This boating story actually started many years ago when Steve and I were avid boaters on the Chesapeake Bay. We had a boat name “Grand Cru” and were docked at Fairlee Creek, located across the Bay from Baltimore. As fate would have it, another boat named “Grand Cru” was also docked there. In spite of having the same boat name, it was only because we had gin which Bob had run out of, did we actually meet. Over the years we became good friends with Bob and Melanie, who also have a home in Naples in addition to their Annapolis home as well as a bigger boat moored in the Annapolis Yacht Basin, but still named “Grand Cru,” upon which we are now the lucky guests.
We are starting our adventure in Annapolis, Maryland, known as the “Sailing Capital of the US” as evidenced by its downtown harbor with an abundance of boats of all sizes. Although its population is only about 40,000, its role as capital of the state of Maryland, location of the Naval Academy, its historic district with the domed 1700s Maryland State House and generally just picturesque setting make it a very appealing city.
But unknown to most people, but well known to boaters, is that the narrow waterway that ends in a small basin at the end of Main Street is known as “Ego Alley.” With boats moored on either side of the waterway, a water taxi and tour boat coming and going and tourists and locals looking on, it takes a fairly skilled boat captain to successfully boat down the waterway, turn around in the basin and motor back without incident. And, so some years ago, we had a boating friend who was navigating Ego Alley. He was quite proud of his boat and skill, so, he was most pleased at all the attention he was getting from the onlookers. People were waving and shouting, which only increased his confidence and made him a bit more cocky. Finally, someone shouted, “Your dog fell off the back of your boat!”
Being docked in Annapolis harbor provides a great view of boats coming and going. However, getting that permanent slip for your boat in Annapolis can take years. It only took Bob 2-3 years to become a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club, but, it took another 11 years to get that prized slip. That gives you a real appreciation for that boat view. One of the boats we watched dock was a 129-foot yacht (that big, it definitely is called a yacht). The name of the yacht is Winning Drive, and, it belongs to the owner of the Baltimore Ravens. Its cost is a mere $20 million. But it is just as much fun watching the smaller boats come and go, and, sometimes more fun depending on the expertise of the captain. We were once the novice boaters and a source of amusement for others, but, that is just part of boating.
Although Annapolis is a capital city, it really is more a tourist town, which means lots of restaurants and good shops, including a fudge store. Before leaving Annapolis, we had lunch at several restaurants, both of which had outdoor dining with social distancing and masked servers, mumbling the specials. We also had dinner at a French restaurant right on Main Street called Café Normandie. With a corner alcove facing the street, we had the perfect locale for watching the parade of pedestrians walking by. And, to our surprise, it was half-price wine night. With a short walk back to the boat, it was a perfect beginning to our boating adventure.
