Delightful, historic Chestertown

We have been at anchor for 2 days now just off the riverfront scene in Chestertown, MD. This was one of the first colonial settlements in the Chesapeake, established circa 1760. It is home to George Washington College, forgive my earlier incorrect assertion but actually the 10th oldest college in the United States. This (expensive) small liberal arts school is most known for it's creative writing and business programs along with a brand-new science building designed to boost interest and enrollment in that area. Where to begin when describing this little jewel? The waterfront area has 2 lovely little parks, just beyond which lie the brick mansions of early prosperous merchants and planters. The port is home to one of the oldest sailing skipjacks on the Bay, an oystering boat with a flattish bottom (2 foot draw), center board which can be raised and lowered, and an outside boom for hoisting incredibly large sails. Also at port here are a locally-built wooden replica of a Revolutionary War era schooner and an oyster-buy boat, one which specialized in purchasing and transporting the large haul of oysters that the watermen of the skipjacks would harvest. The town itself cannot shed its european flavor from the crazily-intersecting streets and prim row houses to the grand churches with their extraordinary stained-glass windows. The Episcopal church here is reknown not only for being one of the oldest in the US, but also possessing of a tiffany window. There is a Quaker meeting house here at which I was tempted to attend Sunday services, but did not know if I would be able to refrain from speaking for such a great length of time. These people and their history are inspiring - truly righteous - persecuted during Colonial times, speaking forth strongly against slavery, raising money to rescue Jews from Germany during the second world war. They represent the best of our country's desire for liberty and freedom. We were fortunate to meet several of the young coaches from Washington College last night, and learned that the "big" sports here are lacrosse and tennis. They have a superb stadium but no football team. We hope to attend at least one game there, as well as the Saturday morning Farmer's Market and Saturday afternoon Art in the Park. There are a number of charming shops, artist ateliers, and coffee shops where the mood is definitely libertarian to centrist Democrat and we feel happy here. Next post hopefully more history. As for now, we are staying here until we wear out our welcome.