Todays destination was Oxford, Maryland for obvious reasons! It included a short cut through Knapps Narrows on Tilghman Island saving about 8 miles and 90mins from the trip. It looked rather too narrow on the charts we had but Bud has been through before on one of his boats so knew it was OK.

We tied up at the town dock in Oxford, also used by the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry – a service that started in 1683!

Oxford Wharf also played a role in the United States Coloured Troops. In 1863, the Emancipation Declaration authorised the recruiting of black slaves into the Union Army – in return for their freedom. Those recruited from the East Shore departed from Oxford on the steamship ‘Champion’, destined for Fort Camp and their training as soldiers.

On a less serious note – they also had a public toilet!

We went for a walk through the town – just like home apart from the cute wooden houses and the beach! Nick also learned from the woman in the library that there are 700 people; 1100 boat slips and 400 dogs here.

There is also Cutts and Case Shipyard, now home to ‘Foto’. At 80 years old, this little motor boat is described as ‘and icon of American yachting. She was the first seagoing platform that enabled renowned photographer Morris Rosenfeld to document the elegant heyday of the sport’!

We then went for supper at the Robert Morris Inn (Gail had oysters). Robert Morris Senior was born in Liverpool, England and as an agent for a Liverpool shipping firm, significantly influenced the growth of the town. His son Robert Morris Junior moved to Philadelphia when his father was accidentally killed by the wadding from a ships gun fired in his honour. The son went on to become ‘The Financier of the Revolution’ and was one of the signatories of The Declaration of Independence.