ANNAPOLIS / Saturday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 25 (Days 121-125)

Another rainy, cold day. We just chilled on the boat. We cleaned, read and I worked on the Blog. Out our window we saw Morningstar II cruising down the river by our marina. I called Mel on my cell and he drove over to see us. Their marina is across the river from ours. It was their son's 40th Birthday and since he lives in DC, he and a few friends decided it would be fun to have his party on their boat. Even though the weather did not cooperate; once there was a slight clearing they decided take a little cruise. We gave them hugs and they went on their way again. Mel told us later the wind picked up and it got really choppy. A huge jug of margaritas fell all over their rug! That's Mel, he's a crazy man, but so fun!

Sunday, in our raincoats, Mike and I went on a 2 hour walking tour of the State House and the Naval Academy. Our guide, Doug dressed in period clothing and really knew his stuff. He told us some pretty cool stories where a lot of our folklore comes from.

Doug putting his best foot forward

Mike and George

This State House is where George Washington resigned his commission. Lots of pretty Tiffany Glass and the actual resignation letter is on display.

Painting of Washington resigning his commission

Some of the fun stories Doug relayed:
The reason you see paintings where men have their hands tucked in their shirts or ladies hide them behind their dresses, is because it cost more for hands and feet to be painted because it there is so much detail. That is where the saying "something cost an arm and a leg" comes from. 

I had hard this before, but just incase. People back in the 1700 and 1800 only took baths twice a year. So when they did, the father went first on down the line to the baby which was last. By that time of course the water was pretty dirty and brown. Thus when it was time to throw out the water, "don't throw the baby out with the bath water" came about.

We all remember seeing people from that era holding handkerchiefs. Well come to find out, inside those little pieces of hankie (tussy mussy) contained  herbs used to cover up their body odor.

Last but not least, the term "wake" as in before a funeral, was to be sure the person did not wake up before he or she was buried. Since medicine back then was so primitive people were sometimes buried so quickly that sometimes they were buried alive by mistake. So families kept the body for a few days to be sure they did not wake up! AND the tradition of brining flowers to a funeral, started so the scent would hide the smell of the dead body. Gross I know, but pretty interesting. 

Doug then took us to the Naval Academy. The architecture was French, because the designer studied there. We totally lucked out being there this week.  It was commissioing week, so there were a lot of activities going on.

Tecumseh Statue the seniors decorate for Commissioning Week

The students are called Midshipmen, (Cadets are at West Point). Their schooling is free, but they do have to serve anywhere from 2-6 years after that, depending on their career path. We visited the Chapel, where we saw some gorgeous Tiffany stained glass windows and saw the cript of John Paul Jones.

John Paul Jones Crypt

Another tidbit...there is no significant reason for the Goat as the Navy Mascot. According to Doug, when Navy went to play Army at West Point; their first ever football game, the midshipmen noticed Army had a mascot and the Navy did not. So they looked around to see what they could use as their mascot. The first thing they saw was a goat in the field next door. So they absconded with the goat and that's how the goat became the Naval Academy Mascot.

The Army/Navy Football Trophy

Mike, me and the Goat

Once we got back to the boat we read a little, fixed Chinese food for dinner and watched the Lightning in the Playoffs.

Monday, finally a pretty day! We went on our own to the Academy to tour the museum. It was about Naval History and the Naval Academy. On the second floor were dozens of model ships dating way way back. Most were made of wood and a few were made of ivory and bone. A lot of them were made by prisoners of war and so intricate!

After the tour we went to lunch at Galway Bay Irish Pub. Mike loves Reuben sandwiches, so we figured he could not go wrong and he was right, he loved it.

We went back to the Academy to watch the Herndon Climb. This is tradition where the Freshman class, or Plebes have to climb the Herndon Monument which has been covered in lard by the sophomores, and knock of the "Dixie Cup" hat and replace it with a standard hat. It is hilarious to watch. The record time was 20 minutes and the longest was 4.5 hours. This day it was 1.5 hours.  All the students we came in contact with were so respectful and polite, it made us proud to be there and to live in this great country!

We met 2 new Loopers when we got back to the Marina and saw Cutty's Ark whom we met in Deltaville. We had leftovers for dinner and watched more of the Hockey Playoffs.

Tuesday, was another gorgeous day. We went on a Sea Trial on a Fleming (Mike's dream boat). When we were at the Miami Boat Show we got on a Fleming and the sales guy told us when we were up this way to call them. They have a marina full of Flemings, new and used. It was a beautiful boat I have to admit, but not in a hurry to trade ours in just yet.

Another event happening for commissioning week was the Pipe and Drum Corps demonstration. It was so pretty listening the bag pipes.  

Ann and Mel of Morningstar rented a car and drove over from their Marina so we could meet up for dinner with 4 other couples, including Sweet T who docked right behind us. They joined us for Docktails with the new Loopers and Cutty's Ark, then the 6 of us met up with Lone Star and Phase II at Blackwall Hitch in East Port. We were celebrating Steve's (of Lone Star) 70th Birthday  We had a blast catching up because it had been a while since we were all together. We had a private room and the food and service were outstanding.

Wednesday, I think may we have turned the corner as far as the weather is concerned. It was absolutely perfect for the Blue Angels Air show. Kevin and Steve came over and we watched from the flybridge. You could not get much closer that we were, it gave us goose bumps. The rivers and bay all around were packed with boats watching the show. It was truly amazing, gave me goose bumps!
The four of us walked to a pretty good Mexican restaurant for dinner.

People crowding the balconies at restaurant across from our Marina.

This bridge was closed during the show, people packed on it as well.