Log 175; Day 494; Sept. 27, 2009; Enjoying the Baltimore area

No real reason (story wise) to put this pictue in the log, but this was a mural on a wall in one of our lunch stops, and I really thought it was cool

This picture "is" part of this log. This is a shot of the park in Canton, a short walk from our boat, and they were having a wine and jazz festival on Saturday.
Although it was cool and overcast (it rained not long after this shot) they had a very good crowd.

All around this town square are bars and restaurants...great place

This is Mama's on the half shell. A bar owned by a guy we met (Skunny) here in Canton.

You have to read the log to get this, but here is the group, back from their "kyak trip for charity". Skunny (top left) owns Nacho Mama's and Mama's on the half shell. Sean (far right) is the manager and bartender at Nacho Mama's who we met in July. These guys looked pretty rough...after 6 days in a kayak

Skunny was excited to take this shot with Deb, because he announced to the crowd "hey everybody, we have our first kyak groupie"

Deb and Sean...I took these pictures as a "anniversary present" to Deb. She loves to be in the middle of these events and get her picture taken. Me...not so much.

Again...part of her anniversary.

We walked about 20 minutes in the rain to greet the kayaks, as they made it to Fells Point

These guys were having a blast

Only a small group on hand to welcome them...glad we were there

5 guys..and one girl. She was the tough one.

This is Max's place...the other "challanger" in the kayak race

It's a big place, with lots of people. We like Canton better.

Log 175
Day 494
Sunday, September 27, 2009

6:30 AM EDT
Location: Anchorage Marina, Baltimore, MD.
Weather: 64 and light rain...heading to mid 70’s today

It started raining yesterday afternoon, and rained all night. Not very hard, but raining all the time. The radar this morning shows the rain has almost passed us, and the sun should come out later today. The next few days will be highs in the 60’s and lows in the 50’s.

Well, it’s been almost a week since I wrote a log. As I have said before, it’s hard (for me) to write captain’s logs, when we’re not cruising, because I think, who cares what we’re doing. But, then I start to get questioning comments, about why haven’t you sent a log out, so I write one.

We continue to enjoy our time here at Anchorage Marina in Baltimore, and the projects continue to get completed. Deb has wiped down everything inside the boat, and organized things. I have taken down; cleaned; and waxed, all the isinglass...a job I don’t care to do, but sure looks great when it’s done. I also continue to TRY to keep the outside of the boat clean, but it is a daily battle here at this slip. After talking to our neighbors, I have finally figured out what the issue is. In this area there are steel factories, that emit some black dust, and it gets on (and in) everything. If you wash the boat, and it rains the next day, you can see puddles of black water laying on the boat, from the dust the rain has washed off. Not much you can do about it, except keep washing it off. I can only imagine what a boat would look like if you just left it here...and not cleaned it very often. I’ve also fixed the aft stateroom light; fixed the interior speakers; fixed the lights in the helm area; and installed a new radio. This next week we need to change the oil in all the engines; wax the chrome; clean the strainers; (maybe) wax the hull; and in general, finish any projects before we pull the boat next Monday (Oct. 5th).

Besides working...we have also found time to have fun each day. Deb and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary tomorrow (Sept. 28), so each day this last week has been, “The 7 days of Anniversary” (like the 12 days of Christmas). We never do anything big (for each other) on any birthdays (ours is on the same day), holidays, or anniversary’s, so this time we thought we do nothing big...for 7 days. On “The 5th day of anniversary” (Saturday) we rented a car, to get supplies we could not get at the local stores. We stopped at the liquor store, and went to Wal-Mart, to buy oil for the engines. (It’s amazing. At West Marine, the oil I need, is almost $18 @ gallon. At Wal-Mart...it’s $11. When you need 13 gallons, it’s worth the trip). Today we’ll use the car to go to the auto parts store (fuses for the boat), and Home Depot (other boat supplies). Anytime you have a car, you plan well, and have a “car list” (things you can’t get by walking).

Anyway...we also had a great time on Saturday, when we walked over to Canton, to follow up on our new friends who were completing their kayaking trip. The short version of the story is, when we came through Baltimore, in late July, we found this great place called Nacho Mama’s, and met a great guy (bartender) name Sean. Over lunch, he told us about a 166 mile kayak trip, they were going to do for charity. 3 people from that bar...against 3 people from another bar (Max’s) were going to compete, and try to raise about $50,000 for a local charity. We told him we thought the charity was a good one, and would like to help support the cause, and ended up doing so. When we got back here (in September) and went back to the bar, Sean instantly recognized us, and we again had a great time. We also met the owner of the bar (Skunny...who was also kayaking for charity) and had lunch at another bar he owns (Mama’s on the half shell). Through these lunch’s we got to know some of these people, and were looking forward to seeing them when they returned from their trip at 5 pm, on Saturday. In advance of their arrival, we walked to Canton, at about 2 pm, because they were having a wine and jazz festival, and ended up stopping by Nacho Mama’s for beer. As soon as we walk in the door, we are greeted by Sean, and all of his kayak mates, who had just returned from their trip (actually...their trip was supposed to end at 5 pm, at another location in the inner harbor (Fells Point) but they got back early, so they had all gathered at Nacho Mama’s...to have a beer, and wait until 4 or so, and then paddle to the official end of their trip). Anyway...they treated us like one of their crowd (hugs from Sean, and kisses from Skunny), buying us drinks, and of course Deb had to have here picture taken with all of them. At 4, they left the bar, and headed to get their kayaks, and Deb and I walked (in the rain) from Canton to Fells Point (a 20 minute walk. Along the way, we stopped at a cool bar with a great band playing, and made it to Fells Point, and the kayak arrival just before 5. There was not a very big crowd gathered for their arrival (raining and cold) but it was fun to see them come in, and fun to be part of their crowd. As I have said before, this is a great neighborhood, and we have really enjoyed it here.

Today...is “The 6th day of Anniversary” and we have no big plans. After car runs to Home Depot, and different places, there is a NASCAR race to watch, and the Bears play at 4 EDT. We’ll see what happens beside that.

Tomorrow...”The 7th (and official) day of Anniversary, Deb wants to go to the Baltimore Aquarium for her “special” gift, and I will want to enjoy a nice cheeseburger somewhere (something different for me). I’m sure we can accomplish both of these without a problem. I’m also sure glad we are simple people.

From there...the plan is to pull the boat on the 5th (one week from tomorrow) and for Deb and me to go to a hotel for a couple of nights, while they repair the fiberglass on the hull, around the bow thruster. Hopefully they will have the boat done, and back in the water, by that Thursday, because on Friday, a college friend, and his wife (Randy & Nancy, from California) will be coming to Baltimore for the weekend. We’re looking forward to spending some time with them, and then, from there we plan on heading south on Monday, October 12th.

Until then...I’ll sign off with what our next door neighbor said to me yesterday, when I ask him “how’s everything going today”?. He said...”Every day is a holiday...every meal, a feast”. I agree.

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob