Our BBBB (Best Blue Boat Buddy), m/v Traveling Soul is docked in Solomons, MD and owners Mike and Ann (and Spot) are happily tucked into their new condo very close by. Solomons wouldn’t be enticing for us except for our dear friends, as it’s a solid six miles in from the Bay.

We’d left St Mike’s a day early as the weather was deteriorating sooner than expected. A few nights at Calvert Marina during the windy days, then we moved up the creek to anchor very close to The Condo. How considerate of our friends to select a condo that we can anchor near and dinghy up to the small boat dock. 🙂

Imagine that- still space at the floating docks on Friday afternoon. Krogen rendezvous coming up

Ann took me for shopping errands a few times during our stay, including my first visit to a Michael’s- not to be confused with St Michael’s, Michael’s Jewelers, our friend Michael or Michael’s Seafood.

I’m sure my mouth formed that open O shape as I wandered about for 10 minutes or so. Wow- what craft/sewing items didn’t they have? Picked up some beads on sale and then we checked out a bead shop too.

And then came the wonderful evening we spent on shore with our friends. Ann’s got a kitchen to die for and all the amazing pieces of equipment she uses with ease and actually does use! Ann baked her special occasion dessert (my birthday); it gets filled with whipped cream as you cut and serve each slice. Delicious!

Ann’s delicious Blitz Torte

Monday, Oct 2 looked perfect to head off and spend a couple of days getting down to Hampton, VA. But first, lunch at Island Hideaway with our friends who we wouldn’t see again until Jan or Feb.

Key man

Approaching the dinghy dock at St Michael’s at the head of San Domingo Creek

Is lovely too, even more so than the front (marina/museum) side where we’d anchored, oh must be five or six years ago.

A few steps up from the dock (essentially a bulkhead) sits a colorful and welcoming home.

These little free libraries are popping up all over. This one at the  home a few yards up from the docks

A new addition to “things to do in town” is a distillery; no surprise uh? If there’s not one near you, there will be soon!

We missed the tour which they give once per day during the week, but happily partook of the free tastings.

Lyon Distilling Co.- since 2012 St Mikes

Next to the distillery sits a great vintage/antique shop; closed on Mondays though. We got such a kick out of gas pumps from our youth.

Fill ‘er up? Sunoco at 49 cents per gallon

The Acme grocery store has served the town for, well I don’t how long, but I’m guessing a number of years. Convenient for locals and cruisers alike. Our happy faces turned sad as we stood at the doorway and read the Closing Soon sign. Many grocery items were marked down 25%, I grabbed one of the last few pineapples and Russ scored a handful of CLIF bars for cheap. Had such a Twilight Zone feel; very eerie.

We had planned to stay a second night; walk the nature trail, tour the distillery, clean out the grocery store, take more photos… but the forecast indicated that Tuesday would be a far better travel day than Wednesday. Thus, we left. We will return in Spring or next Fall.

Without further ado, or fun St Mike’s time, we departed bound for Solomons, MD which sits tucked in off the Bay’s western shore; a 34 nm trip for us.