Today's Pics

Are late...

We were about to pull into Deltaville and Dozier's Marina as we always do when a fellow who'd been following us since we left Solomons called to let us know he was about to slowly overtake us to head to an anchorage. I asked where he was going and he said Fishers Bay.
So we followed him in... what a nice anchorage. Not too deep and comfortably wide so we dropped a hook. Actually there was a little more drama than that, but it was technical and all worked out well.

The sunset offered up a few photos and we've found, yet another, nice place to hang out on the Bay.

It was a memorable end to a relatively short run... who knows... we may stay for a couple of days.
I think we're feeling like dragging our feet... Not ready for the long slog down the waterway and home.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pics

Boats on the Bay

Trawler Fest in Baltimore is happening this weekend and Krogen is making a big show of it.
Solomons has turned into Krogen Central.

Pretty boats.

Tapestry

Our steering issues have been resolved, but we decided to stick around for the weekend.
Friday, we had dinner with Don, Spring Cove's service manager, and his wife Linda, along with our friends John and Monica.
Chilled yesterday while cooking a roast in the crock pot and watching the Georgia/LSU game and today's NFL.
We'll try that departure thing again tomorrow. Not sure where yet, but it's all coming to a close for the Bay.
Kinda sad, it's been fun.

Adios,

Istaboa

The LAPD, The FBI and The CIA

 Ha!

 

The LAPD, The FBI and The CIA

The LAPD, The FBI, and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at apprehending criminals. The President decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it.

The CIA goes in. They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist.

The FBI goes in. After two weeks with no leads they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the rabbit, and they make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming.

The LAPD goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten bear. The bear is yelling: "Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!'

Today's Pic

Another door...

In Baltimore... it's hard to tell from this pic, but it's the skinniest door I've ever seen. It's in an old historically protected part of town so there's no telling how long it's been there. It's about 2' wide.

Dolphin Rescue

A friend sent this to us and I thought we'd pass it along.

Thanks, Marv.



Happy Friday, Everybody

Today's Pic

Boats on the Bay

Well... Red skies at morn?

I guess we were warned.

We told our friends at Solomons Island Yacht Club goodbye last night. Wednesday night is All You Can Eat Crab Legs Night and it seemed like a fitting event for an Adios Dinner.
Everyone told us to come back anytime and we promised we would.
We do like the Yacht Club a lot and it's on our short list of places to return to.

Leaving the harbor this morning, as usual, I used my thrusters to get away from the dock. I stepped back into the pilothouse and grabbed the wheel to steer toward the channel... It felt peculiar... like the autopilot was engaged. The wheel would turn the rudder, but it felt different than usual; no resistance at all.
I engaged the autopilot and used it to steer out to the bay.

Well...

Long story short, we blew a seal in the steering system. I could still maneuver using the autopilot, but had no manual steering.
It could easily have been a TowBoatUS day... but we managed.

So, we've returned to Solomons sooner than we'd anticipated.

Now we're tied up at Spring Cove and via a friend of a friend, we're already being repaired. John called Don and Chaz is pulling the pump as I'm posting this.
That's how Solomons works.
It's good to have friends.

All in all, it could be worse... if we have to be stuck somewhere, we're very happy it's here.
Plus, I was up early enough to take in this beautiful sunrise.

Thanks for checkin' on us.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

So today... we're leaving Solomons. It's been a very calming experience. Nice folks and a nice place to hang out for a week... again.

The harbor as the sun calls it a day.

Not sure where today will take us.

Adios, Solomons Island

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

Today's Pics

Boats on the Bay

USCG Eagle

Our friend, Karen from FLL, emailed and asked if we had seen her... she said she had just watched a special about the Eagle.

Here ya go, Karen

Walkabout... Solomons Island

I like doors. Especially old funky ones that look as if they won't open.

The weather's been beautiful and the folks around here are very cool. It's all about boats around here.
We've made friends with folks who live next to the Yacht Club where were staying. They've got a great house, overlooking the harbor, and a fenced in courtyard with grill and a fireplace. We had cocktails last night with a fire. They also have a little Havanese, Gus. The boys are lovin' hangin' out with Gus and the freedom that John's and Monica's courtyard has allowed them.

A few doors down is a freaky little antique shop. I guess that's what you would call it. Lots of crazy stuff. Even found an old Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge LP that's in really good shape.

Like I said... some crazy stuff.

Lots of events going on yesterday... The Watermen's Boat Parking Races (yes, that's what I said.) was a big deal. (pics later)
After wandering around snapping pics we ended up on 'Bittersweet'. Yet, some more new friend's sailboat for an impromptu concert that included a guitar, a banjo, and a Cockatoo. (I don't make this stuff up.)

See?

So... Solomons has been a trip... and we're not done yet.

Thanks for checkin' in.

Cheers,


Istaboa

Today's Pic

Boats on the Bay

Today's Pic

Full Moon Over Solomons... Time exposure

That's Interesting

Today's Pic

Boats on the Bay.

Runabout

Rewind a couple of days...

Before leaving St. Michaels, Steve and I took his new boat, 'Lady Jayne' for a run up the Miles River, across Eastern Bay, and into Kent Narrows. Steve had some tackle rigged for Rock fishing and we picked up one of his buddies then had lunch at Redyes; a bar/restaurant on the water.

This little route of maybe 15 miles took only a few minutes. Steve's new boat is quite fast.

After lunch, we made a side trip up the Wye River where Steve pointed out Chef Boyardee's old compound. Further up the river we saw, the former Baltimore Ravens coach, Brian Billick's home.
All along the way were beautiful eastern shore estates.

It was a fun day.

Great Boat!

Happy Friday, everybody.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

Was taken last night.
I wasn't ready for this sight and had to run back to the boat to get the camera and snap off a shot or two. Needed more preparation and time to set up... but, it didn't turn out too bad.

Solomons Moon

We're Number One... Finally!

This will not interest most folks who keep up with us, but, Damn!, we're finally number one at something positive, something we're not ashamed of.
Go Grizz!!

The Memphis Grizzlies were named the best overall professional sports franchise among 122 teams in the four major North American professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) in ESPN The Magazine’s 2013 Ultimate Standings.

How bout dat!

So Long To St. Michaels

Last night was our "Adios Dinner" at Theo's in downtown St. Michaels.
A lot of fun, excellent food, and wonderful company sitting around the bar. Our kinda place.

We've really enjoyed our time here, our friends made this a most memorable stay.
Today, we'll move on to Solomons Island, we'll miss our old buddies... till next time.
I've told Jayne, next year... we're moving in with them.
Kidding of course.... Of course?

Adios mi amigos.

Adios,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

We got the grand tour...

Steve and Jayne drove us around and showed us their home and their home town. The weather is beautiful and this part of the world is too.
They took a modest house that's in town and transformed it into a very cool home. Their view of the harbor is framed by an isolated and protected natural patch of wetland, this is the scene from their bedroom windows.
Beautiful!


First was a tour of the historic Inn at Perry Cabin

The Inn at Perry Cabin

It's quite large and took two photographs to take it all in. Remember the movie 'Wedding Crashers'? It was filmed here.

 History of The Inn at Perry Cabin

Over the fireplace

Look closely at the details... a lot of nautical history combined

 The main dining room.

Old gallon oyster tins lined the ceiling of the old bar.

All in the details

That's how our day started and it was followed by a drive to historic Oxford and Easton for lunch.
It was so nice of Steve and Jayne to go out of their way to show us the area. This has been a top stop on our Chesapeake journey.
St Michaels is a wonderful old eastern shore town.

We're not done yet...

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pics

As we sat in our saloon yesterday... something blocked the sun.
I turned to look out the window behind us and saw this yacht pulling in. 140'

They brought in guests for lunch at the Crab House. After a couple of hours they backed away and left.

They were immediately replaced by this yacht.

Big boats for such a little harbor.

This got us to thinkin' about crabs....
Steve and Jayne picked us up and we also enjoyed crabs at the Crab House.

Got to meet a lot of locals... nice bunch of folks here in St Michaels.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

We love dogs pics and we love elephant pics...

An elephant with a dog pic? Priceless.

More here

Big City To Little Town

Out of Baltimore...

And into St Michaels...

It was a beautiful day and a nice run to St Mikes, though a busy day on the Bay. We forgot that Sunday is a day to move for most boaters.

The Baltimore Ravens first home game drew a lot of boats into the city and the Downtown marina was the place to be; the place we were leaving. We even saw the Ravens owner's yacht ease by, appropriately named, 'Winning Drive'.

Not to mention it was a great day for sailing... so after being rolled around by the speedy power boats who were heading to the game, we had to thread our way through miles and miles of sailboats who all demand their right of way and seem to seek it out.

But, all in all, we easily made it into the Miles River and St. Michaels Harbor.

We immediately called old friends, Steve and Jayne, whom we once wintered with at Sunset Bay in Stuart, Fl; they were nice enough to come by and take us to dinner.
Radar was so surprised and happy to see Jayne, the treat lady, as she and Steve were walking down the dock.
Steve and Jane knew us well enough to presume we would enjoy some local fare vs. the tourist stuff so they took us to one of their favorite spots, a little place called Gina's.
It's a hip little cantina where we ate outside and enjoyed the perfect weather...  the fish tacos and Margaritas were excellent, the company was better.

Pic from: The Chesapeake Journal

Best of all, it was a blast catchin' up with old friends and these old friends are really fun. We've been promising to come visit for a few years and finally, we have.

Sunrise at St. Michaels Harbour.

So here we are in St Micaels, MD, tied up at the Harbour Inn Marina. 

It looks like it could rain a bit today... we love rainy daze.

And check out this forecast... 

 Fall is falling.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Baltimore: Parting Shots

Baltimore was interesting... Big City!

I wandered around yesterday with cam in hand and caught some nice pics.

Living Classrooms is a project to give inner-city kids hands-on training; sailing, boat building, and other things that will teach the skills needed in a port city.

It was a beautiful day so I kept walking.

A nice day to take your puppy out for a stroll and lunch.

A nice day to do a little urban fishing ... guess these young fellows had to share a rod and reel.

 Checked out this record shop in Fells Point.. They had some great vinyl records, but there's no need for that on the boat so I just looked. They had a really good Memphis section.

And, of course... it wouldn't be a walk in the big city with out some real street color.
This lady asked for money for food... I gave her 5 bucks and said, "Eat it, drink it, or smoke it, I don't care, but I want a picture" — she happily consented, smiled, then said in a sincere voice... "You're a nice man. Thanks. I could use a drink."
We both laughed.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

Apple Core? Baltimore! Who's Your Friend?

 Pete!


After a month, we've finally bid farewell to Annapolis and arrived in Baltimore's Inner Harbor... Downtown and everything that goes with it.

Our buddy Pete lives on the 24th floor of a building that overlooks the harbor, he got some great shots of us coming in.

Pete walked over and we all had lunch just a short walk round the harbor.
We can tell we're going to enjoy our stay in the big city; the weather's forecast to be low 70s tomorrow and sunny... it should remain this way for the foreseeable future.
Oh yeah, we've heard from our friends aboard 'Santa Clara', folks we met in Savannah on the way up, they'll be here in a few days... so it should a fun stay before we turn to head back down the bay.

Thanks for the photographs, Peter.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pics

NSS Annapolis, officially known as Naval Communications Station Washington, D.C. Transmitter or NavCommStaWashingtonDC(T)

Yep... even these towers are historic.