The Bubble Burst, But I'm Optimistic

July 21, 2012

We have been looking forward to seeing the Chesapeake since we started this trip over a year ago.  And, the one location on the Chesapeake that everyone mentions is Solomons Island.  Well, we're here and we don't get it.  We walked around part of the island yesterday and rented a car to drive around the surrounding area today.  There are some good seafood restaurants on the island, but not much of anything else.  I've asked a few people what the attraction is.  The only thing that they have come up with is the Tiki Bar.  Now, I don't care how great the bar is -- do you plan a vacation or even a week-end around a bar? 

Just to be fair, we decided we should visit the Tiki Bar on a Saturday night to see why it was such a crowd favorite.  Well, it is cute.  There are lots of Adirondack chairs sitting in sand along with palm trees.  To make sure I was really giving it a fair observation I had my once a decade alcoholic beverage.  Ok, we were the oldest people there, but still...I don't see it being special enough to come here for vacation or even a week-end -- 
sorry.  

The water in the Chesapeake Bay is full of stinging jelly fish and we have been told that it is polluted.  Yikes!!!  Not what we were expecting.  The St Croix River in Minnesota was our home port.  The water was so clean you could drink it.  The St Croix is one of the Wild Rivers of the United States -- it is highly regulated.  Huge wooded bluffs are on either side of it's banks and really cute small towns with good restaurants and cute shops dot it's shore line.  We thought that the environment here would be similar or----something like Sanibel Island in Florida.  One couple in Stuart told us that the Chesapeake doesn't get pretty until you are north of Annapolis.  I'm going to stay optimistic.
We rented a car to use until we drive to Reagan Airport on Thursday.  Tomorrow we'll visit Annapolis.  We have been there several times and love the city.  Not sure where we will explore Monday through Wednesday, but I'm sure we'll find some interesting back roads.  On Thursday we are flying to St Louis to spend a few days with Jennifer and her family.  We have a car there that we will drive to Minnesota to spend time with Steve and his family.  While we are gone the boat will be pulled so repair work and maintenance can be done.  Hopefully, there will be no surprises when her bottom is exposed!  

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!