Brown Eyed Girl: May 2012

Annapolis, MD

Annapolis Yacht Basin

May 25-27, 2012

On Friday morning the kids got up early because they wanted to get back to Columbus so we got up with them and said a tearful goodbye. Ginny and I got the boat in order and then we were off to Annapolis for the Memorial Day Holiday. The weather was good and the Chesapeake Bay was very calm. We were told not to get to the marina before noon because checkout time was 11:00. We slowed way down and arrived about 12:30. We were docked next to "Marc's Ark" and they were next to "Erika Lin". The first thing we did was go to Chick & Ruth's Deli for lunch which was excellent. You may recall from my last post that we had visited Annapolis by car the day before. That day we went to the Naval Academy and walked around town. This time, since we had already seen the Naval Academy, we just walked around town for a while and then went back to the boat because it was very hot. We had happy hour with "Erika Lin" and "Jim's Joy" and then we had dinner on the boat.

Saturday was very hot so we took a bus tour around the city. We really like these kind of tours because they are narrated and we get to see many parts of the city that are too far to walk. We learned a lot about the city and knew what we wanted to see more of. When we got off the bus we visited the state house which is open to the public. It was very interesting and it was air conditioned. We spent the rest of the day having lunch and walking around the town and the marina. "Marc's Ark" and "Jim's Joy" left in the morning for Baltimore so we had happy hour with "Erika Lin" and ate on the boat. The next day I went to breakfast by myself at Chick & Ruth's and walked around the waterfront which was pretty neat. We spent most of the day on the boat in the air conditioning because it was very hot. We went to dinner with "Erika Lin" at the Boatyard Grill which was excellent.

Saying Goodbye at 6:00 A.M.

Leaving Spring Cove Marina

Our first meal in Annapolis

I just can't decide

We visited the Naval Academy with Stephanie and Casey

The Drum and Bugle Corps and Silent Drill Platoon

For the soldiers that did not come home

The Naval Academy Museum is one of the best we have visited

Boats made from bones

A view of the Naval Academy from across the Severn River

Nice store

The State House

The State Senate Chambers

The Front of the State house

Nice car

A fun place with good lunches (and of course - cupcakes)

This 135' boat is owned by the owner of the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Inner Harbor Marina

May 28-29, 2012

On Monday we got up early and headed for Baltimore. "Erica Lin" was not far behind. The bay was very calm again so the ride was smooth. We only had about 35 miles to go so we arrived early in the day and got tied up. The marina is in the Inner Harbor and is very nice. It is a beautiful city but between the high temperatures, dredging the harbor to get ready for the Tall Ships, and a fish-killing algae, it was pretty stinky. "Erika Lin" and "Native Son" came in a short time later and after lunch we all took the water taxi to Fort McHenry. The fort has a lot of history but mostly the attack by the British was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. We stayed for most of the afternoon and headed back to the boat for drinks and dinner.

On Tuesday we headed for the Baltimore Aquarium which is right in the harbor. We spent the whole day there and after a short rest on the boat we went to dinner and called it a night.

Leaving Annapolis

A warship in the Bay

The bridge leaving Annapolis going to Baltimore

Coming into Baltimore - Much more industrial than Annapolis

Fort McHenry from the water

Downtown Baltimore

Arriving at the Inner Harbor

Lots of things going on

A special flag raising ceremony for Memorial Day at the fort

The Inner Harbor at night

Federal Hill in the background (where people from the city sat to watch the attack on Fort McHenry in 1812). The marina where we stayed is in front.

We learned that jelly fish have become quite invasive.

Camden Yards in the background where the Oriole's play

Tangiers Island, VA

Parks Marina

May 21, 2012

As you may recall from the last post we went home for 6 days and left the boat at Dozier's Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville. We had a good visit in Columbus, OH and got to see relatives and friends who we haven't seen for a while. Technology is a wonderful thing. Ginny and I have several apps on our iPhones and iPads that allow our friends to see where we are at all times. We really don't have to tell people we are home because they know it. Sometimes they even call and say "You're going the wrong way" - Thanks Wayne for keeping me straight. The best part of going home was that our daughter and son-in-law followed us back and spent 5 nights with us. We were docked in the Deltaville and we expected to travel to Solomons, MD so we dropped their car off in the Solomons and drove to Deltaville.

When we got to the boat on Sunday night we were surprised to see some some Loopers were still there but the way the wind was howling it was not really a surprise. It turns out the weather had been pretty bad so not much travel.. That was good for us so we were not behind the pack by much. The wind was supposed to die down on Monday and get better as the day went. I got up on Monday and returned the car and was back at the boat by 9:30. One of the boats had left around 9 - they were back by 10 saying the waves were very close together and it was not comfortable. We waited around and then decided to leave about 12:30 and head for Reedville. We were scheduled to stay two nights in Reedville and take the ferry on Tuesday over to Tangiers Island. We got about 1/2 way to Reedville and decided to try to get a slip in Tangiers instead. I called the Parks Marina and talked to the owner who said he would have space for us. We turned to the East and headed for Tangiers Island. We got there about 3:30 and we couldn't raise the owner so we went up and down the creek and then just decided to dock at one of the empty slips. It worked out OK but the slips were narrow. The wind was light but the current was moving pretty good so Ginny had to back in allowing for the current. We went to lunch and then the kids walked around the town while Ginny and I relaxed on the boat. We had dinner on the boat and watched TV. There is very little cell service on the island and there was not Internet at our boat so we roughed it.

On Tuesday we got up and had a wonderful family style breakfast at the Chesapeake Inn with the kids. We walked all around the town and then we decided to go to the Solomons instead of staying on Tangiers for the night. I called the marina at 7:30 and asked if I could come in a day early and they said sure, so off we went.

I hope somebody restores her

Leaving Deltaville

Casey, our Son-in-Law enjoying the trip

Our slip at Parks Marina in Tangiers Island

Homemade advertising

We had lunch here because it was good and just about the only place open

Casey and Stephanie touring Tangiers

The water tower in Tangiers

Sunset in Tangiers

Parks Marina

Many, many graveyards in front yards to keep them close to family - and a ton of cats

The only dog on the island - doesn't he look lonely

I never saw a cop, let alone the radar

Crabs are king in Tangiers

Home style breakfast at the Chesapeake House

Family Style

The Chesapeake House

One of the nicer homes on the Island

Leaving Tangiers

Solomons, MD

Spring Cove Marina

May 22-24, 2012

We arrived at Spring Cove Marina in the afternoon and when we radioed the marina they said we were a day early. I told them about the phone call and they said they would find a place for us. We got fuel, pumped out and got into our slip by mid afternoon. There are several marinas in the Solomons so the Looper's have a big choice. There were 5 loop boats at Spring Cove. "Brown Eyed Girl", "Marc's Ark", Erika Lin", "Jim's Joy" and "Native Son". About 4'oclock I got a call for Beth on "Kismet" who we have not seen since the Florida Keys. She said they were planning a dinner at their marina with several other boats and asked me to gather up our flock and come over for dinner. There were 10 boats represented. Beside the 5 from Spring Cove there were "Kismet", "Seabiscuit", "Grianan", "Boreas" and "Sea Venture". We had a very nice dinner and were able to catch up with most of their travels.

On Wednesday Ginny, Stephanie and I went to the nearby Mariners museum then we all walked around the city, had a great barbecue lunch and then relaxed on the boat. The kids went to a movie and when they got home we had BLT sandwiches for dinner. On Thursday we got up and drove to Annapolis for the day. Ginny and I were going there on Friday by boat but the kids had to leave early on Friday so we drove their car. We arrived there in time to see the Navel Academy Drum and Bugle Corp and the Silent Drill Platoon ceremony on Worden Field. We walked all around the Naval Academy and then the town. We had lunch at a waterfront bar and then we walked over to the marina where we were going to stay for the weekend. We drove back to Spring Cove and had dinner at the Ruddy Duck. On Friday morning the kids left before 6AM so they could get back to Columbus early in the afternoon. We fired up the boat and headed for Annapolis, MD.