Kayaking and Luau in Eastport, Annapolis - Reserved Rentals Available
Details
Here is another 2-fer adventure combo featuring two of our favorite activities at one of our favorite destinations. We always have a great time in Eastport! We did this same paddle and a similar afternoon in Eastport last September. You can see from the photos below that we had a terrific time. So enjoying another nice paddle in Annapolis harbor followed by food and drink at the local Luau festival is right up our alley...
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Annapolis is a colorful destination with lots of activity happening around the harbor. And it's even more impressive when viewed and experienced from the water!
So come join us for a fun paddle around scenic Spa Creek, Back Creek, and the downtown Annapolis dock area. Following our paddle, we'll go to a cool neighborhood Luau in Eastport to enjoy some good eats and drinks with the locals. For one affordable afternoon, you can experience the same exciting Annapolis waterfront ambience as the rich folks hanging out on their million-dollar yachts...
Meetup Details
We'll meet up at the Annapolis Canoe and Kayak (ACK) store which is handling kayak rentals for those who need them. Renters will pick up their equipment at the store, and people who have their own kayaks can launch them for free from the ACK floating platform dock.
The ACK store is located in Eastport, which is a cool section of Annapolis across Spa Creek from the downtown wharf. Be aware that Eastport is a crowded residential area with limited street parking and room for unloading. Even if you own a boat, you should consider renting a kayak from ACK to avoid parking and unloading hassles. They have quality boats already on the dock and their staff will get you launched safely.
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Our kayaking route up Spa Creek and Back Creek will take us past many beautiful waterside homes and hundreds of incredible yachts and sailboats. We'll see the Naval Academy from the water, and take a trip up "Ego Alley" to the Annapolis city dock where boat owners like to show off their expensive watercraft. Total paddling distance is approximately seven miles and will take about three hours.
Skill Level
This event is suitable for anyone who feels comfortable controlling his or her own kayak, is able to maneuver in close proximity to the many larger boats that use Annapolis harbor, and can paddle confidently while staying together with our group of kayakers. Spa Creek, Back Creek, and the city dock area are generally calm and very popular with beginning sailors and paddlers.
However, they are also home to a substantial fleet of power boats and sailing yachts that create wakes and wave turbulence. You should expect to encounter some choppy water along the way. ACK routinely rents kayaks to people with little experience, so all should go well as long as you stay alert and are comfortable being on the water in a kayak surrounded by much larger boats.
ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY
Rental Details
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As a well-known kayak vendor, ACK maintains a large fleet of demo kayaks that includes many types of high quality boats.
Advance full-day kayak reservations can be made with a credit card by calling ACK directly at 410-263-2303. Making a full-day advance reservation costs $50 and guarantees that you will have your chosen kayak when you arrive. It's also the best value since the hourly rate is $20 and we plan to be paddling for at least three hours. Rentals include a paddle and PFD.
Complete information can be found on the ACK website:
Paddle Plan and Guidelines
We gather at ACK at 10:30 am to fill out forms, get gear, get down to the dock, get launched, etc. I expect that we will all be on the water around 11:00 am, so be on time. There won't be a good time on Saturday morning for me to talk to the group about what's going to happen, so here is the plan for you to read in advance:
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We start our paddle at the mouth of Spa Creek at the ACK store dock. When you leave the ACK dock launching spot, turn left and go under the nice bridge and all the way to the end of Spa Creek. Enjoy the sights of beautiful homes and boats. Relax and have a good time. It's not a race, and everyone will catch up if we give them time.
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Stay to one side of the narrow creeks to allow other boats to get by us. Remember, kayaks are the smallest water craft in Annapolis harbor, so larger boats have trouble seeing us. Kayaks ALWAYS LOSE in a Battle of the Boats...
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We will inevitably get strung out in a long line as we paddle up Spa Creek from the starting point. That's okay. Spa Creek is a dead end, so everyone ahead of you will need to turn around and come back the same way after exploring it. We'll all re-group on the way back.
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After passing the bridge and the Big Yachts on the way back to the ACK launching spot, we will bear left and enter Ego Alley. That's the downtown Annapolis harbor area filled with the tourist spots most of us have seen. It's very narrow and filled with big boats, so keep an eye out. You'll need to turn around at the main city dock and go back out the way we came. We'll get to feel the thrill of showing off like the Big Expensive Boats while waving at the people hanging out at the dockside bars.
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Then we will head straight across the mouth of Spa Creek to enter Back Creek on the other side of Eastport. Back Creek is also a dead end, so we will need to turn around and return the way we came, allowing people in the back to catch up with us again. Then we'll re-group and head around the point to the left back to the ACK dock where our paddle ends. Total distance is about 7 miles and should take 3 hours.
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As for safety, remember to keep your body torso perpendicular to the water and you will stay upright. Kayaks are very stable as long as your butt is in the seat and your body is upright. Keep your hips loose and let the kayak roll with any waves. DON'T LEAN OVER TO ONE SIDE.
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If you tip over into the water, DON'T PANIC. Just hang onto your boat and paddle until we can rescue you. You will need to be able to climb back in the boat again.
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Pick a paddle buddy to stay with you, and keep a few people close to you in sight. Look out for anyone who needs assistance. The strength of our group is looking out for each other. You just need to be alert and be part of the group.
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Bring a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of cold water. ACK sells many kayaking related items in its store.
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Post-Paddle LUAU at the Eastport Democratic Club
After the paddle, we'll move a few blocks over to the Luau. Eastport is a very pleasant, friendly, and safe neighborhood. So walking over to the Luau at the Democratic Club on State St. is easy, particularly if you've parked on one of the side streets near the ACK store. Look at the Google meetup map above and check the layout of streets to see where parking and walking make sense. There's no need to drive once you arrive in Eastport and find a place to park. Parking has always been available on the residential streets in Eastport.
525 State Street, Annapolis, MD
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Saturday, June 30th
1:00pm to 9:00pm
Entrance is FREE! Entertainment is FREE! Tickets are purchased for drinks, food, and competing in a surfing contest. Outdoor festivities are from 1:00 - 6:00 pm, with indoor music and drink specials continuing through 9:00 pm.
Festivities including: Hula Demonstrations and Classes, Surfing Contest (yup), Face-Painting by Wendy, Festive Luau Games for children, Tiki Bar, and Live Music by two great local bands, Skribe and the Shawn Owen Band. In addition, prizes will be awarded for “Tackiest Tourist" (you, your kids and/or your pets in their finest tacky tourist duds) and “Best Limbo Dancer.”
Refreshments will be available for purchase including: Slow Roasted Whole Pig, Smoked in Cherry Wood and Served w/ Back Creek's Zesty Sweet Maryland Barbeque Sauce or Our Home Made Spicy Eastern North Carolina Sauce and Huli Huli Sauce; Authentic Sweet Jamaican Jerked Boneless Chicken with Spicy Sweet Jerk Dipping Sauce; Captain Morgan Marinated Grilled Pineapple; Our Award Winning Five-Bean Bourbon Baked Beans; Delicious Caribbean Cole Slaw w/Mango, Pineapple, Mint and Orange Vinaigrette; Fresh Crisp Caesar Salad w/ Croutons and Homemade Zesty Dressing; Tiki Drink Specials and More.
People in the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) know how to throw a good festival, so this one should be a blast. And if it's not enough, we can always wander two blocks over to Davis' Pub, our favorite eating and drinking location when we visit.
The MRE seceded from downtown Annapolis and the United States many years ago, so please respect their credo to have fun because "We like it this way".
Weather Cancellation Policy
As this event depends upon good weather, check back here Saturday morning. I will post a notice by 8am if we need to change plans or cancel. Rain showers are okay and can add to the adventure, but lightning or steady rain means we must cancel.
Call Jake at 703-798-8435 with any questions.
Driving Directions from Washington
My Garmin GPS took me on a long and complicated route through crowded central Annapolis to get to the ACK store in Eastport. Here is a much better and faster route: From Rt. 50 Eastbound, take the Arris T. Allen/MD 665 exit and stay straight on MD 665. After about a mile, the road name changes to Forest Drive. Keep going on Forest Drive and turn left onto Hilltop Lane. Follow Hilltop Lane (which changes name to Tyler Ave.) straight to Bay Ridge Ave. Turn left onto Bay Ridge Ave. and follow it as it turns onto Chesapeake Ave. Follow Chesapeake Ave. and turn left on 4th St. to Severn Ave. Right on Severn for one block to 3rd St. and the ACK store on the left.
Note that Eastport neighborhood has several one-way streets. It helps to check out the Google meetup map above and get familiar with the street layout.
I hope to see you there!
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