Page 204 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2021 DISCOVERING SANTA FE

The next morning I lay in bed thinking of every- in St, Michaels had been so warm and friendly. This
thing I could be trying: the gym, morning yoga, waitress was downright rude.
outdoor spin class under the trees, Chi Gung, a I read the instructions on the placemat. It was
toning or stretch class – but I do that stuff at
like trying to assemble an Ikea piece. I turned to
home, and this was vacation, so instead I headed
the couple next to me who explained: take off the
directly to breakfast. There was so much from
claws, pull back the apron with the knife and pull
which to choose: banana blueberry buttermilk out the crab, The little wooden hammer was to
pancakes, Maryland crab Benedict, a cheese and
crack open the claws. The crabs were easy to eat
charcuteries plate. I opted for Chesapeake Smoke-
once I knew how to open them, and they were de-
house Salmon Toast on licious. I’ve had every
multi-grain bread with
kind of seafood all over
smooth sails cheese,
the word, but I’d never
cured egg, radish and before had Maryland
arugula.
blue crabs. I was
If I were a golfer I stuffed.
would have next headed
Time to work off
off to the Inn’s Pete Dye lunch, Back at the Inn I
last designed, built and
thought about paddle
played course with all
boarding but didn’t
his signature elements want to work that hard,
and an HD simulator, but
so I choose kayaking.
I’m saving golf for old
The Inn at Perry Cabin
age. It was time to ex- has a built-in kayak
plore St. Michaels. The
dock with a metal bar to
bellman adjusted my
hold on to as you enter
cruiser bike and I ped-
the boat so there’s no
aled off to the three-- chance of tipping over.
block long town, so close
Pure luxury. I paddled
to the Inn, I could have
around in the placid wa-
walked. Brightly-colored ter.
shops lined the streets:
An hour later I
bakeries, gift shops, cof-
headed towards the
fee shops, art galleries
and ice cream stores. I Inn’s spa for the “Links
Massage” which had
browsed nautical clothing and St. Michael’s
nothing to do with golf and everything to do with
themed T-shirts, and then realized it was almost
getting out the knots. Ahhh. After, I headed to the
noon.
pool, lazed in the sun and swam some laps. I had
The bike returned, I walked five minutes to the
the pool practically to myself.
local Crab Claw Restaurant with a deck right on the
Every Wednesday night during the summer,
water. I planned to gorge myself on Chesapeake
Bay blue crabs. On most tables were buckets of there is a sailing Regatta on the river. The Inn at
Perry Cabin owns three sailboats, a French canal
bright red cooked crabs: $88.00 for all the crabs
boat, a 55-foot motor yacht, and a Zodiac. I chose
you can eat. Pricey. My waitress arrived. “How few
crabs can you order?” I asked. “One,” she said. I set- the Zodiac because it reminded me of my panga
trips from ships in Antarctica and the Amazon and
tled on a half-dozen. She returned with the bright
I love speed.
red crabs after a good half-hour wait. “How do you
I’m not a sailor but being on the river before
eat them?” I asked. “The directions are on the place-
mat,” she snapped and strode away. Everyone else sunset watching dozens of sailboats maneuvering

204 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2021