Back to the Boat and up the Chesapeake to Baltimore

June 2 Through June 21, 2023 (Click on the images to see and scroll them in full size)

June 2 We left home, and started the 1,000 mile drive back to Patriot. One overnight stay at Red Roof Inn and we arrived back on the boat. Unfortunately, our planned departure on Sunday fell through due to weather and small craft warnings. Sunday, we worked on the boat, topped off water and pumped out our waste tank, getting ready to leave.

Monday, June 5 we waved goodbye to Chesapeake Yacht Basin and locked through our last lock until we get on the Erie Canal. Unfortunately, the train bridge we needed to open was broken, but after about a 1 hour delay got through and arrived at Riverwalk Landing Pier. We walked Yorktown, visited their Revolutionary War museum and were passed by the destroyer USS Stout. Tuesday, we took the free trolley to Yorktown battlefield, toured the battlefield museum, and I found our grandson an awesome pirate ship kite.

In Deltaville VA, I found my road! Neptune Avenue (Neptune is my road name with the Guardian's of the Children Belle City) We walked to a quick shop for a few supplies and headed back to the boat. The next day, we stopped at Tangier Island, a very small fishing village where we walked around and ate at the local cafe. We are starting to notice haze from Canadian wildfires and found lots of cats, cemeteries in people's yards. It was a VERY rustic marina with very short piers, making it hard to get on and off the boats.

June 9 we headed to Chrisfield MA walked around town, checked out gift stores, and I had my first and last soft shell crab sandwich. It looked like 2 of the aliens from the movie on a bun. The next day we had a smooth across the bay to the Potomac River and anchored near St Mary's College. Unfortunately it was alumni weekend and very crowded. We walked the campus ate on boat. One more stop on our way to Washington DC, Belvedere beach and then on to our Nation's capital.

June 12 arrived at the Capital Yacht Marina at 12:30, in the afternoon took the free shuttle to the National Mall and we toured Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

We bought tickets for the Big Bus, to extend our reach the next day. We visited the Washington Monument, the Lincoln memorial, the Vietnam memorial, the WW II memorial, the Korean Memorial and took the bus to Arlington Cemetery where we visited The Kennedy family grave site, saw the eternal flame and the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That night we walked the Warf shops, and watched Night at the Museum with our friends Glenn and Carol

Our last day in DC, we visited the Jefferson memorial and then on to Museum of American History. After that, Glenn and I went to Air and Space, and Chris and Carol went to botanical gardens. That evening we went Restaurant hopping to of 4 restaurants and 4 courses!

Thursday, we headed back down the Potomac River and anchored back at Belvedere Beach. The next night we stopped for fuel and overnight at Point Lookout Marina, which was a very nice, small marina. I washed and waxed Patriot which she sorely needed and Glenn and I fixed the hot water issue (We only had HOT water and no cold water. After removing the check valve at the hot water heater and de-calcifying it I reassembled it and now we have hot AND cold running water. That evening, we saw lots of jelly fish at the pier and a few swimming crabs

June 17 we left the Potomac and stayed at Harrington Harbor South, a very nice marina, with lifeguards at pool. The next day we took the courtesy shuttle to grocery store, stocked up on groceries and celebrated father's day with an awesome dinner at a restaurant near the marina. I also got calls from both of my sons and I talked to Nick and Luke. Finally, we played cards and Dominoes with Carol and Glenn in the afternoon.

Monday night we crossed the bay again and anchored at St Michael's where Glenn and I visited Chesapeake Maritime Museum and Chris and Carol went shopping, after which I suffered a catastrophic ice cream down event which prevented me from trying the local creamery apple pie ice cream on a waffle cone.

June 20 we had planned to cross to Annapolis, but a rough weather forecast for tomorrow encouraged us to skip a mooring ball in Annapolis, and go direct to Baltimore where we stayed in the middle of downtown, and ate at Mediterranean restaurant for dinner. The next day, we visited the Museum of Science and we were able to tour the warship, USS Constellation, which is docked in downtown Baltimore. She was completely restored in 1990 and was an awesome tour.

Tomorrow, June 22 after taking care of laundry, pump outs and topping off our water and fuel we will leave the Chesapeake Bay behind and head out to the Atlantic Ocean to make our way up to Atlantic City and New York.