Tom and George

cmw2559
Oct 15
2 min read

Updated: Oct 16

Rock Hall is a hole-in-the-wall harbor on the Eastern Shore, about on the same latitude as Baltimore. According to legend, Washington and Jefferson would spend the night here going up to Philadelphia or returning from the same during the 1770s through 1790s. Travel up and down the Chesapeake was so much easier than travel over land. There was no US Route 1 or I-95! The Underground Railroad took advantage of this as well.

The southern part of the Chesapeake where Jefferson and Washington started their trip.

And the northern part, where we are now.

You can see from the map below the many routes the Underground Railroad took for freedom. It is more understandable why Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass lived in the area of St. Michael's.

Back to Baltimore.

On the way out of Baltimore Harbor, we spotted many Navy transports lying at dock.

Maybe these are left over from the mobilization for the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions?

There were other beautiful boats, sailing ships.

And, as we approached the buoy marking where Francis Scott Key was held on a British prisoner ship as he witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, we saw the Argentine Libertad.

And, from her bow:

Then, a little further out towards the broken bridge, we look back to Fort McHenry.

And the special Francis Scott Key buoy.

The Fort is just to the right of the buoy at the rise of land and trees on the shore.

Now, back to Rock Hall.

Our first stop was in Swan Creek where we grabbed a mooring and enjoyed lunch. After the required nap, we cast off and went around the point to the south and entered Rock Hall. We had reservations at the first marina on the left as we entered.

We landed, tied up and plugged in. Off we went to the office, where we were given keys to a golf cart to get into town.