http://www.stmichaelsmarina.com/

Friday, May 20, 2030 hours Annapolis Chesapeake Crabs and Ribs Cruise 2005 has started--even though we haven't left the dock yet at Annapolis Landing Marina. http://www.annapolismarina.com/ After a leisurely drive through New York and Pennsylvania over two days, we arrived in Annapolis yesterday just in time move aboard our chartered PDQ 34 Powercat and then take the car to provision and stop at Adams Ribs in Eastport for the Rack and Cake Special: a half-rack of succulent back ribs and a sumptuous crab cake, washed down with a robust Australian shiraz labelled Whoop Whoop. http://www.adamsribseast.com/ http://www.koin.com/entertainment/topstory.asp?RECORD_KEY%5Btopstory%5D=ID&ID%5Btopstory%5D=178 We had an excellent night's sleep on the firm double berth in the PDQ, and then off to breakfast we went: Boursin cheese and bacon with scrambled eggs on a croissant for the Admiral and cheddar cheese and sausage with scrambled eggs on a fresh bagel for the Captain. Back to the boat to finish unpacking and a nap, and then off to lunch we went: Our destination was Cantler's Riverside Inn, a restaurant mentioned by many in an informal poll we conducted last week. From the first spoonful of a deliciously creamy crab soup to the final bite of a grilled-in-butter lump crab cake, the meal was outstanding. Our beverage of choice was Yuengling lager, brewed in Pottsville, Pennsylvannia, since 1829. http://www.cantlers.com/ http://www.yuengling.com/ Truly torrential rain and gale-force winds kept us in the marina for the day but did not, as you can see, deter our appetites. Tonight, we're eating simply: Pringles sour cream and onion chips for appetizers, with mild but hearty kielbassa sausage as the second course--actually called kielbassi and purchased at Country Butcher in Woodland, Pennsylvania--a roast beef wrap and a seafood salad, a locally baked baguette dressed with Land O Lakes butter, unsalted of course, all chased down with Bass Pale Ale. http://www.bass.com/ Tomorrow. we hope to get under way in eartly afternoon. Already, the rain has stopped, but a good breeze continues, with a weather buoy on the Bay reporting 4-foot foot waves. Thankfully, it's mild. http://www.weathernetwork.ca/weather/cities/usa/Pages/USMD0010.htm Saturday, May 21 Granary Creek What a difference a day makes! The torrents of rain and gale-force winds have made way for nothing but blue skies, sunshine, a light breeze and flat seas. We departed Annapolis shortly after noon yesterday and ran across Chesapeake Bay in about an hour and turned into broad Eastern Bay. The PDQ cruises easily at 12 knots with its twin 75-horsepower Yanmar engines at 3,200 RPM. We drove the boat from flying bridge with an unparalled view all around. Brightly colored spinnakers indicated where several sailboat races under way. Crab pots were only a concern near Annapolis. Freighters and tugs with barges steam in the main channel so they caused no anxiety. After slowly cruising about three miles up the Wye East River, we found a secluded anchorage at the head of Granary Creek. What a terrific spot for a late lunch cum happy hour! We ate and drank in T-shirts and shorts while an osprey hawk fished around us and a woodpecker drummed for grubs on the shore maybe 20 feet away. As the afternoon ended, an owl could be heard hooting in the nearby woods. Ahhh, the cruising life . . . Sunday, May 22, 1830 hours Tilghman Creek North 38 50 West 76 16 The pork chops are on the frying pan and the bakers are in the microwave with green onions and sour cream at the ready. A bottle of J. Lohr Paso Robles cabernet sauvignon is taking a breath. It's been another glorious day on the Chesapeake. We were under way just under three hours, mainly poking around creeks and coves before finding a lovely cove just inside Tilghman Creek. We're on anchor again. Tomorrow, we'll head for St. Michaels and a marina. http://www.baydreaming.com/stmichaels.htm http://www.stmichaelsmd.org/ Monday, May 23, 0845 hours Tilghman Creek Any day that starts with sunny eggs on a pile of hash browns with a side of hillbilly bacon from Pennsylvania is going to be a winner. Monday, May 23, 1945 hours St. Michaels North 38 47 West 76 13 The day did indeed turn out nicely, except for our landing on the main dock at St. Michaels Marina. We discussed the direction of the wind as we entered the harbor, and then overlooked it as we docked. Instead of coming in head to wind, for some inexplicable reason we tried docking with the wind on our stern. For a few minutes, we definitely did not look pretty. http://www.stmichaelsmarina.com/ St. Michaels is a quaint town, one of the most popular destinations on the Bay; thus, a gallery of gift and antique shops line the one main street. At Gourmet By the Bay, we found a shelf full of cheeses from France and a country pate made on the premises. The Crab Claw, so highly recommended, was OK, but two notches below Cantler's Riverside Inn across the Severn River from Annapolis. http://www.thecrabclaw.com/ http://www.cantlers.com/ There is a small TV aboard the PDQ, so now we're nestling in for the season finale of 24. Tuesday, May 24, 1830 hours Rhode River North 38 53 West 76 32 An easy run of three hours has brought us to the wonderfully wide Rhode River where, surrounded by three islands, we've dropped anchor in the muddy bottom. We set the anchor well as there might be a strong wind tonight with rain. Our departure from St. Michaels was impeccable, unlike our attempt to dock upon arrival with the wind blowing the stern away from the pier. We arrived here in time for lunch, and what lunch it was! Country pate made by chef Jim Trond in St. Michaels, a pungent brie imported from France, a relatively fresh pugliese loaf (Italian country bread), Land O Lakes unsalted butter, green grapes and dates, and a glass of J. Lohr Paso Robles cabernet sauvignon. Followed by the same chef's chocolate fudge nut brownies and the captain's own cafe au lait. All of which was followed by a nap. Wednesday, May 25, 1830 hours Smith Creek near Galesville North 38 50 West 76 33 The Captain has the blahs tonight, it being the last night of our charter. We've had an excellent time, and he's bummed we'll be leaving the PDQ by noon tomorrow. The Admiral, on the other hands, is looking forward to the rest of the holiday as there are more crabs and ribs to be had. Sunday, May 29, 0930 hours Washington, D.C. There sure were more crabs and ribs to be had! After dropping off the PDQ on Thursday, we drove to Oxford back on the Eastern Shore and had--without question--the best crab cakes ever. And, for a touch of history, we stayed in a waterfront inn that was built in 1710. http://www.robertmorrisinn.com/ On Friday, as we were leaving Maryland on the homeward leg of our holiday, we enjoyed fantastic ribs, actually, three different types of St. Louis cut ribs at Red, Hot & Blue after they had been smoked over hickory wood for hours and hours. Sweet Ribs: Glazed with Suffern' Sweet BBQ sauce and perfected on the grill. They're not just sweet, they're suh-weet. Dry Ribs: A Memphis tradition. Sprinkled with a secret blend of dry spices. Wet Ribs: Slathered with Mojo Mild BBQ Sauce. http://www.redhotandblue.com/index.html Clearly, the best ribs we've ever had, so meaty and so fall-off-the-bone, with bluesy tunes playing in the background. Then, in the capital of the most powerful nation on earth, we rediscovered crabs again, and seafood galore at the waterman's buffet at Phillips Flagship Restaurant next door to the colorful D.C. Fisherman's Wharf. http://www.phillipsseafood.com/ The question on our minds now is . . . well, actually, there are two questions: 1) Despite a five-hour walk sightseeing in D.C., how much weight have we gained? 2) Will Country Butcher in Woodland, Pennsylvania, be open today, Sunday, so we can pick up more hillbilly bacon? Postscript: Somewhat thankfully, in that we each gained three or four pounds, Country Butcher was closed. We truly enjoyed our week aboard the PDQ 34 Powercat. It is one heck of a power cruising yacht. The charter service provided by Sunsail was outstanding. http://www.pdqyachts.com/ http://www.sunsail.com/brochure/power_catamaran/power_catamaran_intro.php?rescode=uschpc The foregoing was written primarily for family and friends. Upcoming will be a report on the cruise and the PDQ for the List. --Georgs -- Georgs Kolesnikovs Power Catamaran World http://www.powercatamaranworld.com