We are out of the Chesapeake Bay

We have learned on this trip that our Chris Craft is not a Bay boat.  The shape of the hull at the bow of the boat send waves and spray on the windshield and up the sides.  A bit of spray on a hot day feels good but being wet is another story.  As happens on most boating trips the wind is from the wrong direction.   On our way North the wind came at us from the North.   On our way South it came mostly from a Southerly direction.

The trip from Inner Harbor Baltimore to the Shiplet’s pier on the Bodkin was not a bad trip  a short but hot one. We did get the opportunity to get some great shots of the Pride II with sails up; heading out of the harbor.  Mary helped us tie up with the wind blowing us away from the dock.  Myron arrived home about the same time and we had a nice lunch on their shady screened porch.  Mary took me to the grocery  and liquor stores. 

Dave showed Myron the boat and explained how the dinghy was not very satisfactory for our use.  He said it would be perfect for his work around the pier.  We struck a deal and he now owns our dinghy.  Congratulations!  Enjoy yourself and with the grandchildren.  

Water skiers, jet skies and tubers rocked the boat most of the afternoon  but by the time we were ready for bed the creek was clam.  Mary served us wonderful meals, dinner and breakfast.  We enjoyed our visit; thank your so much for your hospitality.

Our trip to Solomon’s Island was a wet and very hot one.  Spring Cove Marina gave us a slip along the shore line that was already in the shade.  After a bit of cleanup and we made a beeline for the pool.  So nice and cool. We had dinner on board and then walked the docks.

Off on Wednesday morning to Reedville and Walt and Mary’s dock.  They are most gracious host and hostess, willing to put up with us twice on our trip.  We had SSW wind at 9 to 12 Knots and a splashy day.   Libations and good dinner made us forget all that.

Thursday Walt and Mary had errands and we needed oil and a filter for the oil change that was due.  Dave was also lucky enough to find and ABC store that had Ezra Brooks Bourbon.  I did laundry and relaxed while Dave did boat chores.  When our hosts returned we took them out for a much deserved meal.  Thanks you for great hospitality and the loan of the 50 foot power cord.

Underway the next day, again with SE winds.  They came on our rear port quarter making steering a constant battle.  With 1 to 2 foot waves it was not bad.  At New Point Comfort Light Dave suggested we go into Mobjack Bay, anchor, swim and have lunch. On our way in we saw the first dolphin that we have seen in a great while.   We anchored, I brushed clean the waterline of the boat.  Dave thought rinsing off the salt water would be good so he hooked up the shower.  He took the first one and when he turned on the shower it sprayed with brown slime, YUCK!  It was all over him and the inside of the head.  He went back in the water and then cleaned up the head and we rinsed in the cockpit with the garden hose connected to the galley sink.  So much for all the clean towels we had….. I got lunch and we weighed anchor for the rest of the trip to Public Piers in Downtown Hampton.  Wind had built, the wind direction the same but now the waves were 3 plus feet.  Not too long a trip but taxing.  Showers felt really good.

We were the only boat in this section of the marina.  After a nice cocktail we had dinner on board and took a walk in the area.   The moon was producing a very high tide.  Back on board we found that we got 37 TV channels over the air, but nothing good to watch. 

Saturday,  cool and beautiful.   Dave washed down the boats and hopefully we are leaving our heavy doses of salt water behind.  We took a trip to the Virginia Air and Space Center.  Very interesting history of the space travel and air craft carriers and other planes.

Nick Barnicle joined us for lunch and a pleasant afternoon,   Nick is in the Navy and stationed in Norfolk.  He is Amy, our nieces oldest son.  So nice to see him, here about his career, a promotion, wedding plans and his new apartment.

Tomorrow we head into the Inter Coastal Water Way on the next leg home.  377 mile if I calculated correctly.  We hope to be in Windsong, Campbell Creek Monday evening before the big storms predicated for Tuesday.

CrossOver in Harbor East Marina

Enjoying my wish

My alma mater was recognized

Queen Victoria's dental cleaning tools

Liberty Ship the John Brown  all volunteer maintained and operated

Nathan, Granddad Dave and Owen

Alyse

Getting ready to watch fireworks

Tina and Owen

Alyse and the Capt.

Brad and Owen

Nathan and the Capt.

Nathan playing the pipes in Pierce Park

Alyse enjoying the horn slide at the Park

Nathan and  Owen

More of our week in Inner Harbor Baltimore

During our time here I got to accomplish one item on my list of things to do has been the Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore.  When we kept our boat here I didn’t get to go because they were not open on weekends.  I got my chance and enjoyed the time thoroughly.  Dave enjoyed it as well.  What a marvelous job they have done with the exhibits!  Even if you are not in the profession you would enjoy time there.

Baltimore has expanded their walk to extend the horseshoe of the harbor.  Parks are beautiful and the two free bus lines allow tourist to move through the city without moving their cars. We did bike to Fells Point to our favorite spots, the Blue Moon and Jimmy’s and Bertha's.     

Little Italy did not disappoint either.  We actually found a new place that served faccoca.  Faccoca is a different pizza crust.  Jo Benny's opened three months ago and they treated us very well; a huge meatball and a cream puff desert on the house.  The screen for the outdoor movie is being redone for this season.  The owner of the apartment from where the projection is done passed away but they have it all in place.

Our slip was along the wall and it was so interesting to watch the people.  Saturday morning on the walkway in front of the Under Armor store there was a yoga class.

 July 4^th was a busy place at the marina although the Arthur and the cold front produced some nasty conditions on the Bay preventing some boaters from arriving for the fireworks.  No problems here with the floating docks but we understand that the tide was extremely low.  We went in to the harbor for some of the entertainment.  The highlight of the day was the arrival of Brad and family for the fireworks.  We had not seen the grandchildren since Christmas.   My how they have grown, especially Owen!  Owen, the climber, was difficult to keep safe and at one point he made a plunge for the dock.  The fireworks was not the best we have seen, it did bring out the air horn and whistle competition in the marina.  The crew left after the on shore crowd dispersed and a tired set of grandparents need a good night’s sleep to prepare for the next day with them.

The cold front brought cooler weather and 55 and 61 degrees overnight were welcome with high 70s and mid 80s during the day.  The family arrived around noon and we went out for a harbor cruise.  The older children were fascinated by the submarine, Coast Guard vessel,  the Liberty Ship the John Brown, and Pride II of Baltimore; oh yes the pirate ship.  On out to the Francis Scott Key Bridge which the children have crossed many times and the buoy marking where the Star Spangled Banner was written.  We motored on to White Rocks and into  Rock Creek looking for our former boat, Blue Chip.  Anchoring for lunch was not a good Idea, the rollers were dangerous but we managed to get lunch.  On our way back we did the perimeter of Fort McHenry and Alyse and Nathan got a chance to steer the boat.  Owen slept in my arms all the way back.  A sweaty experience but a treasured time for me.  When we returned I took the three children to Pierce Park for an enery release.  Dave and Brad talked business and Tina chilled.  

Brad picked up a roasted chicken for dinner and Tina made two delicious salads.  We found a picnic table on the dock so we could spread out.  As usual the children were not hungry.

Back at the boat Dave was filling the water tank and Nathan was on the dock with him.  Nathan stepped backward and went down and under the water.  Dave will never forget seeing him down there in the water.  Nathan is proud that he can swim and tread water.  The first thing he said as we stripped him down was, “ I should have had my life jacket on.”  Lesson learned!  Alyse saw him and yelled, “Man overboard!”  Brad took him for a shower and they all went home to their Grandparent’s Shiplet in Pasadena.  A DAY TO REMEMBER!  So blessed it all turned out well.

On Sunday we bike into Canton down by the Water front and up around the square.  Years ago if you mentioned that I would bike in this town I would have just laughed at you.   We found a place for lunch, sat down with Bloody Mary’s and ordered when Dave realized he had no wallet with him.   The owner of the Speakeasy on O’Donnell Street said no problem, eat and go get your wallet.  Food was great and Dave biked back while I waited at our outdoor table.

In preparation for starting our trip home I did the laundry and had a nice shower.  While waiting for the laundry we were treated to a show of the marvelous sculpture and glaze work that Capt. Bill Flohr.  We were in AWE.  Never judge a book by its cover.

It is Monday and we are starting South and on the homeward bound leg of the trip.  The weather has turned hot again.  By lunchtime will be in Bodkin Creek  and tying up at the Shiplet’s pier for the night.  (Tina’s parents)  Tuesday on to Solomon’s and Wednesday at the dock of the famous hosts in Reedville, VA. The Keith’s.  I think their roster should read the days they did not have guests…..  Conditions on the Bay are looking favorable for us.

Baltimore Light North of the Bay Bridge

Mike Heilman on Adventure

June and Tom and Reddy

Paddle boat

Gladding's Lady Meadow at her pier

This buoy marks the spot that the Star Spangled Banner was written in Baltimore Harbor West of the Francis Scott Key Bridge

Lady Maryland sailing out of the harbor as we entered

Fort McHenry

Water Wheel on the Falls River solar  powered

Trash is collected and fed into the conveyor and then into a dumpster

This is the explaination, enlarge it and you should be able to read it

This is  Calypso, she came to the aquarium weighing 6 lbs. and an injured front flipper, which she lost.  This green turtle, so named because her fat is green due to her diet.  Now she weighs 300 lbs.

Dolphin show

A relaxing weekend on Cattail Creek off the Magothy River

   Mike Heilman was kind enough to have us stay at his dock for the whole weekend.  Dave did some polishing on the boat and put in a new circuit breaker for the pressure water.  Saturday we got to spend the afternoon sailing on Mike’s Tartan, Adventure, an immaculately kept vessel, with June and Tom Reddy.  The wind was light so it was a rather lazy day.  We came home and with a combined effort Mike and I got dinner together for the five of us.

   Dave and I have enjoyed the time to read novels and the big time newspapers.  Sunday Mike had more sailing plans and we stayed at the house doing laundry and going to the grocery store.  He has a wonderful spot on the water and his neighbors use their boats so there was always someone to watch going out or coming in.  Miss Caroline puts on a show each time.  The paddlewheeler was interesting too.

   Monday morning we filled the water tank and headed to Inner Harbor Baltimore for the week.  On the way we took a lap by the Gladding’s and saw their lovely Lady Meadow in the slip.  Wind was light from the Southeast so we did not have much chop to contend with on our trip up the Bay and into the Patapsco River. There are not many changes on the river but the Inner Harbor has had many since we left in 2003. 

   We arrived at 12 noon and there was a band playing in the street in front of our slip, a special feeling even though we are now docked with the smaller boats.  We were lucky we called in time to get a slip, every size boat is being turned away for the holiday weekend.

   Our first adventure in Baltimore was to Barnes and Noble to get books for Dave.  His heel was really bothering him so we didn’t do any other walking until after dinner.  The heat and humidity was oppressive so showers felt great.  After dinner we did walk to Vaccaro’s for dessert.  YUMMY!  Leftovers for tonight’s desert.

   This morning we reminisced our early years here and took our bikes to the Blue Moon Restaurant for breakfast.  I think we have been saving ourselves for the eateries here.  Dave’s heel was not bothering him so we decided a midweek non-school trip time was a good time to go to the Baltimore Aquarium.  Of course I enjoyed the dolphin show.  So many more exhibits now than when we took our children.  A morning well spent.