R Island: May 8-14, 2015 Delaware City, DE

Left the City Dock at Annapolis in light fog that, along with the fishermen everywhere, lasted until just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It gave us an excellent opportunity to fire up the radar; remember how it works and practice reading the screen for boats, markers, and bridges.

Great run up the bay with a favorable tide all day. We had planned to stop just short of the C&D canal that connects the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, but were making great headway at 8+ knots/hour that we decided to complete the canal and stay in Delaware City Marina. The canal handles commercial traffic, mostly between Philadelphia and Baltimore, and we did see two tugs with barges on the trip. We made 76 miles in 8 hours - a new distance and speed record for R Island! ( We have traveled 270 miles this year and 1,831 miles to date on the loop.) Delaware City is a quaint town trying to survive the times. Main industry is tourism along with a refinery about 3 miles away. Nice restaurant, good ice cream and a small market. We plan to spend a week here and use it as a base to visit Philadelphia. After we docked (with great help and direction from Tim and Tara who run the Marina) we hit the showers and headed to Lewinski's Diner for meat loaf and mashed potatoes along with a pint or two.

Day 2: We slept in a little and had a slow morning washing down the boat and taking showers. Had a lite lunch and caught the 1:00 ferry from just down the dock to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River about a half mile away. About the time you leave the dock, you arrive at the Fort's dock! Originally built in 1819 to protect Philadelphia farther up river, the most fort activity was during the Civil War when it's 75 acres were turned in to a Union Prison for captured Southern forces. At one time thee were 12,500 prisoners housed outside the fort in wooden buildings that resembled small barns. The fort was used continuously until 1944. It is now a Delaware State Park. Typical star configuration with a mote completely surrounding it. Never fired a shot or was fired upon!

Day 3: Mike had left their car here (remember we picked them up on our return from Brewerton NY to AYB) so we collected it and headed to Cape May is search of our next stop. Found a great marina, made reservations, and lunch at an Irish Pub - but more about Cape May in the next blog. Visited New Castle NJ. A beautifully restored 18th century town with brick row houses and town square. This time it was a fine English Tavern built in 1754 for dinner. Mike and Lois split the worlds largest shepherds pie and had the leftovers for a meal the next day. Happy Mother's day to all....

Day 4: Drove to Philadelphia for the tourist stops! First off was a great cheese-steak sandwich and fries at Geno's, then on to downtown. Saw the Liberty Bell with it's big crack, toured Independence Hall, and rode the big red tour bus for a 2-hour tour of the city. Lot's of neat places in this town - and so....

Day 5: We returned to Philly by riding the train! Yep, the same day as the accident - only we were south bound and the wreck was north of the city. We did go thru the Amtrak station on our way! Busy day with Love Fountain, Sister City Fountain (great play place for kids), The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (built in 1864), Logan Square Fountain, went to the "Dutch Eating Place" (of course run by Amish) in the Reading Railroad Terminal Market (the same Reading Railroad from "Monopoly"), Ger took an elevator to the top of City hall - 458 feet, visited the "Betsey Ross House" where our famous flag was made, took a disappointing self-guided tour in the lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank, and finally stopped at Macy's before returning to the train station to die on the trip back to the car! What a full day!!!

Days 6 and 7: Recover... and of course, review the charts, do housework, laundry, and clean the boat. This cruising does not leave the chores behind! We did grocery shop the last day and have lunch at a great Mexican/Cajun restaurant - Border Café and wow was it good.