Day 364 - 368 June 19 - 23, 2023

Day 364 Monday, June 19, 2023

Annapolis Maryland to Baltimore, Maryland

Moving along up the East Coast through Chesapeake Bay!  Sunny and calm for our 9am departure but so many crab pots. It was quite confusing -- not knowing which would be the safe path.  We passed the abandoned Sand Point Shoal Light and Baltimore Harbor Light.  The Baltimore Light was the last lighthouse built on Chesapeake Bay.  Finished in 1908 it actually took 18 years to build.

 

We saw lots of big fishing boats.

Baltimore is on the Patapsco River.  We passed under the Francis Scott Key Bridge and by Fort Carroll.  The cargo ship ARC was loading -- John Deere tractors. 

 

Baltimore Harbor has a strict 6mph speed limit.  We saw lots of harbor police and Navy warships. 

 

 

 The Domino Sugars sign is a landmark that our marina used to help us find them among the many other marinas along the shoreline. 

   

Once settled in at the marina we headed to the National Aquarium.  We were able to watch them feed the dolphins.  What a treat!  Our travel day was only 4 hours so we had plenty of time to explore.

Jellyfish

 

 

 White blob is a shark.

Belated Father's Day celebration -- awesome steak dinner at Ruth's Chris.

Day 365 Tuesday, June 20, 2023

ONE YEAR ON THE LOOP!!!

We celebrated by eating breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe.  Jerry had the breakfast scramble and I had the veggie omelet and hash browns.  Both were huge servings and delicious.  Imagine, breakfast leftovers!

   

We really can't believe that we have been on this adventure for a year.  Time has flown, with so many great places to visit and wonderful new friends.  Today we were joined by 2 of those friends, Janet and Russ from Tug Bussle.  They drove from their home in Delaware to join Eric's Tuition and Call Me Curly for the day.  

First order of business -- walking to Little Italy.  Everyone worked up an appetite (except us, since we had a big breakfast), so we scouted out the restaurants.  We enjoyed our $12 Lasagna and salad -- shared since we had such a big breakfast. 

 

I loved the old buildings in Fell's Point.  We toured the Maryland Dove and visited Max's Taphouse.

 

 

 

Walking back to the marina we enjoyed the smells of fresh bread coming from H&S Bakeries, a family bakery established in 1943.  The business included multiple buildings in several blocks.  Time for happy hour and more visiting on Call Me Curly.

Day 366 Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Today's adventure was a trip to Walgreen's.  Russ and Janet graciously offered to bring us before they headed home-- we didn't realize it would be so memorable.  Jerry had ordered his prescriptions; we just needed to pick them up.
Google directions brought us to Mercy Hospital with no Walgreen's in sight.  So, we headed to the next store only a few blocks away.  Russ dropped Jerry off and we circled the block.  Jerry was back in no time (wrong store) but with stories to tell.  The store had 2 armed guards and everything, even the paper towels, was behind plexiglass and locked up.   We went back to the hospital and Jerry finally had success.  Everything there was in locked cases too.

The entire day was grey, 60's and raining so we spent it in the boat.  We made plans to visit Washington DC with Sharon and Grant tomorrow.

Day 367 Thursday, June 22, 2023

Today we Ubered to Washington, DC with Grant and Sharon.  Our plan was to do the Hop On, Hop Off Trolley and explore the Capital.  Cold and grey we were glad we brought jackets.

We had lunch at Harry's Bar then hopped back on the trolley to check out the Memorials -- Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean.  We had plenty of time to see each of them; trolleys were frequent and easy to get back on.  

We walked to the Whitehouse but access was closed due to a visit from the India Ambassador.  The park was actually closing as we walked to it.  We still managed a few pictures.

 

 

Vietnam War Memorial

 

  

Korean War Memorial

 

Museum of Natural History

 

Hope Diamond

Back on the Trolley Jerry and I got off to hit the Museum of Natural History and then joined Sharon and Grant at Harry's Bar.  They had tried to go to the Holocaust Museum but it had closed for the day.  We enjoyed a drink and lots of popcorn then ordered an Uber for the hour and 15 minute ride back to Baltimore.  Our timing was good, we didn't have to deal with rush hour traffic either direction. 

Day 368 Friday, June 23, 2023

Our original plan was to leave Baltimore today but weather helped us to decide to stay another day.  Winds, waves and thunderstorms were the prediction with Saturday's forecast much better.  Raining outside we had a lazy morning with a pancake breakfast by chef Jerry.   

 

 View of Baltimore from the marina.

Big tragedy -- our countertop portable icemaker died.   I'm sure Russ jinxed it when he admired it the other day!  Good thing we had ice made.

Happy hour was spent on Call Me Curly.  They are the "mother" ship with more, comfortable seating room.  Neils and Doris on Awelon Y Mor, from Toronto Canada were also invited.  They are AGLCA members as well, but technically not doing the Loop.  They have been in Baltimore for a few weeks on their 45 foot North Pacific.  They have done a lot of exploring and make me wish we had more time.

Tomorrow the three boats are off to Delaware City, Delaware.  WOW, another state!