Baltimore, Annapolis and Hampton

We spent 11 days (Thursday, 9/26/19 to Tuesday, 10/8/19) at a dock in HarborView Marina, Baltimore.  This was the longest we have been at a dock since starting the adventure.  We wanted to be at a dock for a number of reasons, including having shore power for various boat projects and an address so that we could have some boat parts shipped.  It was also beneficial to have the Boaters' Lounge so that I could work on some sewing projects.  Bryan repaired the generator (replaced the impeller and cam, replumbed the cooling water intake), installed dinghy chocks, rebuilt a deck wash-down pump, various smaller projects and cleaned the bilge and floor boards; and I cut out and sewed the side curtains for the bimini.  We had lots of company while we were in Baltimore.  The Thursday that we arrived, Pam and Doug on Bleu Lagoon happened to be in town from Ohio for a Trawler Fest.  We had cocktails on the boat and then walked to the Rusty Scupper for dinner.  On Saturday, we took the boat out for an Inner Harbor tour with Staten and Stephanie, a former co-worker and his wife.  They were in Baltimore for the Browns-Ravens game the next day.  The following week, my cousin Laurie and her husband Ed came in to Baltimore for a stop at the boat and then dinner at Bertha's in Fells Point (EAT BERTHA'S MUSSELLS 😝).  Finally, some Ohio friends that now live near Baltimore met us on Saturday and we walked over to Little Havana (our favorite while in Baltimore) for dinner.  It was fun to see Erin, who we knew from Junior Race Team in Sandusky and meet her husband Andrew.

We headed out for Annapolis on Tuesday, Oct. 8.  It was gray, windy and cold but we had a nice, fast reach with gusts to 30 knots down the Chesapeake.  We anchored in the South Anchorage, across from the Naval Academy. Although it was only a 26 mile sail, we were tired by the time we got settled in so I heated up some leftovers for dinner and we went to bed early.  We had an early morning the next day, as we had to get the dinghy in the water and dock it at Lafayette Waterfront Park up Spa Creek, by 7:15.  From there, a shuttle bus would take us and 3 other couples to Maryland Yacht Club for an Offshore Sailing Seminar presented by the Salty Dog Sailing Association.  The seminar was very fun and interesting and we learned a few new things and added items to our list of stuff to review and/or buy at the boat show.

The next 3 days we spent at the boat show.  Bob and Beth came in on Thursday evening.  We picked them up by dinghy at Truxton Park on Spa Creek and they left their car parked there for the weekend.  Harbormaster Stan, another friend formerly from Ohio who now lived in Annapolis, had recommended the parking spot and it worked out really well.  It was also fun taking the dinghy trips up Spa Creek.  Denny & Ellie on Sans Souci and Paul & Karen on Therapy were also in town for the boat show and we enjoyed spending time with them all.  My cousins David & Mary Lynn came to town on Sunday and we had a nice visit with them.  One of the best things about being a live-aboard cruiser has been reconnecting with family and friends that we haven't seen for a while.

On Monday, 10/14/19, we headed in to shore for our showers, had a quick visit with Russ (Shock and All), and pulled up the anchor.  We had a nice sail down to the Patuxent River where we anchored and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  It was a very peaceful anchorage and we both slept well for the few short hours before the alarm went off at 2:30 am.  We wanted an early start as the wind was predicted to die around noon and we wanted to get to Hampton in daylight.  After about 90 nm and 12 hours, we were docked at Bluewater Yachting Center in Hampton, VA.  Now, time to make final preparations for the passage to Antigua with the Salty Dawg Rally!

The Pride of Baltimore

My Sailrite sewing machine is awesome!

It was great having use of the Boaters' Lounge at HarborView Marina.

Bryan, Polly & my cousin Laurie

Laurie, Ed & Polly

Grocery shopping with the Lime electric scooters was much quicker.

Notice the wind-up key on the top of this cute boat at HarborView Marina.

Bryan installed the permanent dinghy chocks while we were at the dock in Baltimore.

Joli at anchor in the South Anchorage, Annapolis, across from the Naval Academy

Polly, David and Bryan in Annapolis

Mary Lynne, Polly, David, Bryan

Sunset on the Patuxent River, MD

Sunrise, Chesapeake Bay

I finished four more Bimini panels while in Baltimore.  Only four more to go!