Boat Names

 In case you miss Boat Name of the Day, here are some to think about over the winter:

This is one of my fabs - you have to say it literally.

Get it?!  James Joyce??

Sat Oct 17: Solomons to Coltons Point Marina

In which we arrive at our winter storage destination with mixed feelings... 

 

We faced another long day so we were at the helm by 8 am, drinking coffee (me) and tea (Melanie).  We cruised slowly out of Solomons, into the Patuxent River and then out onto the Chesapeake Bay where we found a strong current in our favor.   As we've mentioned before, the Chesapeake is a large body of water with strong currents and tides.  This time the current was behind us adding around 2 mph to our normal speed - helpful as the projected 8 hours of cruising decreased to about 6.5 hours. 

We cruised south and eventually arrived at the Potomac River where we turned right and headed towards Coltons Point. It was a gorgeous, cool fall day - just what we had hoped for when we started out in Sept.

 

Sometimes a boat under sail really embodies the joy of a day.

 

Coltons Pt is our final stop for the year and we plan to winterize the boat (drain all water and replace with non-toxic antifreeze), take the boat out of the water, wrap and leave for the winter.   It is bittersweet that our 2020 cruising season has come to an end. We had been told that September and October are great months to cruise the Chesapeake and we found it to be true.  September was still a bit hot and humid, but October was beautiful...with great sunsets and temperatures.  We have learned and experienced so much, and grown closer as a result.

Thank you to all our loyal readers (you know who you 4 are) for sharing this experience with us! We  promise to be back next year, unless you pay us big $$$ not to come back.  Tentative plans, pending COVID, are to come back to the boat in mid-May 2021, recommission her and take off for northern areas including New York, the Hudson River, Erie Canal, Rideau Canal, Montreal and Lake Champlain.   Stay tuned! 

Thurs Oct 15 & Fri Oct 16: Hartge Marina back to Solomons Anchorage

 In which the penultimate day turns into two, and we get a shock ...

 

We woke expecting wind and bumpy seas - and that is just what we got as we came out into the unprotected Bay. And it was a long day - about 6 hours.  One hour into it we discussed turning back, or into a marina, but decided to keep on. Even with quadruple Bonine I was an UNHAPPY CAMPER, so poor Rick had to do most of the driving while I closed my eyes and tried to remember I was LIVING THE DREAM.  Thanks to his hard work and worry, we have had very few days like this one and I remembered how grateful I was after we pulled into the peace and quiet of our favorite anchorage at Solomons.

 Since we had explored here before we decided not to lower the dinghy and spent a quiet evening on the boat.  Also, since we're trying to draw down our food stores, we are making as many meals as possible on the boat.

Rick had been watching the weather apps and anticipating that Friday might be a bad weather day.  And he surprised me by calling a rain delay when we woke up!   The rain had started late the previous evening and by morning it was windy and raining hard.  I love a surprise quiet day, it's even better than deciding on it the night before, and we pulled up the covers and rolled over in our snug cabin, listening to the rain patter on the roof.  Which is, I may have mentioned, one of my most favorite sounds.  I just love rain.  I think, growing up in Boulder, which is basically high country desert, I internalized that rain is a special treat.

With nothing to do we passed the day reading, writing, working on a puzzle, etc. I will say that we got quite a shock part way through the puzzle.  It was an old puzzle that I had bought off Ebay last year, and I had not looked at the picture very closely.

 

Looks like an innocent puzzle, right?

 

NOT SO!  What if I had decided to do this cute little castle puzzle with my young niece????????????????????  We will drop it off at the marina book library in the middle of the night so know one will know where it came from.

After dinner we had to dither about what to watch on Netflix.  There was great internet at the boaters lounge in the Baltimore marina so I took an hour while I was doing laundry and downloaded a LOT.  This is Rick's IPad so I don't usually control what is on it, and I'm afraid I might have overdone it.  I downloaded the pilot episode of about 20 tV shows - ranging from a home organizational series, to a Spain/Argentina/Brazil series. Plus 4 movies.  Now there is too much to choose from.

 The rain continued through 5 pm, but the weather apps promised that Saturday would be a beautiful final cruising day. 

 

Last sunset from the boat for 2020.

 

Wed Oct 14: Rock Hall Marina to Hartge Marina Mooring Ball (Galesville, MD)

 In which we hold a contest ...

We are now in the 'end days' of our 2020 crusing season. We need to end up back at Coltons Point Marina around Oct 16th and begin the  decommissioning process (basically unpack the boat and get it ready for winter).   

Our first planned stop along the way back was the West River at Galesville, MD just south of Annapolis.  We thought about going back to Annapolis but decided to explore a new area.

We cruised back south from Rock Hall under the gigantic route 301/50 bridge that connects mainland Maryland with Kent Island and the Eastern Shore.   South of the bridge there are often large cargo ships at anchor waiting to continue up to Baltimore or some other port to take on or off load cargo.  We passed three big ships on our way today.

At Annapolis we passed by our old friend the Thomas Shoal Light house.

 

As we entered the West River  we saw this derelict boat that has been taken over by the ospreys for a giant nest.  Now that's a good use of a derelict boat.

 - and

We found our mooring ball at the "historical" (according to them) Hartge Marina where we felt awfully  close to the moored boats around us.  But all was well and we didn't hit anyone - even when our exhuberant boat swings all the way around and their (more boring) boats stay put.  

We put down the dinghy and motored over to the local waterside restaurant to have dinner and watch the sun go down.  These water front restaurants are all over the Chesapeake Bay and it is fun to sit and watch the boats - and the people.  We once again had crab dip (seems like the staple - no wonder there is crabs fishing all over, we keep eating different kinds of crab dishes).  I ordered a half dozen oysters on the half shell to confirm that I do indeed enjoy them while Melanie tried not to feel nauseous (Mel here - yucky, rubbery, slimy, etc).

Crab dip and excellent crusty bread.

And to top it all off we were able to order Smith Island cake one more time to finish of our visit to the Northern Chesapeake Bay!

This is a local specialty called a Crush, that I though Mel should try.  It's basically flavored vodka, triple sec and juice the flavor of the vodka.  This one is an Orange Crush. The menu let us know that we could buy a 64oz jug for $32.  Yikes - that would not be a happy Melanie tomorrow.

A Watermelon Crush - and then she was cut off.

Now that the dingy motor is fixed it's easy to start.  I can even do so with a beer in one hand! Drinking and driving, I'm afraid.

After we got back to the boat we held a contest to see which of our loyal readers would win a 4-day cruise on the Blue Horizon with us in 2021.  AND EVERYONE WON!!!  So don't forget to reserve your days - operators standing by...

Tues Oct 13: Baltimore to Rock Hall, Eastern Shore Maryland

 In which we cruise under ominous skies ...

 

The morning greeted us with heavy gray skies and it looked like rain but the weather apps urged us to take a chance.   We followed our usual morning routine with Melanie working and me drinking coffee - she's happy that we have found this routine, rather than starting off at the crack (an unreasonable hour, as far as she is concerned).  It worked out well today as we wanted to get to our destination on a rising tide, so we didn't need to leave until 11am.  Mel got bored about 10:30am so we started 'early'!

 

We said good bye to the jellies - they were pretending to be clouds.

 We cruised out of the enormous Baltimore harbor almost completely by ourselves. We were headed to the eastern shore of the Chesapeake for the first time (other than in a car to Cape Charles) - to Rock Hall.  The visibility was so low halfway across the Chesapeake that we could see no land in front or behind us, and it was as though we were alone on the water.  Spooky.

The industrial complex of the western shore fades from view - looks like something from a post-apocalyptic movie.

 

The skies remained leaden and we watched the radar screen to make sure we could see everything around us.  Fortunately the sky began to lighten as we arrived and entered the harbor between two rock jetties that would keep us safe from waves during the night.  We docked at the Rock Harbor Landing Marina, tied up and walked up to the office to check in.  We were greeted by Naomi in the office and found out that she had lived previously in Georgia - go Dawgs! We reminisced a bit about the Peach State and then took off for a walk around town.   By this time it had turned into a lovely fall day - the gray skies of Baltimore far behind. Rock Hall has a wonderful, if small, center (centre?) and we visited some of the shops.  

 

Poor stores - it's so confusing during this Covid time. We always have to ck websites and then take the precaution of calling if we really want to be sure a place is open.

It was quiet now, but there were locals at the shops and it is clear that on weekends during the summer this is a hoping town.

After our walk we sat on our back "porch" and watched a magnificent sunset.   We have been so lucky to see wonderful sunrises (okay, just a few) and many beautiful sunsets.   But this one was special.  It is one of the few times we have been on able to see the sun go down into the water.  And maybe it is extra special as we are in our last few days of boating for 2020.

Sat/Sun/Mon Oct 10-12: Hanging in Baltimore

In which we walk our feet off ...

 

Let's just say that these three days were filled with W A L K I N G, at least 5+ miles a day, and we saw a LOT.  The second day we did another scavenger hunt from Let's Roam, and ended up in a less then fabulous area.  But that is not the first time we have done that, and people are always so nice.  The coherent ones, anyway.

I'll break it down into -

 

General interest:

You can never go wrong starting your day with a cat/dog scenario.

Cute little contraption for getting trash that comes down the streams so it doesn't get into the harbor.

The leaves are turning - at least on half the tree.  Or it is doing a chameleon thing with the sports car.

Awww - the Shakespeare Theater (Theatre?) folks trying to cheer us up with his quotes!

Just more gorgeous scenery...

 

This incredible cluster is the personal shopping/grocery delivery business for Whole Foods in full swing.  It takes up half of the front of the store.

Sights:

This lovely building is, wait for it ... the old sewer treatment plant! Now it is a Public Works Museum (whatever that is) - the marketing material says it is a 'surprisingly interesting' museum.  Now THAT is a ringing endorsement.

Screw Pile Lighthouse in the wharf area.

I really wanted to see the Peabody Library - since libraries are a mecca for me.  BUT - it was closed. 

 

 

Baltimore is home to Fort McHenry, famous for inspiring  Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.  This is the 'Flag House' where the flag that he immortalized was sewn.  Actually, it got too big and had to be finished in a warehouse, but still ... this is where Mary Young Pickersgill began the project in her flag sewing shop.

No visit to Baltimore would be complete without stopping by Edgar Allan Poe's Grave, quoth the raven.

St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church is on the typical tourist itinerary, of course.  Because that's one of the iconic things you associate with Baltimore. Said no tourist, ever.

Museums:

 I dragged Rick to the American Visionary Art Museum - which focuses on 'intuitive, self-taught artistry'; art that is also sometimes called 'outsider' art. I'm pretty interested in that, and he is a good sport.  He ended up enjoying it just as much as I did.  Some outsider art is a head-scratcher, but at its best it is thought provoking, and often delightful.  Plus there was literally no one else there so we didn't have to worry about other people breathing on us.

What a good sport.

Yes - it's a ball of bras.  You read that right.

In return I accompanied Rick to the Reginald F Lewis Museum to see the Freedom Bound - Runaways of the Chesapeake exhibit. We are doing our best to get educated and 'woke', and so have recently watched Harriet and are interested in learning more about runaways specific to the area we have been traveling.  I remember being so interested in the Underground Railway when I was a girl - I hoped I would be brave enough to help, and also brave enough to hide my Jewish neighbors.

And food eaten!:

 

I really wanted to get ice cream at this store, but I was afraid. Very afraid ...

We had pizza at Bartender's, we had avocado rolls at Cheesecake Factory, we had mini-donuts from a street vendor at the Sat Farmer's Market, (never had a chai). But the WHOLE REASON we came to Baltimore was because Rick, who is a devoted Guy Fieri fan, wanted to get a pit beef sandwich at Chaps, which he had seen on Guy's Triple D. We bought enough 'food' to last several meals!

He is so HAPPY! It's so easy to make Rick happy - Note to self: do so more often.

We stayed an extra day in Baltimore because Mr. Weather predicted rain, starting at 2pm on the 11th, and wind coming up that night and lasting through Oct 12. He was not wrong - it was raining and howling by the last night.  I was so happy to be tied up to a dock.  He does take good care of us. We just hung out on Monday, watched TV (The Secret Garden on Redbox), did laundry, took naps, read books (I'm in the middle of 5 books - two on Kindle, 1 that we are listening to together on the bridge and 2 real books.  I'm not gonna lie - it can be confusing).  Consequently we were both exhausted by 8pm!

Good night!