After finding success with local recommendations in Solomons Island, we have continued to follow advice from local sailors, taking us across the Bay to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake.
The first stop was Flatty Cove, a quiet anchorage outside Oxford, MD. We spent two days there, exploring the town and enjoying quiet nights at anchor. Oxford has the distinction of running (one of?) the oldest ferries in the nation. There is so much water at every turn here, often the fastest route includes time on the water. The town was also home to Robert Morris, the “father of the financier of the Revolution.” We found delicious seafood at the Robert Morris Inn.
From Oxford, we sailed further up the shore to Saint Michaels, a thriving tourist town with beautiful historic homes. We anchored in San Domingo Creek, another anchorage that was an easy dinghy ride to a public dock in town.
At each stop, anchoring provided the opportunity to dip into the water whenever we got too hot. With the heat dome over the East Coast, it’s been great to have that option. We had a night or two where we’ve run the generator to have air conditioning (a real luxury), but we try to avoid that.
After some days exploring quaint towns, we were ready to explore more nature. We had a great downwind sail up the bay and anchored off Wye Island, a state forest area. Lovely days of hiking, paddle boarding, bird and wildlife sightings (sting ray, deer, fox and badger), and even berry picking! Once again we are thankful for the variety this adventure brings.
We also had a serendipitous encounter with a fellow Minnesotan at this anchorage. We were enjoying late afternoon on the bow, watching another boat enter the anchorage. Then we saw that its home port was Lake City, MN! We dinghied over once he was settled and met Pete, a retired navy aviator who’d raised his children with his Minnesotan wife in Lakeville, MN. They now live in Annapolis, and he was out for a few days, single handing his boat. We invited him over for dinner and had a lovely time over steak in the cockpit. We might meet up with them again in Annapolis!
