Anybody going? I've never been to one - Clements was a bit of a stretch for those of us that are directionally challenged but this year it's in Saint Mary's City. I expected to see a ton of boats in the water. There were only like three when I came home that way last night and it was late. Is that typical? I would have thought that boat people would have come down last night and spent the evening. Weather maybe?
Blessing of the Fleet
- Thread starter NOTSMC
- Start date
jrt_ms1995
Well-Known Member
You saw so few because boats are Satan's money-pits and the blessing sends them back to h*ll. 
The really large gathering of boats ended a long time ago, when the BotFeet was moved to the mainland from St. Clements. That happened because the first Gulf War took away the large landing craft that the Navy always provided to move all the vendor trucks over to the island. We'd make up quite a fleet back in the old days. Local watermen provided continuous taxi services to and from the assembled boats and the island. Good times.
I wish I had gone years ago - it's a great concept and I'll bet it was awesome if past pictures are any indication. I was pretty disappointed with what I saw by the college - there was basically nothing in the water and not altogether that many cars in the parking lot. However, you COULD hear the fireworks and the Amish Outlaws from where I spent a good portion of the evening. So that's something I guess.
We'd raft up with the Baileys and Cheseldines and pound beers like they were the last ones made. Those really were great times..times we won't see again.
These were indeed good times. I remember going in '78 and don't remember the return trip. The locals running the beer truck never checked IIDs. If you had money, you had beer.
In around the '80-81 timeframe we got one of the sailors so "relaxed" on Bacardi, that we got free midnight tours of one the transports. One of the POs got so wasted and cussed out his Chief. He wasn't written up, but we heard he got all the crap work for the rest of the weekend.
TPD
the poor dad
I'm thinking of bringing this to Ridge...
www.blessingofthecombines.org
Blessing of the Combines
Celebrating local agriculture and honoring our farm families.
www.blessingofthecombines.org
LOL!!..I remember that! We figured his butt was toast....
Make it county-wide. Bring it to Leonardtown.I'm thinking of bringing this to Ridge...
Blessing of the Combines
Celebrating local agriculture and honoring our farm families.
View attachment 172944 View attachment 172945 View attachment 172946
The traffic snarl and bitching will be delicious.
mitzi
Well-Known Member
Make it county-wide. Bring it to Leonardtown.
The traffic snarl and bitching will be delicious.
Leonardtown has a tractor parade every year. Usually in October.
Bonehead
Well-Known Member
So that's what was rattling my windows that night! Fricken fireworks went on forever...
I was a hop, skip, and jump from the action at someone's house. We could actually hear and figure out what songs the Amish Outlaws were playing.
Wow. I'm impressed. I can no longer do any of those things..
Don't let me fool ya, I can't either.
Yikes - like six boats showed up! https://www.facebook.com/BlessingofTheFleetSOMD/