It's Solomons

​Solomons, MD - Spring Cove Marina, 5/8-11/19

Our view from the boat of the Calvert Cliffs, near the entrance to the Patuxent River and Solomons, dominate the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay for roughly 24. They were formed over 10 to 20 million years ago when all of Southern Maryland was covered by a warm, shallow sea. When the sea receded the cliffs were exposed and began eroding. Today these cliffs reveal the remains of prehistoric species Including sharks, whales, rays, and seabirds that were the size of small airplanes.

We've taken a few days to regroup in Solomons, MD.  The boat needed a little attention:  oil change, air filters, impellers, etc. so we have been enjoying this beautiful area of the Chesapeake on the west coast.  Solomons, not Solomon as the locals will remind you,   includes Solomons Island and mainland on the north side of the mouth of Patuxent River, where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. It is just across from the U.S. Patuxent River Naval Air Station (on the south side of the mouth of the Patuxent River).  The northside of the island is filled with one marina after another.  Not fancy marinas filled with yachts, smaller marinas filled with weekend sailboats, cruisers, trawlers and working fishing/crabbing boats.  We stayed at Spring Cove Marina and the staff and people on the docks couldn't have been nicer.  Lots of folks just getting there boats splashed in and busy with the spring boat cleaning routine of scrubbing off the winter dirt.
You can really tell that were getting farther north now because of the landscape.  It's finally getting green.  The marina, which is set back in a little cove along banks of trees and beautiful flower beds, was in spring mode and getting greener by the minute.  It had a great pool and pool bar, but it was just a little too chilly even for these Minnesotans to swim ;)
On our way to Solomons, the Chesapeake was FULL of crab pots.  I picked out one bright red one to show you what they look like.  You can really see this one...most of the time they are much more difficult to see.  They come in all colors. This one looks kind of like a bomb.  The second shot is of the cage attached to that floating bobber and why you don't want to hit them.  They'll wrap right around your prop and then you're not going anywhere!

Crab pot bobber. We call them "crabby's" when we are traveling.

Crab pot. This one was in the Calvert Marine Museum and has a yellow bobber.

JC Lore and Sons Oyster Packing/Seafood plant illustrates the tie to the fishing industry in the community. It is a part of the Calvert Marine Museum.

On our last day in Solomons, we headed to the Calvert Marine Museum.  It was super interesting and they actually moved the Drum Point Light House right into the museum cove.  We toured both the museum and the lighthouse and learned the history of this little community on the Chesapeake.  Just like all the communities along the Chesapeake it's history stems from the water that surrounds it.  It was a safe, deep harbor in 1812, and helped harbor florilla's of ships prior to attacking the British.  It was also the site of the Amphibious Training during WW II.  It is still the home of the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Lab.  And through the years it's existence was centered around ship building.  Below are photos from around Solomons and The Calvert Marine Museum.

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Boardwalk along the Patuxent River

Fishing boats right outside the Catholic Church.....

Above and below: Boats on display at the Calvert Marine Museum

A "Two Log" canoe build in Solomons, MD

Drum Point Lighthouse, Solomons, MD

Lighthouse kitchen

Lighthouse Keepers bedroom

Mechanical Bell Striker located on the second floor of the lighthouse.  It was used when the weather was foggy and the boats couldn't see the light.  It would do a double strike every 15 seconds, so boats that couldn't see the light could atleast hear the bell and  run aground on Drum Point.  
If a light keeper was married and had a family, they were allowed to live at the light house too.  The light house had two bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, bell room, study/telephone room.  It was actually quite comfortable.

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Jelly Fish display at the Calvert Marine Museum. In addition to the fantastic boat, lighthouse and historical fishing displays, the museum also had a full sealife area with sting rays and fish native to the area.

Remember the Calvert Cliffs in the first picture? Well this display is a replica of the types of fossils that paleontologists have found in the cliffs.

Even though it is a Marine Museum, Calvert Counties history wouldn't be complete without Tabacco Farming. Pictured is a Tabacco press.

Fishing might be the big industry on the Chesapeake but pleasure boating is the passion for many on the bay. The museum had a full display of outboard motors, beautifully finished wooden boats and the history of fun on the water.

One of the things I was most impressed with with the photography display by Jay Fleming, entitled:  Working on the Water.  His photography catches the working fisherman on Tangiers and Smith Islands in action.  An incredibly beautiful look into the lives of the fisherman on this bay.

More from St. Michaels later~