The cache is not at the listed co-ords. The co-ords are for the general parking area. From here you will need to go to the 'PAY HERE' box. Take a reading of co-ords then 'SUBTRACT' .045 from N. & .150 from W. This will give you your stage 2/cache location. Park in the overflow lot unless you have a county tag to park at the boat ramp. GOOD LUCK :)
'The Matapeake Trail’ is rich in history & will take you from Matapeake Park & Pier down to Romancoke Pier. Welcome!
In Reginald Truitt’s history of Kent Island it was written, “There is evidence to support the conclusion that the first ferry line was established here in the mid – 1660’s”. It ran from Annapolis to Broad creek. In the Maryland Gazette, December 31, 1776, it was written that as late as 1858 the Centerville States Right Advocate spoke of the ferry.
The Claiborne - Annapolis Ferry (chartered 3/1914-2/1934) & the Claiborne – Annapolis Ferry Corp(chartered 8/192roads 7-1941) traveled from Annapolis to Matapeake. In 1941 the C. A. Ferry Corp was taken over by the State Roads Commission & the Ferry line became the Sandy Point – Matapeake Ferry. A fleet of car ferries came from Annapolis at the area south of what is now the east span of the Bay Bridge to Matapeake. On site at Matapeake is a clubhouse that was used for meetings as well as a place for the people to eat a ‘Fine’ meal. They could also picnic & enjoy the waters of the Bay. This continued until 1952 when the Bay Bridge opened. Shortly after that the ferry line went out of business. At a later date there was a second Ferry site that ran from Baltimore to Love Point on the north end of Kent Island.
Today much of the lifestyle from that era has changed. Many of the crabbers are gone. Much of the farm land has been sold off & urbanized. The good side is that some of the natural habitat has been protected and this is where OUR quest begins.
The Matapeake Trail was completed to its current stage in 2006. The plan is to eventually connect it to the Cross Island Trail. However, for now, take the time to journey the 5 miles to Romancoke Pier where you may see some of the wildlife that still finds refuge in the dwindling forested wetlands. You can take a break on a very nice bridge (MT-Cat Tail Bridge) & look over a small creek (when it’s wet) & some beautiful plants. You may even get a glimpse of some of the forest creatures. You now aren’t very far from Romancoke Pier where you can walk out on the pier to watch the antics of the water foul on the Eastern Bay (or even look for my MT-Diet Pepsi vs. Roman Coke??).
If you walk or bike this trail it is recommended that you bring along water as this trail is more primitive & lacks amenities. Be kind to the environment, keeping in mind that it is delicate regardless how it appears. Be mindful that we do have poisonous plants & critters in our neck of the woods. Please DO NOT reach in anywhere blind. Explore the areas & most of all………Enjoy.
Good Luck and ENJOY ;)
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