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!