Tuesday, May 21, 2013

MAY 19-21: SOLOMONS ISLAND, MARYLAND

May 19:  The wind was predicted to pick up to over 15 knots today which is not usually too bad but a 15 knot wind on the Chesapeake can create a very uncomfortable ride.  So by 6:45 a.m. we were under way heading to the Western shore and the Solomons.  With a flood tide in our favor, we made excellent time and were tied up at Zahniser's Yachting Center by early afternoon.

May 20:  We made arrangements to be hauled here to have the propeller and shaft checked out for any damage that we might have sustained by hitting an unknown object in the Dismal Swamp.  The Duddon was hauled early in the morning and after an inspection and testing of both the propeller and shaft, it was concluded that we had not sustained any damage to either.  What then was the cause of the vibration?  The consensus was that one of our zincs was loose and that was the culprit.  The solution was to remove the zinc, put the boat back in the water and taken her for a test run to see if there was still any vibration.  The crew duly took the boat out to open water and found no vibration at 2,200 RPMS.  Yay!

The rest of the day was spent doing those exciting boat chores:  laundry, provisioning, cooking, cleaning, etc.

May 21:  Today is our day off to play tourist and take a break from boat work.  So we walked a few blocks to the Calvert Marine Museum.

 The museum includes examples of Chesapeake-built wooden boats-These Bugeye boats plied the Chesapeake in search of crabs. There is even a work area where one can build one's own wooden canoe. 

 The museum contains exhibits, displays and aquariums highlighting maritime history, estuarine biology and paleontology.  This terrapin was quite eager to escape its confines.
 These river otters were taking a nap to escape the heat of the day.  You have to look carefully to see them as the glass enclosure was reflecting my image but very cute.

Drum Point Lighthouse.  This 1883 screwpile lighthouse was decommissioned and moved from its location on Drum Point to the museum grounds in 1975.


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