Annapolis

Departure this am was at 7:30.  The wind was supposed to pick up to blow 20, so an early departure seemed to be a good idea.  It was pouring with rain when we left and continued until we almost got to Annapolis.  It was also cold,  11C.  I will be glad when the weather improves. 

To get into the harbour, we had to navigate through the middle of a race of one design (lightning) boats.  There must have been about 50 in the fleet.  We arrived at  the mooring field around 11:00 and picked up a mooring.  It was almost deserted when we arrived but by 5:00 it was half full.

We took the dinghy to shore and met up with relatives-in law of Jim Pyke and ate dinner at Harry Brownes on State Circle, just two blocks from the dinghy dock.  We had a terrific dinner,  softshell crab was on the menu and it was recommended that I try it!  I had already determined that I was not going to have steamed crab after the fiasco when I was on the delivery trip with Chuck, but these are entirely different.  You eat the crab just after it has moulted.  It is lightly coated and fried so you eat the whole thing. Delicious!

This morning we woke up to SUN!  what a pleasant sight after so much rain and wind over the past two weeks.

Jim and Debbie had taken the dog in for a run this am and put our name in at a restaurant for brunch considering it was Mothers’ Day.  We got there ¾ hrs later and walked right in while a lot of people were waiting so we had a good brunch.

It was then off to the Annapolis Naval College for a tour.  What a magnificent campus.!

Drift Away and Seas the Day in the background

It overlooks the harbour and has a lot of space.  Our tour guide was a former graduate, and also the former director of admissions.  He was full of knowledge and gave some great insights into the life of a “plebe”.  Apparently 19,400 apply each year and about 1250 are selected.  As it was when Michael went to Military College, they make sure that you are there for the correct reasons.  They stress honour, knowledge, professionalism dedication and loyalty.

30' tower

It was stressed that each Cadet must participate in an athletic function every day from 3 to 5:30.  It could be inter-collegiate intra-mural etc. but they have to participate.  Navy has turned out a few Heismann Trophy winners.

They have many facilities for sports, the view above is a portion of the pool area.  Every cadet must jump off the 30' tower to simulate what it might be like to abandon ship.  They must jump, they cannot be pushed.  He said it sometimes challenges their leadership skills!

Only graduates can enter via the middle door

The pictures above are of the dormitories.  All 4000 cadets live in the same dorm, the largest in the US.  There are many wings, interconnected.

Dining Hall

All cadets eat together.  They are allowed 3/4 hr for lunch but most take 15 min. in order to grab a precious 1/2 hr personal time.  Meals are served family style at 400 tables.  They area all served in 5 minutes.

We toured the hall where they honour former cadets and where they hold ceremonial functions.

On the wall the names of any of the former cadets that have given their life for their country are engraved.

The chapel is an impressive area.  They hold both protestant and catholic services.  Attendance is not mandatory but up to the cadet.  He did say it was very busy the past few weeks with final exams going on!

In the crypt under the main rotunda is the grave of John Paul Jones. This Commodore and naval leader had died alone in Paris at age 45, where he was interred. In 1905 his remains were discovered almost perfectly preserved in a tightly sealed lead casket He was honoured in Paris with a parade and religious service before being brought to Annapolis.  In 1913 he was moved to his current resting place in a 21 ton marble sarcophagus.

We finished up our visit with a tour of the Naval Museum.  Aside from a series of exhibits demonstrating the change of the Navy and their ships over the years, there is the largest exhibit around of ships models.  Included are the models made by prisoners with only basic tools while incarcerated.  Many of the models are spectacular in their detail.

Senior level administrators live on a row of very spectacular homes along one side of the campus.  The architecture of these and also the dormitories reflect the French style preferred by the architect, a cousin of the Vanderbilt's who had sent him to France to study.