that took place here in this tavern!
Also right there at the circle is the Maryland Inn. It was completed as a three story tavern and inn before the Revolution, and has remained an inn throughout its life. Being right at the circle, it has a unique wedge shape. You can see the State House peeking around on the left.
There are so many brick buildings in this town! Even the streets are brick, which I think just adds to the charm and history!
Back down around the wharf is the Middleton Tavern. Samuel Horacio Middleton operated a tavern here from 1754-1786. It is still a busy tavern today.
Nearby, I found a place for dinner – Mission BBQ. I know, I know…. we should have crab cakes somewhere! And we really wanted to try some creamy crab chowder. But it was in the 80’s today, and soup just seems too hot. It feels more like a BBQ day. And our friend Herb said that this is top notch BBQ, and so is their peach cobbler.
I found my way back over to the USNA- United States Naval Academy. I found this monument. It is the Tripoli Monument, the oldest military monument in the country. It honors the heros of the war against the Barbary Coast Pirates, which was the first war of the new republic. In 1804, President Jefferson ordered our tiny naval force to the Mediterranean to protect the expanding trade of the new United States against pirates who demanded ransom for safe passage of merchant ships. On the shores of Tripoli, young Americans took action against the pirates, including torching their own grounded ship, the USS Philadelphia, to prevent its capture and use by the pirates. This monument was carved in 1806 in Italy and was brought to the U.S. as ballast on the USS Constitution. It has stood at the USNA since 1860. I found it interesting that this was so related to how our U.S. Navy even began! After the Revolutionary war, and our independence from the British, we lost all protection that the British Royal Navy had provided. Our new country did not have the funds to pay off the pirates, so we needed our own navy to protect our seafaring interests!
I also went into the USNA Museum. It is a really well done museum, with the Navy’s history through the ages and wars since the 1700’s through space travel. On the second floor was a huge collection of antique model ships. These are all hand carved ships. Fascinating was a collection of ships that were carved by French prisoners. During the French Revolution (1793-1815) French sailors and soldiers were captured and taken to England. To while away their time, they carved and hand crafted all kinds of things, including ornate ships. They used wood, straw, bones from their meals, and animal hide, glue and tiny tacks. These were just a few of them. They are so intricate and tiny – unbelievable!
It was time to go watch the Blue Angels. I found a place above the field to stand in the shade with a couple hundred other folks. But this was a great spot, because the announcer told us who was flying, which direction they were coming, what the formation was, and so on.
So there was a primary group of 4 aircraft, and also two solo pilots who did stuff separately and offsetting each other – like come straight at each other, or they would come by and roll together in perfect synchronicity (a real word?). What an amazing show of skill and power! WOWZA! The announcer said that in this formation, there is 18 inches from wing tip to cockpit dome. 😳
And this was just a lucky great shot of all six together.
I really enjoyed the show. It didn’t last long – we actually saw more yesterday when they were practicing. All the maneuvers are used in normal Navy operations, combat and surveillance. Amazing precision and skill! As I was leaving the Academy, I saw the Navy mascot – a GOAT?! Why a goat? I had to look it up. This is Bill the Goat. Apparently, ships in the British and early American navies often carried goats, to eat the garbage and other undesirable food on board, and to return milk and butter (and maybe meat), and often were treated as pets. Goats are sure footed and can swim, too! Bill the Goat’s first appearance dates all the way back to 1893. Of course there are all kinds of stories that made me smile to read – the silly antics of young men, football, competition, team spirit and rivalries.
I went back to the boat to check on the mechanic, and get the Captain to go out for a drink. Some tweaks were made, including in his shoulder, but the entire mystery is not solved yet. OK – but lets go have a PAINKILLER at Pusser’s Caribbean Grill. Pusser’s rum, the official British Navy Rum, is used to make a drink called the painkiller – and I love them. The bar was hopping with lots of people. We had just one drink, (YUM it was good!) then went to find BBQ for dinner. Lots of young people in this town!
After dinner, back at the boat, I watched the congested craziness of the sailing club! They were having their Wednesday evening ‘race’, where they all pile out of the marina like bumble bees (I missed that part) – go race, then come sailing back into this tiny part of the harbor. Wow – crazy mayhem!
There were several sayings that were prominent at the USNA, besides “Beat Army”. One was “Don’t Give Up the Ship!” which is a favorite motto of the United States Navy. These were the dying words of Commander James Lawrence during a battle in the War of 1812. Another one is “Return with Honor”. This was on the gates as you leave the Academy grounds, and I saw it in other places too. Goods words. The way I see it, to return with honor, no matter when or how that ‘return’ happens, one must LIVE with honor. Good words indeed.
I’m really glad we stopped in Annapolis. It has been one of my favorites.