FRIDAY AUGUST 13TH

Happy 33rd Anniversary to us!!!!!!!!!! The day I married Ross, I never dreamt we’d be doing a trip like this.












Once again we crossed back across the Chesapeake Bay.  Our destination being Baltimore. It was a rock and rolly crossing. Our course and the direction of the waves made us take the waves from the side. I try to set things on the floor that I think may tip, but always seem to forget something. Nothing serious though. Usually a stack of magazines or something.

Coming into Baltimore we could see huge shipyards where they unloaded container ships. As far as we could see there were stacks and stacks of containers. Wonder what all is in them? One of our favorite television series was The Wire. The series took place in Baltimore and one year the plot revolved around the container ports. Ross thought this one looked like the same scenery from the show.


We passed the naval hospital ship, COMFORT. This ship most recently was in Haiti, following the earthquake. Operation Desert Storm, 9/11, and Katrina are amongst a few of the places this ship has gone to help out as a hospital.

you may need to double click on this photo to see what I am referring to

As you enter the harbor, you immediately notice this hill with green grass. Everything else is so industrialized that it really stands out. This is Fort McHenry. During the War of 1812, the British made a failed attempt to take over the Fort. (losers!) Out in the harbor on a truce ship, Francis Scott Key was being held until after the battle. He was a lawyer and went out to negotiate the release of an American doctor. This marker in the water indicates the place that ship was when Key wrote the poem that would eventually become our National Anthem. That poem was later put to the tune of a British pub song. How ironic!

It had become quite windy by the time we arrived at the marina in Baltimore. When Ross radioed in our arrival, he was informed that they didn’t have any dockhands to assist us. (oh goodie) It was somewhat of a rodeo and took several attempts, but we made it. Wind to a powerboat is an enemy.

Baltimore is very tourist friendly in that it has a boardwalk area that runs something like 7 miles along the waterfront. There are restaurants and pubs, shops and sightseeing all along it.

We took a walk and come across the United States Coast Guard Cutter, TANEY. It is the last surviving ship of Pearl Harbor.










The old coal burning power plant has been converted into stores. We went in the Barnes and Noble. Very cool.










You can see one of the old chimneys behind the escalator. The escalators looked like a coal conveyor belt. The inside of the building was left pretty much as it had been. And yes, we bought a couple of books.














Further down the boardwalk was the U.S.S. CONSTELLATION.

We enjoyed dinner and a bottle of wine on our back deck to celebrate our anniversary. It was a nice evening and very scenic watching the city light up. This is one of our night lights.