Eastern Shore and Annapolis

July 11, 2006

Maryland State Capitol



After getting used to driving pretty long hours to arrive wherever we ended up, it is strange getting used to the short trips we are making in this area, it’s incredible how many different places you can see in a relatively short drive. This was certainly the case when we drove from Philadelphia to the Eastern Shore of Maryland where we visited Washington College in Chestertown.



Once upon a time, Kathy attended Washington College and she wanted me to see the place so we spent a night in Chestertown which is a very cool little town on the banks of the Chester River. We toured the college and the town by bicycle before driving over to nearby Rock Hall to have a crab lunch at Waterman’s Crab House, on a deck overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Crabs are one of Kathy’s true joys and she has been hankering for a true Maryland Crab experience. Well Waterman’s was ok, but the real crab experience happened by sheer dumb luck last night in Annapolis.

After lunch, we drove, a very short distance, across the Bay Bridge to Annapolis where we surprised friends who relocated here from Key West, Dan & Deanna Tobin and their children, Nicholas (7), Dylan (4) and Christina (3). We called them from the visitor center announcing that we were here and they were kind enough to invite us not only to stay but to attend a wonderful, traditional Maryland Crab Feast at the home of their friends, Dave & Kristin Draper & their kids A.J. & Danielle. The party was in honor of their son A.J.’s 8th birthday, and featured the biggest Jumbo Maryland Crabs I have ever seen. Kathy was in heaven, though I must say as far as devouring Crabs goes, she had stiff competition from Deanna.

Melanie, Barbara, Kathy & Kristin

Deanna stealing crabs from children.

We met some wonderful people in addition to the Draper’s including Barbara who has 2 of her 3 sons currently at the nearby Naval Academy. One a First Year (Senior in military parlance) and one a plebe (Freshman). You may be able to spot Barbara if you visit the Naval Academy. She will the woman walking a heat exhausted dog, as she stalks the plebes being put through their training, with a long lens camera. We also met Roger and Melanie Goodes & their kids Rigsby & Marina who were visiting from of all places, Indianapolis, so we were able to trade stories of Broad Ripple and I told them to drop my name if they head to Brugge. Hopefully they won’t get thrown out of the place if they do that.

Rigsby & AJ