Cruising the Chesapeake Week 13 Annapolis/Baltimore, MD

Thursday, July 30

After finishing the blog post, we gathered our stuff and headed for the grocery store.  While shopping, a man came up to us and asked if we were cruisers. We said that we were. He introduced himself and offered to give us a ride back to the dock so we would not have to lug everything. We gratefully took him up on his offer. His name is Ben and he lives in a condo community on Back Creek.

Back at the boat we put the groceries away and Brian and I left to go look at some boats with a broker.  When we got back, the boys told us that while we were gone the harbor master had come by and said that we were being hailed on the VHF radio by S/V LOON.  The boys turned on the radio and spoke with Ben.  He left his number for Brian to call when we returned.  So Brian called.  Ben offered to let us tie up to the guest dock at the condo marina the following morning and spend the night. Again we gratefully accepted.

Friday, July 31

We pulled anchor and motored the short distance to the guest dock where Ben was waiting by 9am. Once the lines were secured he offered the use of the laundry facility. Nathan and I gathered up everything and followed him. Brian and the other boys gave the boat a much needed wash down. After lunch Ben asked Brian if we would like to swim in the pool. Of course we did!

Jacob, Caleb, and Nathan had to take a swim test to be in the deep end. They all passed no problem.  Brian, Ben and I visited a while in the shade while the boys swam.

Ben had to go get ready for company that he was expecting, but before he left, he invited Brian and I to his boat for happy hour later that evening.

We enjoyed visiting and eating cold shrimp with cocktail sauce and wheat thins and hummus.

All day we had tried to repay Ben for the laundry and invite him for a meal, but he wouldn't hear of it. Generous and hospitality and friendship was the name of his game.  He talked with Brian about sailing and worked hard to convince us to go to the Bahamas for the winter. Jury is still out on that decision.

He was leaving for an overnight boat trip on Saturday and offered us the use of his slip for a second night of electricity and water.

Saturday, August 1

Before he left, he wanted a picture with the boys.  He had confided to Brian and I that he doesn't really like kids, but that our guys were so well behaved and helpful, they were the reason he made his original offer of a ride from the store. Then when they jumped in to unload the truck without complaint, he extended the offer of the slip and friendship.

After getting settled into the slip, Brian and I had to leave for an appointment with a broker to look at more boats. The boys would eat lunch on the boat then walk to the library and hang out.

We looked at a 47 ft Olympic named Gromit.  The family of five had just completed a 7 year circumnavigation and were moving back to land life in Canada.  The boat had tons of storage and plenty of space for everyone. We then looked at three more boats, that are not worth mentioning.

Back at the boat, it was nice and cool thanks to the A/C running all day. We had dinner with the boys and decided to show them Gromit, just to see what they thought.

Sunday, August 2

We moved the boat back to anchor, listened to church on the radio, had lunch and took a nap. At 3 we met John the broker and took the family to see the 47 ft boat. As much as the space would increase, it is a 1974 boat and we all decided we did not want to give up all the comforts and ease of sailing Grace offers us.  We did have an enjoyable few hours visiting with the family and hearing of their adventures.

Monday, August 3

We hung around the boat for the morning then planned to spend the afternoon at the library during the heat of the day. On the was Brian and I stopped in a marine store called Fawcetts. It has been a fixture in Annapolis since 1947. While there we visited with the general manager and he offered us jobs working booths at the Boat Show in October!  We were honored to be asked, but knew it would put us too far behind for heading to FL for the winter. After several hours at the library, we stopped by McDonalds for chicken sandwiches for dinner.

Tuesday, August 4

Time to head to Baltimore. Brian has been so excited for us to see the inner harbor. Several years ago he was there for a conference for work and has dreamed of sailing there ever since.

But first we had a quick overnight stop in White Hall Creek. To look at another boat.  It was a Beneteau 432.  It needed too much work.

Wednesday, August 5

Finally time to go to Baltimore.

Approaching the Bay Bridge.

Flag buoy marking the place where Francis Scott Key was held prisoner in a British Barge and wrote the Star Spangled Banner upon seeing the the flag still waving after the battle at Ft. McHenry in 1812.

Sailing past Ft. McHenry

Entering the Inner Harbor.  The submarine Torsk and Light Ship  Chesapeake.

The Constitution

Dragon Paddle boats for rent.

Anchored in the middle of it all.

Once settled, we went ashore to see what we could see.

Including a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Bumble Bee from Transformers at the Ripley's Believe It or Not

We wandered around and then found a 7-11 and picked up pizza for dinner.

Thursday, August 6

Celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary.  We walked to Federal Hill and climbed the stairs to the top.

Then we went to one of the art museums.

Back at the harbor, we sent the boys to the boat for their lunch and we had a lunch date at  Five Guys. We walked to a little mall that is in one of the Hotels.  I got some new kitchen gadgets to replace the worn out ones.

We met back up with the boys and walked to find a library. It was farther than we thought. After an hour we left and stopped at 7-11 for drinks.  Brian and I finished our date with pints of ice cream and then we all walked the piersand some of Little Italy.

 We found a fun area to hang out.

 We took the boys back to the mall for dinner.

Friday, August 7

We had been told at the visitors center about free buses that go on three routes. We took the Orange route and were not terribly impressed. This particular route went through Little Italy and then through a part of town that was very run down.  I was glad we were seeing it from inside a bus and not on foot.

We got off the bus and walked the short distance to Federal Hill and had lunch at Blue Agave.  They had the best picante, salsa verda, and a grilled tomatilla salsa for dipping the tortilla chips in.  If you ever get to Baltimore, you should eat here!

We stopped by CVS for a few things, then went back to the harbor.  We toured the Seven Knolls Screwpile Lighthouse.

We sat by the water and people watched, then went back to the boat for dinner.  Back at the boat we noticed that the Pride of Baltimore II had come in. The boys went to Barnes and Noble to hang out and Brian and I watched all of the goings on around us and listened to the different live music groups.

Saturday, August 8

After coming shore, we got a deck tour of the Pride of Baltimore II.

We walked past the fountains.



And came to a library closer to the harbor.



Right now the plan is to stay through the weekend and then go to the Eastern Shore and start working our way back down.