Inn at the Canal - Bob and Carol's Blog

A Fun Trip from Chesapeake City and other stuff

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:19:00 GMT

Bob talks about music venues that are easy trips from Chesapeake City, including our favorite, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, where we had the luck to see Garland Jeffreys and his band perform recently. Bob reviews Garland, and invites all of you musicians out there to come visit and jam with him, here along side the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, one of man's most beautifully made wonders..

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Cool boats we have seen this summer....

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:28:00 GMT

Boats on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Chesapeake City MD, Upper Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay

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Cecil County in the War of 1812

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:05:00 GMT

One of the really cool things about living in this area is all of the history!

Pick your era – Colonial era and Revolutionary War, War of 1812, or Civil War – the Chesapeake Bay has been significant in all of these.

Since moving in, Bob and I have learned alot about the War of 1812 - and our country is getting ready to celebrate this war's Bicentennial! True, War of 1812 is not as dramatic or bloody as some of our other notorious wars, but this one was central to establishing the United States’ economic independence and military strength.

All of the sites mentioned below are a short drive from the INN.

The Chesapeake Bay region was significant in American History in the early 1800’s due to it’s location on the eastern seaboard, and it’s network of navigable waterways, natural resources and fertile agriculture, and the region served as a hub for trade, industry and government. During the War of 1812, towns along the Upper Eastern Shore endured British attacks in 1813 and again in 1814. British marines in 1813 landed at the twin towns of Fredericktown and Georgetown on opposite sides of the Sassafras River, about 10 miles south of Inn at the Canal.   This was an important port that connected to overland routes to Philadelphia and New York, frequented by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.   Colonel Thomas Ward Veazey, later on to become a Governor of Maryland, erected a fort, “Fort Duffy” at Fredericktown and attempted to repulse the British.   The British, however, did land and started burning the town. In one brick building was a sick old woman. Kitty Knight, a local War of 1812 heroine, a beautiful and wealthy young woman who lived in Georgetown, came to the old woman’s defense, standing up to the British and pleading to spare the women’s home and her life. The British turned away, leaving the brick house to stand where it can still be seen today and is known as the Kitty Knight House. Kitty is buried at St. Francis Xavier Shrine, a church founded in 1704 in “Old Bohemia” that can be visited daily, and still has occasional church services throughout the year.

After burning Georgetown and Fredericktown, the British went on to sack Frenchtown, a key Chesapeake Bay port located on the Elk River 10 miles north of Inn at the Canal, a point where cargo would be delivered to be carried across the narrow Delmarva Peninsula to Philadelphia or New Castle, in the years before the Chesapeake and Delaware canal was built. After Frenchtown, the British sacked Elkton which was another busy crossroads town, and then went on to attack Havre de Grace, a port on the western side of the Susquehanna River, named that by the Marquis de Lafayette, as the area reminded him of the French seaport of Le Havre.    Lieutenant John O'Neill single-handedly manned a cannon to help defend the town. He was wounded, captured by the British, and soon released. In gratitude, Havre de Grace made O'Neill and his descendants the hereditary keepers of the Concord Point lighthouse marking the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Concord Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest continuously operated lighthouses on the East Coast.

It was in the second year of The Chesapeake Campaign in 1814 that British forces made their assault on Washington, D.C., burning the White House, the Capitol and other public buildings and military targets there.   Later in 1814, it was during the Battle of Baltimore that Francis Scott Key witnessed Fort McHenry’s defenders resisting the British bombardment, and prompted Scott Key’s spontaneous lyrics that eventually became our national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner. More information on Maryland’s historic sites can be found at    http://starspangled200.org/Pages/Home.aspx

Cooking Classes at the Inn

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Sun, 15 May 2011 18:18:00 GMT

Chef Bob recently conducted a cooking class for 3 friends having a getaway weekend: Karrenn, Carol and Cathy. They helped Chef Bob select the menu, comprised of their favorite foods: Dessert! The dinner began with Chicken Sausage Paella, and the desserts - Creme Brulee (see Chef Bob flaming the brulee below), our favorite Swedish stuffed pancake - Ebelskivers, and Chocolate dipped Strawberries. We all had a blast!

Bon Appetit!

Vintage Base Ball 2011

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:19:00 GMT

Vintage base ball league in Chesapeake City played by 1860's rules. Pictures of the Cecil BBC of Chesapeake City vs Dauntless BBC of Havre de Grace.

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Music at the Inn

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 17:35:00 GMT

Musical interests and musical instrument playing at the Inn.

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North Chesapeake Bay - Plenty of Things to do this Autumn

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:39:00 GMT

So many things to do this Fall on the Northern Chesapeake Bay, by horseback, by sea, by air and by canal. A great chance to experience the area!

Chesapeake City’s Haunted October, Chesapeake City, MD.

The Haunted Trail runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening starting September 23rd and Monday through Sunday the week of October 25th through October 31st
Ghost Walk Oct 22 and 23 www.chesapeakecity.org for details.
Help Chesapeake City make it into the World Record Books Saturday, October 30th: Jack o' Lantern Contest . Last year, Boston did it with 30,128. This year Chesapeake City will try to beat that record with the most lighted pumpkins ever recorded. People are invited to bring pumpkins from all over to be included in the contest. There is no charge for entry. Each pumpkin must have eyes, a nose, a mouth, a lid and a 3" candle inside. See the Jack o’Lanterns lighting up the banks of the Canal!

Chesapeake City Bridal Show: Oct 3, Pell Gardens, 12 – 4 pm. Visit Over 45 Wedding Professionals To Make Your Wedding A "Dream Come True" www.chesapeakecitybridalshow.com for more information.

The C&D Canal Museum : Chesapeake City – open year round, Monday – Saturday. The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering landmark. The canal is unique as the sole major commercial navigation waterway in the United States built during the early 1800s still in use, and is the busiest canal in the US, 3^rd busiest in the world! The Corps maintains a Canal Museum at Chesapeake City which provides visitors with a glimpse of the canal's early days. The waterwheel and pumping engines remain in the original pumphouse (now the museum). These steam engines are the oldest of their type in America still on their original foundations.

Dansko Fair Hill International: Oct 14 – 17, Elkton, MD. World Class equestrian competition. Watch Olympic-caliber athletes take on daunting drops and huge fences, as they gallop at top speeds across the spectacular countryside. The Festival in the Country also encompasses a four day celebration of Maryland life style, featuring Chesapeake Bay area Food and Drink, Dog Agility Trials, President's Cup Pony Club Games, Kids' Corner, HorsePlay Pageant, Live Music, Miniature Horse Demonstrations, The Art and Sport of Falconry with Live Birds of Prey, Classic Cars, a Trade Fair filled with shopping opportunities, and much more.

www.fairhillinternational.com

Drive time from Inn at the Canal: 30 minutes

Vintage Gliders : Oct 14 – 17, Massey, MD. Gliders from the 30's through 60's are expected to turn out at the Massey Aerodrome for a long weekend of flying and hangar stories. Glider rides are expected to be available with a portion of each tow fee being donated to the museum.

www.vintagesailplane.org or www.masseyaero.org

Drive time from Inn at the Canal: 30 minutes

Revolutionary War Reenactment Festival (Oct 23 and 24) and Bull & Oyster Roast: Mt. Harmon Plantation. Mount Harmon is hosting a full-scale Revolutionary War Re-enactment and Colonial Festival featuring over 200 re-enactors. Few colonial era plantations are open to the public or have settings that rival Mount Harmon’s spectacular waterfront location and natural beauty. The Bull & Oyster Roast is a great time to visit Mount Harmon and see the plantation’s history come to life and enjoy one of the Eastern Shore’s finest delicacies – freshly shucked oysters! Mt. Harmon is located on the Sassafras River, not far from our Inn.

Drive time from Inn at the Canal: 30 minutes.

www.mtharmon.org for details.

28th Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michael’s MD Saturday, October 2, 10am-5pm. a fun, family-oriented gathering of lovers of small boats. This is a non-commercial event - definitely not a "boat show", but a weekend where folks can sail, row, or paddle their boats and enjoy the Museum.

Drive time from Inn at the Canal: 1 hr 45 min.

www.cbmm.org/MASCF.html

Annapolis Sail Boat Show: October 7- 11, followed by a Powerboat Show on October 14 – 17, all at the Annapolis City Dock, Annapolis, MD

Drive time from Inn at the Canal: 1 hr 30 min

Tall Ships weekend : Chestertown, MD Oct 28-31 The harbor and wharfs of Chestertown will be filled to capacity as ships from across the mid-Atlantic make their way up the Chester River to participate in the schooner Sultana's tenth annual Downrigging Weekend. Celebrate the maritime heritage of the region . A fleet of "Tall Ships" and historic vessels are scheduled to participate including the KALMAR NYCKEL, PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II, schooner VIRGINIA, LADY MARYLAND, and more.

Drive time from Inn at the Canal: 45 min. www.sultanaprojects.org

This three-masted ship is "Mutiny", resides in Greenport, NY. You never know what will cruise down the canal next!

My Friend “Clyde”

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:56:00 GMT

“Clyde” is my new best friend. I’m lucky, I have a number of good friends. My wife Carol is my dearest and best friend. “Clyde” is a different kind of friend though, I guess mainly because “Clyde” is not a person -- “Clyde” is a boat. I’m sorry, I’d better be careful (Clyde might get angry); what I meant to say is “Clyde” is my boat.

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Welcome to our Inn

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:24:00 GMT

My wife and I are from Philly. Hard to believe it’s only an hour away. When I look out the window of my huge kitchen, complete with Vulcan professional stove and wide plank original floor boards, at beautiful sailboats traveling the canal and inter-coastal waterway, it seems like it’s a million miles from Philly. Don’t get me wrong - I love Philly - a great town with wonderful restaurants, arts, music and sports teams. It’s just that I didn’t know I could find such solitude and beauty and feel like I’m in a tropical paradise so close to my roots.

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Ships and Boats on the C&D Canal

innkeeper@innatthecanal.com — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:10:00 GMT

Today’s blog isn’t very wordy; in fact, it’s mostly pictures.

Just a short introduction: Many of the people who come to our Inn do not realize that the Chesapeake and DelawareCanal is the busiest in the United States and the Third busiest in the world. The Suez and Panama canals are the busiest. They are sometimes shocked to see these huge world traveling ships pass right near the Inn. We have two big porches, one on the front and a long 50 feet long one on the side of the Inn, perfect for ship watching on the canal.

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