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<\/a><\/p>\nThis morning, the bay was shrouded in a dense fog giving everything on the water a ghostly appearance. \u00a0We had a continental breakfast and decent coffee overlooking the peaceful harbor and then checked out of the St. Michael’s Harbour Inn. \u00a0I wanted to explore St. Michael’s and visit the Maritime Museum.<\/p>\n
We watched as an eery black ship’s form appeared out of the mist and sailed into the harbor. \u00a0A short while later, a second black square-rigged ship silently coasted in and they both tied up at the docks at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. \u00a0I expected Captain Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean to jump off the ships to loot and plunder St. Michael’s. \u00a0We later learned that they were exact replicas of the Nina and the Pinta which carried Columbus across the Atlantic five hundred years ago.<\/p>\n It was a short drive through the village to the museum on the other side of the bay. \u00a0We freely explored the grounds and looked in at the wooden boat building shop where several dinghies were being created. \u00a0We climbed the circular stairs to the top of the original Hooper Strait Lighthouse, pictured below, for a great view of the museum grounds. \u00a0There were many interesting buildings and ships to explore.<\/p>\n The Maritime Museum is a wonderful treasure trove to see and ride historic wooden boats. \u00a0There are several antique skipjacks and bugeyes which plied the Chesapeake Bay in search of crabs and oysters.<\/p>\n Before we left the Maritime Museum, I asked several locals for a recommendation of the best crab cakes in St. Michael’s and they suggested Town Dock Restaurant. \u00a0So that’s where we had lunch. \u00a0Yes, it was an excellent lump-meat crab cake. After lunch, we drove out to Tilghman’s Island just to see what was there and then drove south to Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n It was generally an uneventful drive between St. Michael’s Maryland and our National Capitol, but it became an interesting ride across the impressive Bay Bridge. \u00a0The traffic increased as we approached the District. \u00a0After driving around in heavy traffic, we checked into the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, unloaded our bags, and set out to explore the neighborhood.<\/p>\n The hotel was near the Washington Monument and The White House. \u00a0We learned that the monument reopens tomorrow afternoon after being closed for several years due to damage from an earthquake.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n