LAZY W: A visit to Oxford

The crabbers along the Choptank River were out bright and early as we made our way to Oxford. Above us an eagle chased an osprey clinging tightly to its morning catch – neither one got to enjoy that morsel.

The Talbot

In continuous operation since 1836, the Oxford-Bellevue ferry is believed to be

the oldest privately operated ferry in the United States.

It plies the Tred Avon River between Oxford and Bellevue.

As we entered Flatty Cove off the Tred Avon River we noticed on the point of land a large brick edifice that we thought, oddly enough, must be a conference center. We later found out that this is the home of a purported arms dealer who, without ever spending a night in his sixteen bedroom monstrosity, has irked all the residents of Oxford.

Oxford was established in 1683 when the Maryland General Assembly laid out the seaport town. In 1694 Oxford and Annapolis were selected as the only ports of entry for commerce on the Maryland side of the Chesapeake Bay. Until the American Revolution, it served as a bustling center for trade as finished goods from England were traded for tobacco. Prosperity returned to Oxford after the Civil War when improved methods of canning, packing and shipping oysters opened up new northern markets. Once the oyster beds were depleted in the early 1900’s the packing houses closed and only the watermen remained. Today life on the Tred Avon revolves around sailing with cardboard boat races and regattas filling the summer calendar.

After setting the hook, we launched the dinghy and made our way to Town Creek and the ‘Devlin’ dock. John, another ex-Ernst & Young partner and colleague of Frank, and his wife, Susan, live in what was once a waterman’s house on the creek. Even though they were preparing to leave on an exciting European sailing vacation they were gracious hosts during our two days in Oxford.

Robert Morris Inn

The Robert Morris Inn dates back to 1710. Robert Morris, Sr. was an early Oxford resident and prominent merchant. His son, Robert Morris, Jr., known as “the financier of the American Revolution,” was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Part of their residence is incorporated into the structure of the inn. James Michener ate here while penning Chesapeake and so did we!

After dinner we were faced with yet another dinghy ride in the dark back to Lazy W. We need a spotlight!! Frank’s Hampton Yacht Club ball cap with lights in the brim has its limits in the pitch dark!!

John, past Commodore of the Tred Avon Yacht Club, invited us to the Wednesday night club dinner. He even secured a slip for Lazy W so we wouldn’t have another dark dinghy ride in the forecasted evening thunderstorm. After dining on soft shell crab (my first!) we listened to a talk by local author Roger Vaughan. He regaled the audience with excerpts from Sailing on the Edge – America’s Cup, a book he co-authored with several other sailing enthusiasts.

Sailboat launch at the Tred Avon Yacht Club

During cocktails we were introduced to Geoffrey Longfellow, an Eastern Shore resident and professor at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, who supposedly has ties to the royal family. We shared our Thailand travel experiences with him.

Just as Norfolk has it mermaid street art, Oxford has its picket fences. The 5^th Annual Picket Fences Auction takes place in October with proceeds supporting the charity of the artist’s choice. Until then, the small 4-picket sections of picket fencing are on display throughout the town.