A Pocketful of Miracles
Sometimes when the weather is particularly nasty, or I'm sitting in the office they wish to be sailing, I reach into my pocket and get out my Patuxent River. Look, here it is, let me show you. It's beautiful, right? Yes, yes, I know, you can not actually see it. It is my metaphorical Patuxent River, brought experience and a memory at a time this May during a cruise on the bay of Annapolis. It took me almost a week to gather all the pieces, but I can now remove it at any time that I love and admire its lush green coast and back coves and anchorages friendly and just remember. . . See, there's dirt on that part. (Come on, just the game, pretending to see it too.) That's where I joined an enthusiastic group of Jefferson Patterson State Park for a public dig at the site of a former plantation. And see, here, a few crumbs left over from a Stoney Jumbo Crab cake sandwich on Broomes Island Oops, there's an empty bottle hidden Sam Adams Vera behind someone forgot. Oh, well, that river looks good anyway, although I can not seem to get that coffee stain of St. Leonard Creek, no matter how hard you try. Wait, I'll tell you in a minute. First, I want to show my favorite place on the River. Let Me Hold it up so you can see where he is. Well, now we're seeing in the river's mouth, as if we were looking in the right bay is Solomons Island. See? Forget the Solomon Islands, because we are not there. I've been there, you've been there. So, no, not going there. Instead, look across the river to the left, right where Route 4 (the Governor Thomas Johnson) bridge coming down to land in St. Mary County. That's where we started: Town Creek. Who knows? In describing the Patuxent, the guides talk on the Solomon Islands, of course (remember, we do not go there), and upstream a few places, not much further, as St. Leonard Creek (we'll connects the island) and Mill and streams Cuckold, and perhaps Broomes. But Town Creek. However, the City Creek is almost the perfect place for cruise ships transiting the Bay and looking for a convenient scale and friendly. It is also ideal as an entry point for a visit to the Patuxent. It is near the river mouth, is easy to get, is what sufficiently deep inside most people and are friendly, charming and walkable. Have I made my point? Yeah, well, Town Creek looked mighty good to my friend Hal and I cruise at 5 pm on a Friday in late May and will be rounded to flashing red "4" at the entrance of the creek, gave the warning buoy bank beyond it is ample room and immediately saw our goal, Town Creek Point Marina. Indeed, it is difficult not to detect what you're looking for, because after a brief entry, the stream is opened in a small bay and then is immediately divided by the bridge of the descent route 4. To the right are Town Creek Point Marina and the adjacent Town Creek Landing Marina. On the left are fishing boats tied to dozens of docks that extend from home almost every small stream line. Just after the bridge is the excellent name Boatel California, followed by a strip of land wide enough for the road from Route 4, then an old inn, and finally tape beautiful beach with a magnificent view of sunset over the Patuxent and fishing. On the other hand, maybe all looked so good because we had spent the last eight hours charging a steep cut short and wildly fluctuating headwinds in Snipp, my 27-foot Albin Vega. After that, Omaha would have looked good. It could also being who had been somewhat puzzled by the new cane pilot Snipp, which showed a worrying trend of malicious damage. After an hour of the court strictly to proper course, is suddenly and quietly, send up to Bloody Point or, worse, Calvert Cliffs. So yeah, looked pretty damn Town Creek good. However, from the beginning that won his good name. We had called ahead and found sliding Our number (and all important entry codes the living room and showers) from Town Creek Point Marina owner, Buddy Winslow, away for the weekend manning a booth at the air show Patuxent its geothermal facilities business. As is apparent from the ballots in search of our number, Dale Dean who traveled from his houseboat and greeted us in Though it seemed more Porter Wagoner on the Grand Ole Opry dockhand a marina, the effect was the same. . . and much more interesting. As he got to set our lines, we admire the houseboat. Dean admits that he himself liked but it was in the market for a bigger, now that his girlfriend had just running out of closet space. In addition to admiring the ship on receipt next door to us, which was a 1957 37-foot ketch designed by Alden owned by a man named Dean Snyder, who put his head to say that has been made of back into shape for the last year and a half, meanwhile, has amassed a worldwide collection of DVDs for your library. We would like to borrow one. . . or two? Snyder headed the next day with some of his family to the air show, along with about 5,000 other boats. Good luck with that, I thought. Well, that was just the way the entire stay at Town Creek was. If someone came at two in the morning from work and realized that tied up, is checked to ensure that had allowed sufficient time for the rise of the tide before it went into the night. Everyone was friendly, helpful and funny, I do not receive many bystanders. Here An example: Winslow and his wife Jackie is adding an ice machine in the marina, only to be kind, since it has no plans to charge for ice. Are environmentally friendly too, planting native grasses along the coast and getting practical experience in geothermal in your home and upstairs slipholders 'lounge, which comes with two showers and a flat screen TV (Pssst! know where you can borrow a few DVDs.) During the next few days, until were out sailing or anchored at night in a stream or another, we strolled through Tiny Town Point, which we were told, was largely resolved in the years 1940 and 1950 for retirees and people from all parts of the area Navy installations. Tidy homes, dressed in extravagant numbers of hydrangeas, the online community, two or three ways. Unfortunately, the coastline of my metaphorical Patuxent is a little confusing at some points. No, it was time. You see, my friend Hal had to sail leave the next day, so my husband Rick went to take over, so to speak. The next morning we Snipp nose out of town to start our trip Creek on the River. As soon as we got off the balustrade of the earth, 15-knot winds, gusting to 20, hit us from behind (southwest), which gives us a good push toward the center channel wide the Patuxent's. We hurriedly curling mainly just for ourselves more comfortable, it is understood, then genoa and again extended the northwest of the head upriver. The wind filled the sails, and before I could say Jack Robinson, were brushed under 300 feet high center span of the bridge on Route 4. We have strengthened the mainsail to clear the patient point to starboard and blinked in disbelief as the probe registered 102 feet. The Patuxent not one of their shallow rivers of the Bay. Then loosened the sails and settled into a long-range beam and rapid, spilling some wind during gusts of wind, but otherwise just a light hand on the tiller to keep the boat rounding up in the wind. I was a little shocked as a milestone after another, all carefully circle grease pencil orange in the chart for more research-whizzed port and starboard. I thought a pity, but alas the sailor who gets a perfect spot to sail a boat well balanced with a constant wind. I! As a result, the entrance to the mill Cuckold and streams, the popular anchor motifs for both pedestrians and local clubs and home-navigation Blackstone's excellent but not transient was soon Marina reached in a blur. I do not remember if I did not even bother to bring it to Rick. He was clearly in the oh-yeah-this-is-what-it-all-sailing's all about the area ways, not open to comments, especially the marketing of the variety of departments. Soon after, I was pretty sure I saw the spring planting Sotterly, where you can visit this historic tie-cally significant in the early 19th century mansion. But maybe not. There are some beautiful homes, but significant uncertifiably age scattered on the banks of the Patuxent, and (I know this is heresy to some) handsome historic house may look much like the next. On the other side of the river, I saw a few boats and went to St. Leonard Creek, probably on his way to an early lunch and an umbrella-decorated Mai Tai in the White Paper Vera rejuvenated Sands Beach Club. "We will be back," I said softly, as St. Leonard moved quickly to stern. The sandy shoreline just beyond St Leonard's punctuated by short spikes versus T the two-mile beach at Jefferson Patterson State Park and Museum. These short stone piers were built to protect the coast while its sand and grass to accommodate the proper range of wildlife. "I'll be back" I promised. Broomes Island Creek and Island-the home of Bernie Fowler, the guardian Patuxent River angel in tennis shoes soon hove in sight. Workboats and was heading to his home in the gutter after his morning rounds. As glided silently around the island (seen in the graph for the whole world as the head of a pterodactyl and is doubtless as old), I thought of suggesting that binds in Stoney's Seafood House for lunch and one of their famous crabcakes cannon ball, but quickly thought better of it. That would have to wait long. The next place not prevented the Battle Creek, about three miles beyond Broomes Island and on the same side of river. He had been particularly looking forward to exploring this creek, which runs north for about three or four miles before running low in Battle Creek Cypress Swamp. The highlight of this 100-acre park is the quarter mile or less plastic boardwalk that winds through some of the eeriest landscape is very likely to see this side of Atchafalaya, Louisiana. The phrase "Do not let the Skeeters get you "was probably invented here at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp. I walked down that runway before, and I can say that before you're halfway through I swear I do not creatures that look at you from behind every semi-submerged cypress knee. And this place has plenty of cypress knees. It is a great place to visit, but my advice is to dab insect repellent and keep moving! We quickly checked out a few more miles, as the bridge of Route 231 and the chimneys of the plant Chalk Point power rose higher and higher above the low coastline. Chalk Point plant, which opened in 1964 and Maryland's largest coal burning, oil and gas, the latter comes through a pipeline of 51 miles of owner Mirant Corp. 's facility in Piney Point on the Potomac River. The bridge has a vertical clearance of only 16 feet, but opened with a call to the bridge tender. At the foot of the bridge on the right side of Calvert County, is exhausted Point. On the left, in the short stretch of the Patuxent coast belonging to Charles County, is the town of Benedict XVI, once a dynamic center for industry oystering the river and now a haven intriguing Homes on stilts over the water, workboat and a pinch of marinas, especially for shallow-draft boats. For those in search of the dinner or a snack at Pier Ray, temporary berthing for up to five meters draft can be found at the end of the dock landing next door Marina De Soto. Ray is in the shade of a large banana and venerable, clearly a master of survival in a place that has seen more than its share of storms and water. Needless to say that did not stop there, or continue beyond the bridge. Instead we brought Snipp nose through the wind and went on a beam reach to get the address opposite. Do not fight it. The river above the Chalk Point plant is a wonder to behold, as I discovered in the first boat trip. It reduces significant beyond the power lines that extend from the floor to the opposite shore, and then installed on mile after mile of nature as planned, occasionally interrupted by small settlements, as Benedict XVI, seem accidental traces of a bustling maritime past, but long ago and I suppose they are. In a small boat, a boat, a kayak or canoe, the upper river is a journey worth it. But all cruises have limits, and he was still needs two accumulating faster than the sediment after a storm. So that's why some of the cost of my Patuxent is quite blurred. But on the other hand, my St. Leonard Creek is nice and crisp. That's because the wind dropped just as he reached his entry for the second time, and, finally, I might say, "Hey, let's go find a place to drop anchor and then go to Vera. "And we did. We walked around flashing red" 14 "and then green 1 ", having both a port to avoid the bank outside of Peterson Point, then moved into the harbor Mackall, the first of many excellent anchorages in the stream. We dropped hook a duck blind behind a trawler and two sailing boats in the top of the Saw Pit Cove. It was a busy place, but we wanted to be inside easy pot away from Vera, whose white towers and recently rebuilt the docks we could see up the creek. We paid the price with a lot of boat wakes from waterskiiers, wakeboarders and visitors long after Vera's dark, but after the splendid isolation of our beam reach upstream and downstream, the business class boats reveling in a great day on the water was no punishment. San Leonardo is famous among the cruise boats and locals alike for its beauty. Of Indeed, in Vera's session at dusk and looking beyond its plastic palm trees and Botticelli's Venus-type source in the courtyard of the alternative land points that marked the scene of downstream, caught my attention, as no doubt hundreds of cruise ships have been before me, by the combination of the arrest of the absurd and the beauty of the true scene are presented. Then, like hundreds before me, shrugged and ordered another cold beer. So what's so strange about Polynesian Resort in a one-third of Maryland, river, after all? The next morning, before leaving St. Leonard Creek, went around to explore its coves and inlets and to find a quieter anchorage just for future reference. It was during this tour that Rick forgot that the stove gimbals only part time and already shed three-quarters of a cup of hot coffee on the carpet in the cabin. We left San Leonardo and plotted out on the river a couple of hours of that day, but the wind was hard and the clouds were building in the west, so that gave Mill Creek a quick lap and then returned to the City Creek. Rick left the evening before the rain started so he could return to work the next day. In practice before the dust had settled, however, my daughter Kristen arrived ready for their turn in the Patuxent. Ah, I thought, crabcakes visions dancing in my head, here is a young woman who loves to eat! Therefore no surprise know, not only because I have already alluded to the remnants of bread crumbs near Broomes Island, which Stoney was our first stop. The center of the Island Creek, which runs along the east side of Broomes Island, much too shallow for any boat, but along the edges of the bottom comes up quickly. So Christine and I timely for our arrival at Stoney near high tide, just to be sure there was enough water. . . and the time to do the job. Fortunately, we placed at the beginning of the cycle of lunch, so it could claim a table outside with a great view of the busy harbor. Soon, all tables were full and waitresses Stoney were everywhere at once with trays piled with crab-related dishes. Call it imagination or call it simple, I went straight to the sandwich Colossal Crab cake. Kristen Crab cake plate and chose the corn on the cob. I could not finish my part, but luckily, Kristen was there to help. The daughters are a great comfort. Long before the tide had begun to run out of the cove, we were back in the river and heading to Jefferson Patterson Park, my favorite place in the second Patuxent. You will not find it in guidebooks, but Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum is accessible by boat. I know for a park-director, Mike Smolek itself, which not only this summer, while it was anchored at its Hunter Mackall 40. Although cruise ships can not moor at the pier only the park, owned by Morgan State University, are welcome to drop anchor and then take a boat to the beach. Mackall recommends Smolek naturally as a convenient place to anchor and Peterson Point, just around the corner and the Patuxent, as a good place to beach the boat. However, the state company of other beaches park would do well also, it is not certain to be a road near that lead the visitor center, or the big barn on the farm of the engine or beyond the reconstruction of Native American settlement. The T-shaped breakwater also provide good protection against wind and waves. Kristen and I dinghies land in the canoe and kayak launch site, which is also near the American Indian village, war of 1812, the site and a couple of tracks. We could see very quickly that would be difficult to find a special place in this park that was not touched by the story, if these are traces of prehistoric settlements, plantations of 18th century or 19th century conflicts. Even the buildings are historic in its way. The park of the same name, Jefferson Patterson, a diplomat born in Ohio, bought the property in 1932 for use as an experimental farm. He directed the design architect Gertrude Sawyer 26 buildings, houses and farm buildings of the farm, he and his wife, war correspondent and photojournalist Mary Breckenridge Patterson, called the point of the farm. Many of these shaped buildings survive reused, as the park visitor center, which began life as a barn show. But it was the realization of the couple who had acquired a unique piece of property that led to Mary Patterson to donate to Maryland in 1983. She knew it was extremely rich in artifacts and wanted to retain securely to the study. In fact, to date, after 20 years of excavations, archaeologists estimate that the museum has explored less than one percent of what is buried in the nearly 600 acres. That is one reason why the State established its Archaeological Museum here, a remarkable repository of objects sites statewide. Kristen and I spent a happy afternoon, walking trails, admiring the views of the river continued through the trees and trying to resist to the temptations of the gift shop. There was one more thing I wanted to do in the park, but could not for the life me talk Kristen arrive. As the day next left to wander the city streets Point or view a video in the living room while I put on my Indiana Jones hat, the better-okay, my hat and candle-less Dorky back across the river to Peterson Point. That's the day I got the dirt around a corner of my Patuxent. I had gone in search of buried treasure. Not in mine, of course, but as part of the public park archeology program, which allows out of the ordinary people like me to get down and dirty with all screening for artifacts thing. At nine o'clock in the morning, I joined a small group of other volunteers, including a family of five. First, Maryland Historical administrator Ed Chaney trust us gathered in the shade of some trees near the excavation and explained that he would be working at the site of a slave quarter century earlier 18 on a property that had belonged to Richard Smith, the first attorney general of Maryland. Researchers are particularly lucky with the property of Smith, Chaney said, because it was part of a boundary dispute long and rancorous in the 18th century. One of the artifacts that came from this controversy is a detailed map showing the location accurate of all the buildings, fields and boundaries. Archaeologists covered with a modern map and have been able to identify the lost sites. That is like the slave site rooms were initially found. Once the network was designed and started the excavation, evidence of post holes were discovered almost simultaneously. After Chaney had finished his speech, he delivered us into the care of three of the park archaeologists summer, we went to work while shoveling sand detection on a barrel in search of something other than dirt. And, by golly, when you've seen enough ground strokes, a thimble, a grain size of 18th century brick looks like the mother lode. Step back, Indy! We dug and sifted and sorted and talked. It was terrible and everyone was having a great time. One of the professionals, Annette Cook, who has a degree in archeology from the University of West Florida, had moved to the area a year ago when her husband was transferred to Naval Air Station nearby Patuxent Naval. "I thought I had entered heaven," he said of coming to work at Jefferson Patterson. Outside volunteers Sandra Bell Street, on the other hand, has a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and is retired from the FDA. It's over stone-nap park course and learned basketry at the Indian village. He was now with enthusiasm startup screens all the dirt in the search. . . well, anything. It was, as a member of the family of volunteers Wyatt said Gilly, an activity that comes with its own reward system. Sometime around noon, I felt rewarded enough and returned to the boat and then to the city Creek. Kristen was leaving that afternoon and I had to be ready for the arrival of my friend Jean, who drove from Florida to sail with me into the Potomac. We had a great time, and I even got to bring home another river. But, well, that's another story, and I see that time is the cleaning and freshening wind. So if you apologize, I think only the Patuxent escape him back in my pocket and go sailing. Want to come?
Sometimes when the weather is particularly nasty, or I'm sitting in the office that you want to sail, I reach into my pocket and pull out my Patuxent River. Look, here it is, let me show you. It's beautiful, right? Yes, yes, I know, you can not really see. It is my metaphorical Patuxent River, brought experience and a memory at a time this May during a cruise on the bay of Annapolis. It took me almost a week to put together all the pieces, but now it can be removed at any time that I love and admire its green coast and back coves and anchorages friendly and just remember. . .
See, there is dirt in this part. (Come on, just the game, pretending to see it too.) That's where I joined a group of enthusiasts to Jefferson Patterson State Park public an excavation site of an old plantation. And see, here, a few crumbs left over from a Stoney Jumbo Crab cake sandwich on Broomes Island. Oops, there is an empty bottle of Sam Adams Vera hiding behind someone forgot. Oh, well, that river looks good anyway, although I can not get that stain Coffee of St. Leonard Creek, no matter how hard I try.
Wait, I'll say about that in a minute. First, I want to show my favorite place on the River. Let Me Hold it up so you can see where he is. Well, now we're seeing in the river's mouth, as if we were looking in the right bay is Solomons Island. See? Forget the Solomon Islands, because we are not there. I've been there, you've been there. So no, we do not go there. In contrast, look across the river to the left, right where Route 4 (the Governor Thomas Johnson) returns to the land bridge in the county of St. Mary. That's where we're going to get started: Town Creek.
Who knows? In describing the Patuxent, the guides speak on the Solomon Islands, of course (remember, we're not there) and a few places not much further upstream, such as St. Leonard Creek (we'll get back to the island) and Mill and streams Cuckold, and perhaps Broomes. But Town Creek. However, Town Creek is practically perfect place for cruise ships transiting the Bay and looking for a convenient scale and friendly. It is also ideal as an entry point for a visit to the Patuxent. It is near the river mouth, is easy to enter, is sufficiently deep inside most people and are friendly, charming and walkable. Have I made my point?
Yeah, well, Town Creek looked very good to my friend Hal and I cruise at 5 pm on a Friday in late May and will be rounded to flashing red "4" at the entrance of the creek, gave the warning buoy bank beyond it a wide detour and immediately saw our goal, Town Creek Point Marina. Indeed, it is difficult not to detect what you're looking for, because after a brief entry, the stream is opened in a small bay and then is immediately subdivided by the bridge of the descent route 4. To the right are Town Creek Point Marina and the adjacent Town Creek Landing Marina. On the left are the fishing boats tied to several dozen to docks ranging from small house almost every line the stream. Just after the bridge is the excellent name Boatel California, followed by a strip of wide enough land for the road from Route 4, then an old inn and, finally, a beautiful ribbon of the beach with a magnificent view of sunset over the Patuxent and fishing.
On the other hand, maybe all looked so good because he had spent the last eight hours of charging in a short steep cut and wildly fluctuating wind Snipp against in my 27-foot Albin Vega. After that, Omaha would have looked good. It could also be that it was a little puzzled by the pilot of new cane Snipp, which showed a worrying trend of malicious damage. After an hour of the court strictly to the proper course would be very suddenly and silently sends us to Bloody Point out or, worse, Calvert Cliffs. So yes, Town Creek looked pretty damn good.
However, from the beginning that he won his good name. We had called ahead and arrived at our slip number (and all important input codes for the living room and showers) of owner Town Creek Point Marina, Buddy Winslow, away for the weekend, manning a stand at the air show business Patuxent for geothermal facilities. As is apparent from the ballot in search of our number, Dale Dean who traveled from his houseboat and greeted us in. While it seemed more Porter Wagoner Grand Ole Opry from a marina dockhand, the effect was the same. . . and much more interesting. As he got to set our lines, we admire the houseboat. Dean admits that he liked himself, but was in the market for a bigger, now that his girlfriend had just running out of closet space.
In addition to admiring the boat in the slip next to us, 1957 proved to be a 37-foot ketch designed by Alden owned by a man named Dean Snyder, who put his head to say that has been put back in shape for the last year and a half and, meanwhile, has amassed a worldwide collection of movies for your library. We would like to borrow one. . . or two? Snyder was going to date following some of his family to the air show, along with about 5,000 other boats. Good luck with that, I thought.
Well, that was just how the entire stay at Town Creek was. If someone came in at two in the morning from work and noticed he was tied there, is checked to ensure that there line allowed sufficient for increasing the oil before it went into the night. Everyone was friendly, helpful and funny, I do not receive many bystanders. I Here's an example: Winslow and his wife Jackie is adding an ice machine in the marina, only to be kind, and they do not intend to charge for ice. They are easy on the environment as well, planting native grasses along the coast and getting practical experience in geothermal in your home and up slipholders 'lounge, which comes with two showers and a flat screen TV (Pssst! I know you can borrow a few DVDs.)
In the coming days, while not out sailing or anchored at night in a stream or another, we strolled through Tiny Town Point, which we were told, was largely resolved in 1940 and 1950 for retirees and people in the ubiquitous area Navy installations. Tidy homes, dressed in extravagant numbers of hydrangeas line of two or three roads in the community.
Unfortunately, the cost of my metaphorical Patuxent is a little confusing at some points. No, it was time. You see, my sailing partner Hal had to leave the next day, so my husband Rick went to pick up the slack, so to speak. The next morning we Snipp nose out of town Creek to begin our journey River. As soon as we got off the railing of the land, winds of 15 knots, gusting to 20, hit from behind (southwest), which gives us a good push toward the center channel wide the Patuxent's. We hurried to crimp the main, just to make us more comfortable, you understand, then spread the jib and turned to the northwest of the head upriver. The wind filled the sails, and before I could say Jack Robinson, were grazing in the 300-meter span center of the bridge of Route 4. We have strengthened the mainsail to clear the patient point to starboard and blinked in disbelief as the probe registered 102 feet. The Patuxent is one of its shallow rivers of the Bay.
After that, loosened the sails and settled into a long-range beam and rapid, spilling some wind during the gusts, but if not just keep one hand on the rudder to keep the ship rounding up in the wind. I was a little shocked as a milestone after another, all carefully a grease pencil circle of orange in the chart for further investigation, whizzed to the port and starboard. I thought a pity, but alas the sailor who gets a perfect spot to sail a boat well balanced with a constant wind. I!
Following Therefore, the entrance to the mill and streams Cuckold, the popular anchor motifs for both pedestrians and local clubs and navigation-home to the excellent-but not transient Blackstone Marina-soon passed in a blur. I do not remember if I did not even bother to bring it to Rick. He was clearly in the oh-yeah-this-is-what-it-all-sailing's about the area anyway, and not open to comments, especially the marketing of the variety of departments.
Soon after, I was pretty sure that saw the planting Sotterly dock, where you can visit this historic tie-cally significant early 19th century mansion. But maybe not. There are a number of beautiful homes, but significant age uncertifiably scattered on the banks of the Patuxent, and (I know this is heresy to someone) beautiful historic building may seem much to the next.
On the other side of the river, I saw a few boats and went to St. Leonard Creek, probably in his
form of a luncheon early and an umbrella-decorated mai tai in rejuvenated Vera's White Sands Beach Club. "We will be back," I said softly, as St. Leonard passed quickly aft.
The sandy shoreline just beyond San Leonardo is punctuated by short spikes versus T the two-mile beach at Jefferson Patterson State Park and Museum. These short stone piers were built to protect the coast while the sand and grass to accommodate the proper range of wildlife. "I'll be back, "I promised.
Broomes Island Creek and Island-the home of Bernie Fowler, guardian angel of the Patuxent River in tennis shoes, soon hove to sight. Workboats and was heading to his home in the gutter after his morning rounds. As we glided silently through the island (seen on the graph to worldwide as the head of a pterodactyl and is doubtless as old), I thought of suggesting that we tie up at Stoney's Seafood House for lunch and one of his guns famous crabcakes ball, but quickly thought better of it. That would have to wait long.
The next stop was no place in Battle Creek, about three miles Broomes Island beyond and on the same side of river. He had been particularly eager to explore the creek, walking north for about three or four miles before exhaustion in Battle Creek Cypress Swamp. The highlight of this 100-acre park is the quarter mile or less plastic boardwalk that winds through some eeriest of the landscape that is likely to see this side of Atchafalaya, Louisiana. The phrase "Do not let the Skeeters get you" was probably invented here in Battle Creek, Cypress Swamp. I walked down the runway before, and I can say that before you're halfway through I swear they are not creatures you look from behind each semi-submerged cypress knee. And this place has plenty of cypress knees. It is a great place to visit, but my advice is that you slather on insect repellent and keep moving!
Quickly listed as a bridge some miles of Route 231 and cells of the Chalk Point power plant rose higher and higher above the low coastline. The Chalk Point plant, which opened in 1964 and is the largest in Maryland, burning coal, gas and oil-the latter comes through a pipeline 51 kilometers from owner Mirant Corp. 's facility in Piney Point on the Potomac River.
The bridge has a vertical clearance of only 16 feet, but will open with a call to the bridge tender. At the foot of the bridge on the right side of Calvert County, is exhausted Point. On the left, in the short stretch of coast Patuxent belonging to Charles County, is the town of Benedict XVI, once a dynamic center for industry oystering the river and now a haven intriguing Houses on stilts in the water, workboats and a sprinkling of marinas, especially for shallow-draft boats. For those looking for dinner or a snack at Pier Ray, temporary berthing for up to five meters draft can be found at the end of the dock landing DeSoto Marina next door. Ray is in the shade of a large banana and venerable, clearly a master of survival in a place that has seen more than its share of storms and water.
Needless to say, that did not stop there, not continue beyond the bridge. Instead we brought Snipp nose through the wind and went on a beam reach going the opposite direction. I did not fight it. The river above the Chalk Point plant is a wonder to behold, as I discovered in the first boat trip. Is reduced significantly beyond power lines that extend from the plant to the opposite shore and then installed on mile after mile of nature as scheduled, occasionally interrupted by small settlements, as Benedict XVI, seem accidental traces of a busy, but long maritime past, and suppose they are. In a small boat, a boat, a kayak or canoe, the upper river is a journey worth it. However, all cruises have limits, and that was accumulating still needs two more faster than the sediment after a storm.
So that's why some of the cost of my Patuxent is quite blurred. But on the other hand, my St. Leonard Creek is nice and sharp. That's because the wind dropped just as she reached her entrance the second time, and, finally, I would say, "Hey, let's go find a place to drop anchor and then go to Vera. "And we did. We walked around flashing red" 14 "and then green" 1 ", with both port to avoid the bank outside of Peterson Point, then moved into the harbor Mackall, the first of many excellent anchorages in the stream. We dropped the hook a duck blind behind of a trawler and two sailing boats in the top of the Saw Pit Cove. It was a busy place, but we wanted to be within easy distance boat Vera whose white towers and recently rebuilt the docks we could see up the creek. We paid the price with a lot of boat wakes from waterskiiers, wakeboarders and visitors that long after Vera's dark, but after the splendid isolation of our beam reach upstream and downstream, the company reveling class boats a great day on the water was no punishment.
San Leonardo is famous among the cruise boats and locals alike for its beauty. In fact, Vera's meeting, at dusk and looking beyond its plastic palm trees and Botticelli's Venus-type source in the courtyard of alternative points of land that marked the scene of river down, caught my attention, as no doubt hundreds of cruise ships have been before me, by the combination of the arrest of absurdity and beauty of the scene de la Vera are presented. Then, like hundreds before me, shrugged and ordered another cold beer. So what's so strange about a resource in Polynesia to Maryland River half after all?
The next morning, before leaving St. Leonard Creek, went around to explore its coves and inlets and find a quieter anchorage just for future reference. It was during this tour that Rick forgot that the stove gimbals only part time and three quarters and poured parts of a cup of hot coffee on the carpet in the cabin.
We left San Leonardo and plotted out on the river for a couple of hours that day, but the wind was hard and the clouds were building in the west, so that gave Mill Creek a quick lap and then returned to the City Creek. Rick left the evening before the rain started so he could return to work the next day. Almost before the dust had settled, however, my daughter Kristen arrived ready for their turn in the Patuxent. Ah, I thought, crabcakes visions dancing in my head, here is a young woman who loves to eat! Therefore no surprise know, not only because I have already alluded to the bread remains in the vicinity of Broomes Island, which Stoney was our first stop.
The center of the Island Creek, which runs along the east side of Broomes Island, much too shallow for any boat, but along the edges of the bottom comes up quickly. So Cristina and I timely for our arrival at Stoney near high tide, just to be sure there was enough water. . . and the time to do the job. Fortunately, put us at the beginning of the cycle of lunch, so it could claim a table outside with a great view of the busy harbor. Soon, all tables were full and waitresses Stoney were everywhere at the same time with trays piled with crab-related dishes. Call it imagination or call it simple, I went straight Crab cake sandwich for the colossal. Kristen Crab cake plate and chose the corn on the cob. I could not finish my part, but luckily, Kristen was there to help. The daughters are a great comfort.
Long before the tide had begun to run out of the cove, we were back in the river and the departure of Jefferson Patterson Park, my favorite place in the second Patuxent.
You will not find it in guidebooks, but Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum is accessible by boat. I know for a source-of Park Director Mike Smolek same, not only this summer, while it was anchored at its Hunter Mackall 40. Although cruise ships can not moor at the pier only park, owned by Morgan State University are welcome to drop anchor and then take a boat to the beach. Mackall recommends Smolek naturally as a convenient place for the anchor and Peterson Point, just around the corner and on the Patuxent, as a good place to beach the boat. But other state-owned park beaches would do well too, because Not sure to be a nearby road that will take the visitor center, or the big barn on the farm of the engine or reconstruction beyond native resolution Americans. The T-shaped breakwaters also provide good protection against wind and waves.
Cristina and I dinghies land in the canoe and kayak launch site, which is also near the American Indian village, a war of 1812, the site and a couple of tracks. We could see very quickly that would be difficult to find special place in this park that was not touched by the story, whether it is the remains of prehistoric settlements, plantations of 18th century or century conflicts 19. Even the buildings are historic in its way.
The park of the same name, Jefferson Patterson, a diplomat born in Ohio, bought the property in 1932 for use as an experimental farm. He commissioned architect Gertrude Sawyer to design 26 buildings, houses and farm buildings of the farm, he and his wife, correspondent war and photojournalist Mary Breckenridge Patterson, called the point of the farm. Many of these buildings survive in a repurposed as the park visitor center, which began his life as a barn show.
But it was the realization that the couple had acquired a unique piece of property that Mary Patterson asked to donate to Maryland in 1983. She knew it was extremely rich in artifacts and wanted it kept safely for the study. In fact, to date, after 20 years of excavations, museum archaeologists believe they have explored less than one percent of what is buried in the nearly 600 acres. That's one reason why which the state established its Archaeological Museum here, a remarkable object repository sites throughout the state.
Kristen and I spent a happy evening, walking trails, admiring the view of the river continued through the trees and trying to resist the temptations of the gift shop.
There one more thing I wanted to do in the park, but could not for the life of Kristen, I would like to talk in coming along. The next day I left to wander the city streets Point or view a video in the living room while I put on my Indiana Jones hat, the better-okay, my hat less dorky candle and recrossed the river for Peterson Point.
That's the day I got the dirt around a corner of my Patuxent. I had gone in search of buried treasure. Not in mine, of course, but as part of public archeology program in the park, allowing off-the-ordinary people like me to get down and dirty with screening for all kinds of artifacts.
Arrival on nine in the morning, I joined a small group of volunteers, including a family of five. First, Maryland Historical Trust administrator Ed Chaney picked us in the shade of some trees near the excavation and said he would be working at the site of a slave quarter in early 18th century on a farm that had belonged to Richard Smith, the first attorney general of Maryland. Researchers are particularly lucky with the property of Smith, Chaney said, because was part of a boundary dispute long and rancorous in the 18th century. One of the artifacts that came out of that controversy is a detailed map of the exact location of all buildings, fields and boundaries. Archaeologists covered with a modern map and have been able to identify the lost sites. Which is how the site of slave quarters shall be found initially. Once the network was designed and started the excavation, evidence of post holes were discovered almost simultaneously.
After Chaney had finished his speech, which delivered us into the care of three archaeologists summer the park, we went to work while shoveling sand detection on the barrel in search of something other than dirt. And, by golly, when you've seen enough ground strokes, a thimble, a grain size of 18th century brick looks to the mother lode. Step back, Indy!
We dug and sifted and sorted and talked. It was terrible and everyone was having a great time. One advantage, Annette Cook, who has a degree in archeology from the University of West Florida, had moved to the area a year ago when her husband was transferred to Naval Air Station nearby Patuxent Naval. "I thought I had entered heaven," he said of coming to work at Jefferson Patterson. Off-the-street volunteers Sandra Bell, on the other hand, has a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and retired from the FDA. It's over stone park nap basketry course and learned people in India. Now he was enthusiastically boot screens of all land in search of. . . well, anything. It was, as a member of the family of volunteers Wyatt said Gilly, an activity that comes with its own reward system.
Sometime around noon, I felt rewarded enough and returned to the boat and then to the City Creek. Kristen left that afternoon, and I had to be ready for the arrival of my friend Jean, who drove from Florida to sail with me into the Potomac. We had a great time, and until I arrived to bring home another river.
But, well, that's another story, and I see that time is the cleaning and freshening wind. So if you'll excuse me, I think only the Patuxent escape him back in my pocket and go sailing. Want to come?
About the Author
By Jody Schroath, Senior Editor for Chesapeake Bay Magazine. For more great articles and photos on boating, sailing, fishing, and cruising, visit http://www.ChesapeakeBoating.net
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