We Left Minnesota A Year Ago

September 25 - 28, 2012

In the past year we’ve traveled 5,054 miles at eight miles per hour.  We’ve enjoyed the river system from Bayport, Minnesota to Mobile, Alabama.  We crossed the Gulf of Mexico.  Explored the west coast of Florida.  And, for the first time, experienced the east coast of our country from Key Biscayne, Florida to Havre de Grace, Maryland.  After anchoring for five nights in St Michaels, the engine started and I realized that I felt the same excitement that I did a year ago – we were on our way to see new sights and meet new people.  Now that we have been on the water for a year, we also look forward to seeing friends that have crossed our path.  We have no regrets about getting rid of our stuff and living in 647 square feet.  I would say the only surprises this year are how much we still enjoy every day and how many really nice, generous people we have met.  I hope that a year from now we will still feel excited to see what the day has in store for us.

Our quiet anchorage.

 We stayed an extra day in St Michaels because Cheryl and Brad not only got an appointment for me to get my hair cut, but also drove us to a neighboring town for the appointment.  I think they are just really nice people.  The only other reason would be that my hair looked so horrible that they had to do a mercy run. 

 

Leaving St Michaels

Dick Chaney's home in St Michaels

 

We arrived at Calvert Marina Thursday afternoon.  This is where the Krogen Rendezvous will be held next week.  At this moment, our plan is to stay two nights, go explore the Patuxent River and then return here next Tuesday.  It is tempting to stay.  There are ten Krogens here already – some we know.  It’s a very friendly bunch and we are already invited to a party Friday night.  It sure is nice to have options instead of schedules.

Gotta smile – we’re lovin the ride!                    

Sharing The Chesapeake With Friends

September 17 - 24, 2012 

On September 17^th we returned to Baltimore and the Inner Harbor.  Even though it was our third time to enter the area, it was just as exciting.  We enjoyed seeing some of the same sights and noted many things that we hadn’t seen before. 

What is scarier...being on a sinking ship or riding
this life boat like a bobsled into the sea?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've shown you tug boats that help manuever
ships in the harbor.  Here is a boat that brings
a "pilot" to the freighters.  The pilot drives the boat
in the harbor and docks it for the ship's captain.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our friends John and Gail arrived the evening of the 18^th.  They are the couple that started the trip out of Minnesota with us almost a year ago.  But, before they arrived a major storm came through.  A tornado was sighted in Washington DC and Baltimore was expecting gusts of 70 mph along with heavy rain.  Brian put out an additional three lines to hold us to the dock and four extra fenders to keep us from scraping against the dock.  If we were going to go anywhere, the dock was going to go with us!  The gusts only got up to about 40 mph, but the weather forecasters were correct about the rain.  Lots of flooding in the area.  By the time John and Gail arrived, the worst was over.  Brian walked to meet them at the parking lot.  I was going, but for the first time on our trip, I couldn’t step from the boat to the dock.  The water was at high tide and with all of the additional rain we were riding too high for a comfortable exit. 

John’s birthday was the 19th.  We were off early to resupply at Costco followed by jumbo crab cakes at Faidley’s in the Lexington Market.  Since John still had the car for the afternoon, we did a quick tour of Little Italy and walked around Fells Point.  The birthday dinner brought us back to Little Italy and La Scala – delicious entrees, but very disappointing service. 

 

 

 

The Baltimore view from our cockpit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smooth sailing past a lighthouse on our way to
Annapolis.

On the 20^th we left Baltimore for a four hour cruise to Annapolis.  Around 4:30 we caught a mooring ball at the end of Spa Creek, one of our favorite places.  Gail prepared a rack of lamb dinner on the grill and we dined on the cockpit deck enjoying the perfect weather and scenery.  A dingy ride into town on Friday was followed by a walking tour of our favorite shops, restaurants and sights. 

 

Ready to catch a mooring ball.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calm water as we leave Annapolis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures don't really show the wave action.

All was calm on Saturday as we sailed past Annapolis, but once we got into the bay we were in rough seas.  Three foot waves at close intervals kept Gail and me on the back deck staring at the horizon.  John and Brian seemed to enjoy the challenging six hour passage to St Michaels where we dropped our anchor in a well protected creek. John has friends, Brad and Cheryl, that live in a gorgeous home on the water here in St Michaels (near Chaney and Rumsfield).  We had made plans to see them while in town.  They brought us to their home for cocktails on Saturday, met us for dinner

at the Crab Claw on Sunday and even drove John and Gail to the Baltimore airport on Monday. 

Dingy at maximum load!
Four adults, two suitcases and two backbacks.



John, Gail, Cheryl and Brad

We had been to Baltimore, Annapolis and St Michaels last month, but it was fun to show friends some of our favorite places on the Chesapeake.  Because John and Gail have spent so many hours on board during previous trips, it is easy to share close quarters with them.  They have rented a house for a week in Kauai in February and invited us to join them.  We are hoping that it will work out.  Those islands are not on our boating itinerary.  Next on our calandar, a couple more days anchored peacefully in St Micheals before we return to Solomons.

 

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride

Time For A Break

September 3 – 16, 2012

From mid June until last week we have been on the move making great discoveries every day.  We traveled from Stuart, Florida all the way to the northern tip of the Chesapeake Bay with a side trip up the Potomac River to Washington DC.  We’ve traveled with family, friends and on our own.  Wow, it has been great!!!! 

 

The Coast Guard shipyard at the entrance to
Curtis Creek

When we left Baltimore, we had two unscheduled weeks while we waited for friends from Minnesota to arrive.  We decided we needed some time to relax and catch up on a few projects that we had put off.  Some time to just hang out.  Our first stop was a small creek only 15 miles from Baltimore.  The mouth of Curtis Creek was all heavy industry and Coast Guard facilities.  As we traveled up stream we discovered a quiet residential area with a nature preserve on one side.  We dropped the anchor and liked it so much we stayed a second night.  The first night we were there one of the neighbors came over to meet us on his paddle boat.  His first question was “How did you find this place?”  Apparently they don’t get too many strangers. 

The view from our anchorage on Curtis Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chestertown's historic waterfront

The Chester River is a beautiful area that we traveled a couple of weeks ago.  We had enjoyed it and its namesake, Chestertown, and thought it would be a good place to anchor for a week or so.  Several things that we especially enjoyed:  the bakery that now has an espresso machine, a couple of restaurants and the people are genuinely friendly.  When we came the last time, we were trying to arrive in time for the Saturday farmers' market.  We just missed it.  It was on my list for this visit.  We got the best tomatoes I have eaten in years!  You know the kind that really taste like a juicy red tomato. We wound up staying through the following Sunday so we picked up more the next Saturday. 

Combination farmers' market and craft show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sultana is a replica of a 1768 British schooner that
patrolled the North American coast prior to
the American Revolution.  It is used as a
classroom to study history and the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast at a cafe with John and Josiane.

Another boat has been anchored in the harbor since our last visit.  It flies the French flag.  We finally met the owners John and Josiane.  They sailed here from France in 2004 and have been traveling the east coast of the United States, up to Nova Scotia and south to Venezuela for the last eight years.  They introduced us to a few new places around town, came for dinner and shared some very helpful information about traveling through the islands.  We had been talking about visiting the Virgin Islands and maybe beyond.  I think their input may have convinced us that it is very doable. 

We visited the Crumpton Auction with John and Josiane. 
Every Wednesday people come from all over the
East Coast (Georgia to New York) to purchase
furniture and 'stuff'. 
The restaurant is run by the Amish.

 

Well, we stayed in Chestertown for eleven days.  It was just the right spot for our R & R.  Now, let the good times roll – we’re ready! 

 

Gotta smile – we’re lovin the ride!    

Another Great Boating City – Baltimore

August 28 – Sept 3, 2012

We arrived in Baltimore with Bon Voyage thinking we would both anchor in the harbor.  The anchorage area was a very limited space and the boat traffic was heavy and fast.  Next option:  call the city marina.  Yes, they have space for both of us on the same dock.  We are in the heart of the city… only steps from restaurants, shops and the race track that was installed for Labor Day week-end.  As the sun set and the lights came on we loved our view even more.  Besides the neon we enjoyed a full moon every night. 

This lightship was used in place of a light house to
guide ships at the entrance of the Chesapeake
Bay.  Twice she was caught in hurricanes that blew
 so hard the anchor chain broke.  A 2nd anchor had
to be dropped and the engine run full speed into the
wind to try to remain on station.
 

On Wednesday everyone (except me) voted to tour the four historical ships that are in the harbor.  But, you know me, always the good sport!  Off we go to look at four ships:  the US Sloop-of-War Constellation,  US Submarine Torsk, US Coast Guard Cutter Taney and Lightship Chesapeake.  They were very interesting, but four in one day was a bit much.  Oh, did I forget to mention, we had a fabulous lunch at Miss Shirley’s halfway through the tour.  That evening we got together for hors d’oeuvres and a pan of birthday brownies for Jon on the back deck.  This was a good way to complete the day and say bon voyage to Jon and Bonnie for a few weeks. 

Taney was attached to a Destroyer Division and was
in action December 7, 1941 when the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbor.  It is known as "The Last
Survivor of Pearl Harbor". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constellation was commissioned in 1855.  Her 2nd
cruise was to the west coast of Africa to intercept
vessels engaged in the illegal slave trade.  The US
African Squadron captured 14 slave ships and
rescued almost 4000 people between 1859 and 1861.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Torsk was the last American naval vessel to sink
an enemy warship in WW II. 

 

Picturesque Fells Point in the background.

Trash pick-up boat travels through the bays

scooping up debris and limbs.

Brian and I had heard that Fells Point was one of the ‘don’t miss’ locations in Baltimore.  This city has four free bus lines that travel throughout Baltimore.  It can get visitors to most locations or at least close.  The only problem is -- this week most of the routes are altered because of the race track.  A typical side trip for us – a lot more walking than anticipated. 

                                                                                        

Preparing in the paddock

  

Ok, now the real reason we were in Baltimore this week-end.  The Baltimore Grand Prix, three days of racing on the streets of the downtown Inner Harbor.  Porsche won its class on Saturday  –YEA!!!  The Indy Car race suffered from light rain and numerous cautions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trucks that bring in the Indy Cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camden Yards baseball stadium in the middle of
the race track.

Race Time!

 

 

 

 

 

Another ‘must see’ in Baltimore is Faidley’s Seafood in the Lexington Market.  We enjoyed their oysters on the half shell, fried clam strips and jumbo crab cakes between race sessions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two other Krogen couples have been in Baltimore for extended visits.  We got together with them for some of the race:  John and Paulette on a 58 foot and Seth and Judy on a 48 foot.  Seth is wheelchair bound.  We had been on their boat 15 years ago when it belonged to someone else.  It is a fabulous boat with an elevator and power swim platform that allows him access to the entire boat.  Really amazing!  Where there is a will; there is a way…….                               

Leaving the Inner Harbor we saw this vintage
sailing ship.  A great contrast to the Navy's
 current  ships.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!