R Island: July 25 - August 18, 2014 Annapolis, Chesterton, Chicago, and Baltimore

The 6 hour/50 mile trip from Havre de Grace to our new stop-over was all down-wind and mostly with the tide - that's how we cruise at 8+ mph; about a mile over our usual speed. We chose to stop at the Magothy Marina, on the Magothy River - the same river we lived on when we were here from 1983-1986. We are about 3 miles from the house and half way between Baltimore and Annapolis. We did have to speed up at one point of the trip to beat a large car carrier on it's way from Baltimore Harbor to the Atlantic. We passed the Baltimore Light at the entrance to the Magothy, and had a great 4 mile cruise up the river. Lots of new homes and community piers since we lived here. The marina is condo - most slips owned by the boaters; with great dock hands (mostly young kids) and the best showers/restrooms of the trip; along with a pool and great deck area. There is a lot of wave action and one evening we lost our boarding ladder (boat knocked it into water??) and the finger piers are short and narrow. We got the monthly rate as we were planning to be here a while and it saved greatly on the budget. One downer was that night before last, one of the live-aboard guys had a heart attack and died in his sleep. I guess at least it was quick and he died on his boat!

Next day we rented a car - seems Ger made the reservation for Arnold MO (Missouri) instead of Arnold MD (Maryland) and when he called for pickup (Enterprise) the could not find us to come and get us! Had to start from scratch with a local reservation and we had to take a larger car than requested - but it turned out well for the trip to Chicago.

We spent the first day crossing the Bay Bridge back to the Eastern Shore to visit Chestertown MD - a place we bypassed on the way up the bay. Chestertown, on the Chester River, is almost like stepping back in time - because there is no highway by-pass, and the downtown area is surrounded by restored homes and narrow streets. We visited the waterfront with a salute to the local ducks, walked past houses with beautiful flowers/trees and drove the neighborhoods to see many, many, many homes on the historic register.

Local hero who still holds Major league records today! (whose name we forgot)

Local ship!

...with uncomfortable figurehead!

Salute to the Ducks

one of many

We spent the next few days visiting Annapolis and renewing some of the fond memories of when we lived here. The City Dock with all it's activity, the quaint houses in the Edgewater neighborhood, the shops along main street including McBride's Art Gallery (they lived across the street from us) and of course our old neighborhood. We did not enter the Naval Academy, (Security turned us away because Judie had no ID on her) but remembered the sporting events we attended and the beautiful Church with all the weddings the day after graduation. Don't miss this place if you are ever even close. We were able to catch a light dinner at O'Leary's - the first place we ate when we were looking for a house 31 years ago.

We also celebrated Mike's birthday and going away party at Mezzonotte's Italian restaurant as Inch-N-Along left for downtown Baltimore, Mike for a trip to see Mom in CA, and a schedule that does not quite match R Island. We hope to catch up with them at the Solomon's after we go to Washington DC for Labor Day.

The Baltimore Light

Annapolis City Dock/Marina

Best breakfast and all the local gossip!

Our next boat - really!

State Capitol building

Happy Birthday Mike!

We left for Illinois to visit our two children who live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Had a great time with them, their spouses and our grand-daughter. Visited the Brookfield Zoo, AA Baseball game in Kenosha, and stopped at Ger's sister and husband's home in South Bend IN coming and going and had a great time reconnecting and visiting Amish shops. Trip was August 1-13.

When we returned, spent the first day recuperating (read: slept late, grocery shopping and naps). Then headed to Baltimore to Fort McHenry where the Star Spangled Banner was written during the war of 1812. We had visited here in the 80's but we learned many new things but mostly how little we knew about this "forgotten war". It still sends shivers up our spines during the orientation video - another "don't miss" historical site. It was then off to the Inner Harbor and lunch at "Bubba Gump's" . We see this restaurant lot's of places - but seldom go in - but it was great sitting on the deck overlooking the harbor. Food was good and lot's of good memories when we used to come with the kids.