Here we are at Anchor Bay Marina, to do some service, and HQ's home for the next couple of weeks. This is a happening place.
This is a look out the back of our boat, at the service area
Here is a look out the front of our boat
HQ sitting beside the lift, that will pick us up on Monday
Can you tell they have beer here?
These two guys, Larry (in the boat); and Mike (standing...and owner of the boat) we met during lunch at the marina, and ended up listening to their stories for the next hour. To look at them you would not think much, but trust me, these are very sharp guys. Larry designs, and wires, electrical systems. Mike designs and builds fuel systems for aircraft, and other applications all around the world. Both have their own business. Together they are totally rebuilding this wooden boat...which neither have any experience doing.
Mike has a (long) story for everything, and spent a fair amount of time showing me a scrap book FULL of his designs ranging from fuel systems to building a lighthouse. Amazing.
A shot of the tiki bar deck here at Anchor Bay Marina. This is a family affair, with the owners daughters running the restaurant and bar
This is the owner, Art, (he does everything here) who has owned the marina for 22 years. Today they are having a "bull roast" which means they are cooking a lot of beef.
Andy, Brad, and me, at our final cocktail hour together...at least for a long time.
Patti, Mary, and Deb...one of a few "final" hugs
Here is the gang, at our "last supper".
And one "final" good-bye...we will miss our time together. These are GREAT people.
Log 144Day 389
Sunday, June 14, 2009
7:00 AM EDT
Location: Anchor Bay East Marina; Baltimore, MD.
Weather: 69 degrees & no wind; forecasted to be 80 and sunny today
This will be the last log for a couple of weeks...or so. We will be pulling the boat tomorrow and heading home for a couple of weeks, so there will be no “cruising” adventures to write about.
The first thing I should report is that, thanks to Diane Stell, the mystery of what the name of the fort next to the Francis Scott Key bridge, has been solved. The name of the fort is Fort Carroll, named in honor of Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The construction was supervised by Robert E. Lee, and has been used as recently as WWII, by the Coast Guard, and abandoned in 1945.
This morning I am sitting on the back deck, and it is beautiful outside. The sun is coming up, and warming things up quickly. The birds are singing, and the marina is coming to life. Living on a boat is a wonderful thing.
Our marina...is very interesting (kind of like the girl with the great personality?). While it may not be much to look at, Deb and I both think it is cool. On one hand, it is very rustic. On the other, it has great food. Yet another, it has a great reputation for service work. And finally, it has a great tiki bar, and deck, with live music every Wednesday to Sunday...and they really draw the crowds. You have to want to come here...because this place is in the middle of no where, and it would be impossible to “stumble” on this place by way of roads. Even when you know where it is, it’s hard to find. We’re here for service work. We will pull the boat tomorrow and check out the bottom to see if we need to touch up the bottom, or repaint the entire thing. We also will check to see if the props are in great shape, and replace any zincs that are bad. FYI...zincs are what they call “sacrificial anodes”. They are attached to all things metal, under the water line (shafts; trim tabs; thrusters; etc) to protect those items from electrolysis attacking metal items on the boat. In many marinas, the wiring is not good, and stray current is in the water. This current is looking for something to attack, and having the zincs allows the current to attack it (because it’s softer) instead of the bronze shafts or aluminum trim tabs. Anyway...they are important. We will also have the hull buffed, and waxed, and a couple of cushions fixed and canvas made. When we return, we will change the oil in the boat, and also replace the impellors.
Yesterday...we picked up a car for the trip home. We also went to the Inner Harbor and met Jerry and Lynn (on Sea La Vie) for lunch. In the afternoon, we came back to the boat, and then, in the evening, went back to the Inner Harbor to have dinner with our friends Andy and Mary (on Good News) and Brad and Patti (on Salvage Crew). We had cocktails on Salvage Crew, and then walked up to the Rusty Scupper for dinner. We had a great time with all 3 couples. We have really enjoyed hooking up with them, several times over the last 9 months, and will miss knowing that we are only a couple of weeks away from seeing them again, in some harbor we all just happen to end up in. We have met many couples along the trips so far...but for some reason, we have just “clicked” with these 3. And again...we will miss them.
Today...first thing this morning, I am going to take the car down to Inner Harbor, and pick up Jerry, (Sea La Vie) and his friends, and take them to a car rental place to pick up a rental car. Sea La Vie has had Jay and Nancy traveling with them for a couple of weeks, and it’s time for them to head home. Jerry and Lynn will leave with Sea La Vie tomorrow, and head for New York. When I get back to the boat, later this morning, I’m sure the rest of the day will be spent getting the car packed for the trip home, and getting the boat ready to be sitting on land for 2 weeks. As I have said before...I’m looking forward to seeing all the family...but I am not looking forward to getting off the boat.
After we get back on the boat, and there is something to write about, I’ll write another log.
I’ll keep you posted.
Bob
