Take 4 Days to Cruise the Middle Bay by Gary Reich
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hile generally there are no specific geographic boundaries for the portion of the Chesapeake many folks call the “Middle Bay,” most people consider the expanses of water south of the Bay Bridge and north of the Patuxent River part of that region. And what a beautiful region it is. But first you’ll have to wrangle four days off from your boss, and that may be the biggest challenge of your trip. Start the four-day cruise in Annapolis, which is convenient from many parts of the Bay, and then travel south to Galesville, MD, off the West River. On the third day, hop across the Chesapeake into Eastern Bay to St. Michaels, then head back out into the Bay and jog through Knapps Narrows. From there, head up the Choptank River to the visually pleasing Tred Avon River and Oxford, MD. If you’re cruising to the Middle Bay from the south, you can reverse the order and start out in Oxford.
Day 1 aNNapolis
##Annapolis Harbor looking north toward City Dock and the Maryland State House. Photo by Gary Reich
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nnapolis-proper is situated on Back and Spa creeks off the Severn River about six miles southwest of the Bay Bridge. While Annapolis’ ZIP codes encompass many more bodies of water, we’ll focus on the downtown and Eastport sections of town, which is where most of the activity happens. Navigationally speaking, flashing red bell buoy “2” is a good entrance mark to shoot for from the main Bay stem (especially if you approach from the south), but you also can shoot for flashing red “4” off Tolly Point a bit farther north and west of flashing red bell buoy “2.” Keep an eye out for the thousands of crab trap floats that pepper the water as you approach. If you’re bound for Eastport and Back Creek, head for flashing green “1E” from Tolly Point. If bound for downtown Annapolis, follow the river marks in, making sure you give flashing white “HP” at Horn Point a Follow us!
wide berth before turning west toward the harbor. Annapolis leads a double-life. While the downtown area is accented by City Dock, the U.S. Naval Academy, the State House, and the Historic District, Eastport, located just south, is the maritime-centric hub. The city of Annapolis manages a number of moorings on both Spa and Back creeks, which are first-come, first-served. Simply pick up one of the heavy-duty mooring pennants and the harbormaster will come by boat to collect the $25-$30 fee. The water taxi (410-263-0033 or VHF Channel 68) runs around Spa and Back creeks for the basic fee of $2 (higher for longer trips). If you’re interested in getting away from it all, you’ll generally need to head up the Severn River, which has quiet creeks for exploration and anchoring.
Slip space at marinas is almost always at a premium in Annapolis, so you will want to secure a reservation before your trip commences. That said, marinas are everywhere and range from small operations to large, fullservice spots that can accommodate megayachts. Ashore are too many attractions, restaurants, bars, and tours to list here, but you can certainly make a day or evening of it by just having the water taxi drop you off at City Dock. You’ll easily find your way to ice cream, dinner, lunch, drinks, shopping, or just about anything else. A visitor information center at City Dock next to the Harbormaster’s office that is open daily March through October from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Eastport is just across Spa Creek and a great place to grab a nice bite to eat. PropTalk likes Boatyard Bar & Grill, O’Learys, and
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PropTalk May 2013 37