Kayaking in Annapolis March 2025

We rented kayaks from Paddle Annapolis, a small company on the Eastport peninsula at the end of March 2025. With a spring break vacation in Virginia Beach looming, we wanted to practice our skills before hitting more challenging work much further down the Chesapeake Bay. 

The company has a small and easy launch into Spa Creek.

Mom and youngest getting into their kayak

A successful launch

She launched earlier

Spa Creek is on the south side of downtown Annapolis, where the Capitol and the Naval Academy and the tourist bits are located. The creek is lined with lots of large and impressive houses, along with numerous personal docks and boats.

Downtown thataway!

We headed up the creek, leaving downtown for the return trip since the wind would favor us on the way back.

Ships near the launch area

We had fun going under Compromise Street/6th Street bridge (which we drove over to get to the kayak place).

Nicely in sync

Crossing on the left

I went through the middle of the bridge, the draw bridge part, and enjoyed seeing the signs. I am not sure what the speed limit sign is (miles or knots or metric) but I am sure I was not exceeding it.

If you need the phone number at this point, you are in trouble

Interesting height gauge

Looking up at the road

On the other side, traffic was not too busy. We had fun waving to larger boats going in the other direction.

We had this boat surrounded (see the blue kayak on the other side?)

Some fancy houses

A mega-house

Snacking on the water was fun though I had trouble docking with the other boats in the middle of the water.

Powering up for more rowing

Two thirds of our fleet

More houses and docks

Doesn't want her picture taken

More photophilic

Houses ready for high water

A dog barking at us

We saw the Charles Carroll House from the water, with the spire of Saint Mary's Catholic Church behind it.

Historic home

Going back under the bridge

On the way back under the bridge, we turned left at the Annapolis Yacht Club to paddle down Ego Alley, a small branch of Spa Creek leading into downtown.

Annapolis Yacht Club

The Naval Academy

The gas station!

We saw some birds on the water but it was hard to get close enough to get a picture before they would scatter. The ducks by downtown were more photophilic.

Sittin' on the dock of the bay

Hoping for some droppings?

The downtown waterfront

More of the same

On the way back to the kayak rental place, I was able to photograph one of the birds that hangs out on the buoys. 

Watch out for that other boat!

This Harry-Potter themed boat made me laugh.

Is it the broom or the ball?

After returning our kayaks we headed back to an old favorite, the Iron Rooster, for lunch. I ordered the Crab Hash, which was delightful.

An earned meal

Cute Kid Pix August 2024

Pictures that didn't get their own post from August...

Summer saw the end of some cooking-at-home projects. We tried making plantains. Our first batch did not turn out so well but the second attempt yielded softer and tastier results.

Cooking plantains

Our daughter got a candy cook book for her birthday and made a variety of confections over the summer. One of the last candies she made were white chocolate-coated cake balls.

Yummy!

Our youngest had a friend over and they tried out Monopoly.

In mid-game

Our eldest son is in marching band again. They had a band camp that finished with a preview performance on the football field.

Marching band in action

Our youngest had another visit with the grandparents before school started. 

Sharing screens with Grandpa

We took boating lessons from the local county parks and recreation department. It was an exciting morning because someone fell out of their kayak. The falling fellow was not one of our family members. The instructors tried righting his kayak and having him get in but it wasn't working. They went to the shore and did the remount there.

Shared kayak with daughter hiding

Youngest at the front of the canoe

Power kayaking

The youngest had his birthday, so we had a retro video game-themed event. The cake was Cappy!

Cake not for wearing

Amazing wall mural by my daughter

Posing at the mural

Blowing out the cake

The next day, we had extra family over to celebrate.

Uncle Ed with the birthday boy

We went to a local Ethiopian restaurant which was yummy, though I was a little disappointed with my dish. The bread is still amazing.

Kitfo

We went to an 80s/90s dance at our studio. It was fun dressing up, especially for me to be Miami Vice.

Dancing the night away

The local library's summer reading program included a free Junior Frosty from Wendys which we wasted no time collecting.

Yum!

Summer ending in August for the kids as they had to go back to school. Our youngest still likes walking to school, which includes time with a best friend from down the street.

Off to school

Codorus State Park, Pennsylvania

We camped at Codorus State Park just outside Hanover, Pennsylvania, planning to visit the Gettysburg Battlefield. The park had plenty of amenities that we enjoyed.

We rented an individual camp site for two nights. It included a fire pit with grill, a picnic table, and electricity. We only used the electricity for my cpap machine, an electric griddle, and phone charging. The spot was big enough for our two tents with plenty of area for other activities.

Our camp site

Happily, the bathrooms were very close by and were actual bathrooms, not latrines or other minimalist offerings sometimes available. A large field was not too far away either. We played a lot of catch there.

Tossing a football

Receiving a football

The field had a playground, a large fire pit with benches, and a small outdoor theater.

Amenities

The first night, we had a small campfire and made smores before going to bed. 

Starting a fire

Enjoying the night

The next morning, I woke up first and did some reading out by the picnic table while others snoozed.

Sacked out

They slept long enough that I went for a walk and found a few geocaches hidden in the park. They are approved by the park and have very nice housing. No ground tupperware here!

Rabbits on the way to the geocache

Yes, it's meant to resemble an outhouse

The park also has a veterans' memorial area, though no one is buried there.

Pavilion at the Veterans' Memorial

Another geocache featured Kermit the Frog inside. I needed his hopping ability to make it there and back.

Inside another geocache

Obstacle on the path

The park has pavilions for rent. 

Rental pavilion 

Cooking facility inside

By the time I got back to our site, breakfast was underway. We had a guest try to join us but we politely refused.

Pancakes!

Someone trying to crash the party

Checking the fire pit for crumbs

Making cakes

We went to the Gettysburg Battlefield after breakfast, eventually returning for some nap time before our next adventure. I was not tired enough so I found another cache.

A sticky situation

We rented a canoe and a two-person kayak since that was all that was available. Too early in the season, I guess.

First kayakers

First canoers

The campground is on Lake Marburg. The area is very pretty. It is also open enough that wind has a minor effect on our progress. We rowed under a bridge and to some beaches.

Enjoying the lake

Exploring a side water

Trees were all to see

We stopped at one shore and switched around the boats' personnel. 

It's tough paddling uphill!

A moment of good synchronization

Yet another switch

Canoers behind me

At one point, we saw a tree hanging over the water and decided to go through the natural archway.

Aiming for a small hole

We went back to our campground to make a roasted-potato dinner. We had plenty of fixings--cheese, scallions, butter, bacon bits, etc. We were forced to have plenty of patience as the cooking time was not very precise.

Getting the fire started

A good blaze

Roasting potatoes in foil

A great finished product

The next morning we had simple breakfast of oatmeal, apples, tea, and juice. Packing up the campground went quickly and we were soon home. The overall experience was a bit rough on the parents but the kids had a great time.