Commissioning Week for the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland!

Main Street in Annapolis

May 19-21
     We traveled about 45 miles in the Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis to stay at the Yacht Basin Marina.    Our intentions were to visit Cambridge and St. Michaels Island, but we noticed that the engines seemed to putting out more smoke than usual.  Karl was concerned because the engines had been gradually losing oil over the last few months.  We decided it would be best to get to Annapolis where we knew there would be mechanics to look at the engines.  We got in touch with the Cummins dealer, and they are sending a mechanic out in a few days.

      Our marina is right in the center of the historic district of Annapolis, the capital, and within walking distance of the US Naval Academy.  The entire campus is a National Historic Landmark, with several old buildings and monuments.  It is fun to see the students walking around in their white uniforms and hats.  Family members and friends are here this week for graduation. The first year student are called "plebes" and are subject to all kinds of special rules to help shape them to be Midshipmen.   After they finish their freshman year, they are all called Midshipmen, there are no midshipwomen, but there are women midshipmen!  There is a big agenda of activities and events taking place this week to honor the graduates, including parades, musical performances, award ceremonies and the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration.  Today we watched the Blue Angels soar in perfect formation over the city and Chesapeake Bay.  This was a practice session, tomorrow is the big show.   We had a great seat to watch them perform, from our own boat!  We have seen them before, and it is always a magnificent display of precision.  Graduation is this coming Friday.

                                                                         St Anne's Parish

     Yesterday, we took an enjoyable tour of the city in an electric car with new Looper friends, Susan and Greg. It was only the four of us and our tour guide, so we got a more intimate tour and certainly learned a lot about the city.  We later had cocktails and dinner aboard their boat with some other Loopers.