Chapter 56: Baltimore

Log 56
Baltimore, MD.

6:00 AM
Monday, June 12, 2000
Inner Harbor Marina
Baltimore, MD.

Day 71

Before I begin this log I want to say a special hello, and congratulations to “Uncle Bill”. He just had a birthday recently (he turned 80), and Deb and I missed the party. (Which was also a party to celebrate his sons (Mort) retirement from 35 years of teaching) Anyway, happy birthday Uncle Bill, Deb and I hope you have many more. (Ps. Keep those boat shoes handy, cause you’ll need them when we return)

I’m sitting here this morning looking out the back of the boat at beautiful downtown Baltimore. Our slip faces directly across the water and so we can sit on the back deck and look at all of the activity, and this place is very busy. Well at least it was yesterday. This morning it’s fairly quite.
Baltimore is a really neat harbor. It is has been totally redone over the last several years. In the beginning they just fixed up the area adjacent to the immediate downtown, but in the last few years they have keep expanding, and it continues to get better. Some of you who are reading this have been here with us before, but let me tell you it has changed a lot. When we used to come here there was only one marina. (The one we are staying in) Now there are several, and they are huge. Boating is definitely alive and well in Baltimore.
Yesterdays trip was an easy one, and a great one. The waves were almost non-existent. It was one of those mornings where the water had a slight lazy ripple to it. In other words it was almost “dead calm”.
I followed the ship channel most of the way from Annapolis, just so I wouldn’t have to deal with the crab pots. If you haven’t been here, there are crab pots everywhere. On one hand this is a good thing, because many people can make a living from this, and people love “Maryland Blue Crabs”. On the other hand they are a real nuisance to other boaters. If you relax for even a little bit you could hit on of these, and you could have big problems.
Let me explain. A crab trap is just a cage that has a piece of meat in it. There is an opening where crabs can get in, but they can’t get out. (Similar to a fish trap, or a rabbit trap) These traps sit on the water’s floor, so they need a way to mark them. They do this with what they call a crab pot, or a floating buoy that marks that trap. (Each person has a special way they mark their own traps by different colors, etc.) These buoys are connected to the traps by line, or in some cases by chain. If you make a mistake, and run over one of these buoys, it can get wrapped up in your prop, and at the very least cause you to have to go under the boat, and cut off the rope. (Although I have learned a trick over the years that you can back up the boat very fast, and try to “spin” the rope off because the shaft is turning the opposite way that it was wrapped around in the first place) There have also been stories of people running over traps, and they got wrapped around the prop, and punctured holes in the bottom of the boats. Bottom line. Stay away from the crab pots. (Oh……the life of a mariner. One thing to deal with after another)
So anyway….after a short 3 hour cruise we ended up in Baltimore. After a pump out, and some fuel, ($1.30 with Boat US discount) we tied up to our slip, and washed down the boat. (By the way I must say that Rome is getting pretty good at this. He, like the other crews we have had aboard, has really helped us) Once this was done, and we took a break because it was sooo hot, we decided to take a dinghy ride. In order to get through it we all hosed down just before heading out, so we could stay cool enough. It worked, and we had a great time exploring the harbor.
For dinner we walked up to the Rusty Scupper, which is located right on the marina grounds. I think we all agreed we had our best meal yet. (Would anyone like some of this food we bought, and thought we would eat?) After dinner Deb, and I went for a walk around the harbor area and found a great band playing on the sidewalk that we stopped and listened to. Rome and Theresa changed into some power walking clothes, and “walked very fast” to get some exercise. Back at the boat I watched the NBA game, and everyone else sat on the top of the boat, and enjoyed the night view of the harbor.

Today (by the way it’s already 78 degrees, and is forecast to be in the mid 90’s) we will not be moving the boat, but it will be a mixed bag of activity. I’ve got a mechanic coming aboard to change the oil in the engines, and also look at a couple of oil leaks. I also want to work on the charts, and get ready for the remaining miles to New York. Rome and Theresa said they are going to do some exploring around the city, to see what’s here. Deb will be getting ready for her Mom to join us. Barb (Deb’s Mom) will be coming in from Ohare today, and landing about 4:30 this afternoon. We have given her an address to tell the taxi driver to take her to, and we’ll be waiting. It should be interesting. Barb is so excited to be coming, and seeing some of this stuff, she can’t stand it.
Speaking of “seeing some of this stuff” I must tell you I am having some weird feelings the last few days. I’m not sure what it is, so I know I can’t describe it, but it is kind of like a mixture of contentment, and regret. (See I knew I couldn’t describe it) I think what is happening is I am starting to realize that in a few short weeks this trip will be over, and all of this will be behind me. I am not looking forward to that feeling. So with this in mind I find myself wanting to make every minute of every day count, so I never look back with any regret. The good news is I realize how fortunate Deb and I are, and we don’t take any of this for granted. This trip so far has exceeded my dreams, and is certainly something I’ll remember forever. (Or until we do it again)
With that said, I better end this, so I can “live this dream” for one more day.

I’ll keep you posted….

BK.