A question of timing.

Yesterday, the 20th of March, was the first day of spring.  A time when Eastport dockyard workers traditionally gather together with a few 6-packs of National Bohemian (http://nationalbohemian.com/) and burn their socks to mark the end of winter.  This low key and very local blue collar custom has recently been hi-jacked by the Annapolis Maritime Museum, which although located in the old McNasby Oyster packing house in Eastport still clings (pathetically) to it's Annapolis name!  So, instead of forking over $20.00 to gain access to the sock burning fire and contribute my own stinky winter socks, oh and maybe get a sniff at a roasted oyster, I elected to stay home Saturday, drink a couple beers in honor of the change of seasons (perhaps I'm a Druid and don't know it--I was born on the winter solstice so who knows?) and avoid a lot of other people's sticky, messy little kids.  Besides the tickets were all sold out by the time the light bulb went on in my head and I rationalized that taking decent photos would be much easier the day after the crowds left.  So, here we are a day later.  Those would would like to learn more about the Annapolis Maritime Museum's (well done) program can do so here: http://amaritime.org/index.html

Those that don't care one way or the other can follow along.

McNasby's is the last standing oyster packing plant building left in Eastport.  It stands on Back Creek at the end of 2nd Street in Eastport.  There were no sticky children to distract your diarist.

Diarist-woman inspects the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Skipjack Norman Stanley.  The boat is winter berthed at one of the Museum's finger piers,  During summer months the Norman Stanley is usually tied up over at Ego Alley in downtown Annapolis.  More about the CBF can be found here: http://www.cbf.org/

By Maryland law, oysters must be harvested by boats under sail.  However the laws were amended in 1965 to permit motor power supplied by "push boats" two days per week during the ever-shortened oyster dredging season.  Silk is Stanley Norman's push boat--mostly an engine and a prop with just enough boat to float the cast iron "breeze".

What I just said.

Some interesting info about oysters.

The Museum has several boats including the 1925 buy boat Peg Wallace which was restored as a  land based display in 2010.  This photo gives some indication of how narrow she is.

This style of work boat was endemic to the Hooper's Island region of the Chesapeake and is known as a Draketail.

The Museum's smaller skipjack, Lydia D. still sleeps under her winter quilt dreaming about rigging day.  Soon, soon my pet...

Looking out at the bay.  There was not much wind for these racers.

Several gave up and motored in.

I know, I know, I've shown them before but I just can't get enough of Annapolis's "Eye-Full" towers.  The Navy build many more of these communication towers over on Greenbury Point in 1918.  These are the only survivors.  They transmitted the news of the Armistice that ended World War I.

Unlike these anchored freighters, diarist-woman tells me that we have other fish to fry and so, gentle viewer, we shall leave you until the next installment.

Eastport, Part III

OK, I'm back.  Weather Channel says we're getting 4 to 6 inches of icy snow tonight and tomorrow.  Big deal.  I've got firewood on the front porch and a new bottle of Cockspur Rum.  Let's continue our walk on Severn Avenue before the tree limbs come down and power goes off.  Did I mention that I hate ice?

Severn Ave. is a satisfactorily mixed bag of boat related businesses, bars, restaurants  and homes. 

APS or Annapolis Performance Sailing is a Mecca for dinghy racers.  For those viewing this blog who have only done business over the phone or internet here is what APS headquarters looks like.  This is at least the third Eastport building this business has occupied in the time I've lived in this area.  Who says racing small sailboats is a dying sport?

All right, enough of business.  Back to the walking tour; here at almost the end of Severn Ave.  we have the oldest surviving house in Eastport.

Of course it has it's own marker.  Remember to click on the photo to enlarge it if you'd like to read the signage.

Across !st Street from the oldest house in Eastport is this little "fixer-upper".  No, I have no idea what the asking price is but I'm sure it's lofty and I'm also sure that the buyer will have to preserve at least some bit of the old building's fabric rather than tear the old structure completely down.  No extra charge for the non-hysteric fireplug or the blue Porta-Potty.

Walking down 1st Street.  Severn Sailing Association still has an old Optimist Dinghy doing service as a Christmas decoration. 

Back up to the corner of 1St. Street and Severn Ave. we find this attractive house.  My camera work doesn't do it justice.  I could be very comfortable here--easy walking distance to APS. the Boatyard and SSA.

This narrow house is typical of original Eastport architecture.

Another pleasant house on Severn Ave.

I like the oar used as a house marker.  Details, details...

A fine looking ship model in an upper window of another house.  Check out the mini-ship wright in the right hand corner.

Walking back toward the bridge and looking up Spa Creek,  Looks bleak doesn't it?

St Mary's church and school viewed from the Eastport side of Spa Creek.  It costs $$$ to moor to those buoys in summertime.  Having said that, there are times in summer when one could probably step from boat to boat and cross the Creek without getting a foot wet.  In the distance one can see the spire of St. Anne's up on Church Circle..

This concludes our walk up and down Severn Avenue.  It was cold and there were a couple football play-offs to watch (Green Bay won their game and the Steelers prevailed over the Jets--so there's a way to date these pix).  We have barely scratched the surface of Eastport and Annapolis and I will explore them both further for you as the weather warms.

Eastport, Part II

Fresh batteries in the camera, check.  Spare batteries in a warm pocket, check.  Funny looking winter hat pulled well down over the ears, check.  OK, let's go for a stroll...

Casting a backwards glance at the bridge we've just crossed, the power of bubbling water can be seen.  There is a skim of ice everywhere except where the submerged bubblers are located around the perimeter of the floating docks.

Zooming in on one of the bubblers.  Note the moustache of ice on the dock just above where the water bubbles up.  During hard freezes the bubblers help prevent the ice from crushing  the boats which are moored during winter instead of being hauled out.

Now the Boatyard Bar & Grill may not have a little number next to its location on the  official walking tour map but your diarist highly recommends a visit.  This is a good little sailor's bar and gets quite animated during the summer months after the conclusion of Wednesday night boat racing.  The car park is rarely empty regardless of the season.  My daughter is fond of the Boatyard's Dark 'n Stomies.

Although Eastport's past was that of a gritty, blue collar working class town it now sports a fair number of top drawer eateries.  Ruth's Chris and O'Leary's are two of several from which one may choose.

Up Severn Avenue from the Boatyard, on the opposite side of the street, one finds a wood carver's shop.

This was the former site of a glass factory.

The carver is an independent soul and keeps hours to suit himself.

A view through the display windows still features his Christmas train garden.

There's more to see on Severn Avenue but for me it's time to head back to the Boatyard to warm up.  Part III will take a look at a few of the  homes up and down the Avenue.

A cold walk in Eastport, Part I

This weekend has been unusually cold for central Maryland.  The day time temperature never rose above the mid-twenties either day and Saturday's overnight low was a chilly 10 degrees F.  This certainly wouldn't break any records up at International Falls, Minnesota but it's plenty cold for here--especially when combined with brisk winds.  Your diarist would have been happy to sit by the fire with a small glass of brandy but a Blog Spot is a stern mistress.  So dress warmly and we'll go for a walk-about in the Eastport section of Annapolis.

I parked the wagon in Annapolis (not a problem during the winter months) and walked across the Spa Creek Bridge.  Spa Creek separates Annapolis from Eastport.  Originally the Creek was called Spar Creek because of the presence of spar makers along the banks of the creek.  However "Spa" was as close as 17th century British sailors could come when attempting to pronounce the word Spar and so it became easier to change the creek's name than to continually correct yet another boatload of newly arriving sailors.

Although Annapolis Yacht Club has a presence on both sides of the Creek the club house is on the Annapolis side.

The hard core Laser sailors were out frostbite racing.  I hope they're wearing dry suits!

Closer to the bridge a skim of ice makes the water look calm.  In the previous photo of the Lasers one can see that a good breeze was blowing.

AYC's fleet of 420s wait for warmer weather.

The small keel boat fleet is also sleeping.

Although now a part of Annapolis,  Eastport residents are proud of their town's history and have proclaimed their "independence" as the "Maritime Republic of Eastport".  See more at: http://www.themre.org/  There is an annual tug of war across Spa Creek by teams made up of Annapolitans and Eastport residents.

The camera batteries are so cold that my camera keeps shutting down.  So read the signs and I'll get some fresh batteries.  We'll poke around Eastport in my next post.  Stay tuned.