Tuesday turned out to be a beautiful day but with not much wind. So after pumping out we took off to anchor in the Magothy River. There was little wind so we had to motor the 2+ hours out of the West River, past Annapolis and on to Sillery Bay behind Gibson Island. Forecasts were for continued settled weather after the passage of the front the night before so we anchored out away from the islands so we could get some breeze.
Galesville in the rear view mirror.
On the way we passed through a pod of dolphins leisurely swimming and occasionally came by to check us out. Other folks have reported seeing dolphins in the Bay but we never have and nobody has ever reported seeing them this far up the Bay. Don't know if it's the water clarity, the temperature or fish but there they were and a good omen for us.
Dolphins off Thomas Point.
After dinner we saw the full moon rise and then watched a movie. Near the end we began seeing flashes outside and went out to find a storm with lots of lightening just to our south. We quickly put all our electronics into the oven and turned on the TV to find the local news talking about severe storms. For the next 2 hours we watched the light show as the boat clocked around twice in the winds shifting in strength and direction as we hoped the storm would slide by. Fortunately with all the lightning there was little thunder so the storm was too far we really couldn't measure the distance. The lightning continued for several hours but we dodged the bullet.
Iconic Thomas Point Light.
Annapolis off to port.
A ship at anchorage off Annapolis waiting for clearance to go to Baltimore.
Coming up to and passing under the Bay Bridge.
Sandy Point Light with scaffolding for renovations.
The scene by or anchorage in the Magothy.
A beautiful full moon rising.
Wednesday into Baltimore. The winds from the night before continued to blow and we were able to sail part of the way but as we got up the Patapsco the wind died and we motored under the Francis Scott Key Bridge and past Fort McHenry and into our slip.
Sailing up the Patapsco.
What's left of Sparrow's Point.
Fort Carroll. A civil war protection for the port of Baltimore.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The little marker in front of the ship marks the spot where the ship carrying Francis Scott Key was anchored when he wrote the Star Spangled Banner.
Fort McHenry and the Star Spangled Banner.
We checked into the Anchorage Marina (kind of an oxymoron) for a week. We could have stayed in Galesville but we had several objectives in Baltimore. So we were able to get a weekly rate that would enable us to drive to Virginia for follow-up medical appointments, meet up with some HHSA friends Friday and Saturday and drive to PA to meet with friends Hayden and Radeen Cochran to discuss winter plans.
Enjoying happy hour at the Boathouse in Canton.
Views from near the top of the mast when I went up to affix the radar reflector (Pic below).
We took some time and visited the Baltimore Museum of Art after which we had lunch at a little place called "the Diz" where they had memorabilia on the walls.
The view inside the cockpit after my first work on the sunshade.
The marina is conveniently located to a Safeway where we can provision, a West Marine for a few supplies we need and plenty of great restaurants and bars.
But of course there was work to do. In the steamy heat of Friday morning I ascended the mast again but this time to attach the radar reflector. I had hung it twice before on a flag halyard and both times it broke the line. This time I affixed it to a shroud with a wire clamp underneath it to which it was connected with seizing wire. I tied shut all the ends with wire and then connected it with wire to another shroud to avoid any spinning. Now it should stay in place even though I really doubt the need for a radar reflector on a boat of our size.
As always there was other maintenance things to do. I finally put some grommets in the sunshade cloth we bought and hung it around the cockpit. Makes a huge difference. But, I need to redo it by doubling over the material to make a hem to give the grommets added strength. Another project I need to finish is to clean the contacts on the leads to the tachometer.
But for now we're ready to discuss what's next and plan. But for right now we're enjoying Baltimore and traveling to meet our friends. So our next report will be on our future plans.
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