Memorial Day Weekend - Chestertown Tea Party Invasion

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Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday

Chestertown Tea Party Invasion

RSVP's for this paddle open Tuesday, April 22nd at 10:00 PM.

The actual attendance limit for this paddle is 30 people. Renters and those who have paid the voluntary dues on the waiting list will be given first priority to fill the additional spots. Everyone has the same chance at the first 24 spots.

It's time again for our Memorial Day weekend Chestertown Tea Party Invasion. Firday night we will be paddling on Morgan Creek which will be posted shortly and Sunday, many CKA member will be joining me for the Second Half Rally (SHR) Meetup Groups Cacaway Island Paddle. You need to sign up for it on the SHR Meetup Group. Monday we'll have a Laid Back Social Paddle back on our side of the bridge.

In response to British Parliament’s closing of the port of Boston, the citizens of Chestertown, Maryland met in May of 1774 and set forth “Resolves” forbidding importing, selling, or consuming tea in Chestertown. According to local legend, residents then gathered at the town center, marched down High Street to the brigantine Geddes, which was anchored in the Chester River, and tossed her cargo of tea overboard. The annual reenactment of that event is the centerpiece of the Chestertown Tea Party Festival.

Festival festivities include Tea Toss Reenactment, Colonial Parade, Cocktail Party, Raft Race, Street Performances, Colonial Crafts, Strolling Musicians, Local Fare, 5k & 10 mile run and more. For more information go to: http://www.chestertownteaparty.org/

We will be on the water PROMPTLY at 10:00 AM from Buckingham Warf on the Chester River. Please plan to arrive with plenty of time to have your boat and gear ready to launch at 10:00 AM.

We will paddle downstream about 3 miles to the Chestertown waterfront where we will get out of our boats and wander the streets of the festival for about 3 hours and get something to eat and drink from one of the street vendors. Around 2:30 PM we'll get back in our boats and paddle back to Buckingham Warf with an optional detour up Morgan Creek for those who want a little longer paddle with some potentially interesting wildlife sightings. Depending on the time of high tide, we might be paddling against about a 2 foot tidal change going in both directions but it shouldn't be too tough.

There are rental kayaks available for this event at the price of $55.00 for the day. The price includes a paddle and personal flotation device (PFD) and kayak delivered to the put in. If you plan on attending more than one event this weekend as a renter there is a special $95.00 weekend rate. If you are interested in renting a boat, just answer the rental question when you RSVP.