Summer Life in Baltimore

Sep 5 thru Sep 9

—Blogpost written by Bob

Wednesday, September 5

Our summer life in Baltimore doesn't provide much in the way of interesting photography.  During a trip to Annapolis earlier today, I snapped the following photo using my iPhone.

Something fishy?

I don't even know what kind of fish they are but all those eyes and the bright colors provided a lot of interest for me.  I just had to snap this picture.  In a way, it (a picture of dead fish) is kind of morbid but in another way it is beautiful.


We did some much needed grocery shopping today, including picking up some fish (cajun catfish) at the Annapolis Seafood Market on Forest Drive (where I took the above photo).

When we got back to the marina in Baltimore, we made a number of frustrating telephone calls to the insurance company (Allstate) that is supposed to be paying for our car's damage.  We've had a number of promises for return calls that have failed to materialize--so, we had to call the supervisor and demand action.  (I have very little patience for people who fail to do the things they promise to do.)  We decided to move our car to Annapolis for repairs on Monday, September 10--I intend to drive the car there if at all possible. 

Thursday, September 6

A lot of today was spent coordinating the car repairs and dealing with the insurance company.  We finally got the rental car payments directed to the insurance company and we were advised, after the evaluation) that our car can be repaired--it will soon be towed to our Toyota dealer in Annapolis for repairs.  

This car accident has caused me to rethink taking our car to New Bern for the winter.  It hardly seems worth a plane ticket ($100 or so) to fly back to Baltimore and pick up our car and then returning it the same way for only 4 months in New Bern.  We can use rented bikes to get around and a rental car when we absolutely need a car.

Friday, September 7

Today was Maggie’s birthday. The day was overcast and cooler than it has been lately. We’re celebrating Maggie’s birthday by going to Cantler’s (a crab house) in Annapolis this evening.  So, while it was relatively cool I decided to start refinishing the corners of our cockpit table that were damaged by exposure to sunlight. (Maggie has recently added flaps to the cockpit table cover that protects these two corners from UV exposure.)

One of the two table corners
with UV damage.

I started out by sanding the corners with 180-grit sandpaper, cleaning with paint thinner, and then applying a coat of (Epifanes) gloss varnish to the sanded areas.  Over the next couple days, many more coats will be applied, with the associated sanding between coats with progressively finer sandpaper.

Saturday, September 8

We had a light breakfast at the Boater’s Lounge here at the marina—it was followed by a marina-wide meeting discussing the upcoming pier renovations which start on November 1. We have to completely clean out our dock box by October 2 and have our boat out of the marina (for the winter) by October 19.  Consequently, I revised our travel plan so the we leave Baltimore on Thursday, October 18, a couple days sooner than I had previously planned.

----------

2018 Fall/Winter Travel Plan:

Thurs, Oct 18: Baltimore to Annapolis - 28 miles, mooring

Fri, Oct 19: Stay over day in Annapolis, mooring

Sat, Oct 20: Annapolis to St. Michaels - 25 miles, anchor

Sun, Oct 21: Stay over day in St. Michaels, anchor

Mon, Oct 22: St. Michaels to Oxford - 30 miles, anchor

Tues, Oct 23: Stay over day in Oxford, anchor

Wed, Oct 24: Oxford to Solomon’s, anchor

Thurs, Oct 25: Solomons to Chrisfield, marina

Fri, Oct 26: Chrisfield to Onancock, marina

Sat, Oct 27: Stay over day in Onancock, marina

Sun, Oct 28: Onancock to Cape Charles

Mon, Oct 29: Stay over day in Cape Charles

Tues, Oct 30: Cape Charles to Norfolk - 32 miles

Wed, Oct 31: Stay over day in Norfolk

Thurs, Nov 1: Norfolk to Great Bridge (MM 1 to MM 12) - 12 miles

Fri, Nov 2: Great Bridge to Coinjock (MM 12 to MM 50) - 38 miles

Sat, Nov 3: Coinjock to Little Alligator R (MM 50 to MM 82) - 32 miles

Sun, Nov 4: Little Alligator R to Alligator R (MM 82 to MM 105) - 23 miles

Mon, Nov 5: Alligator R to Pungo Creek (MM 105 to MM 136) - 31 miles

Tues, Nov 6: Pungo Creek to Bay R (MM 136 to MM 161) - 25 miles

Wed, Nov 7: Bay R to Oriental (MM 161 to MM 182) - 22 miles

Thurs, Nov 8: Oriental to New Bern - 26 miles

We have greatly reduced the planned mileage for each day from the last two winter seasons.  This is a deliberate attempt to take it easier, spending only half days in travel time.

----------

It was overcast and drizzling most of the day. I managed to fit in another coat of varnish (the second) on the corners of the cockpit table, the first coat of CETOL on the companionway frame, as well as re-bedding the stainless steel guard (using Butyl tape) for the fireplace stack.

----------

I still have concerns about spending this winter in New Bern NC. First, there will be cold weather to deal with in North Carolina.  Second, I am feeling my mortality and considering that we have a limited number of winters to spend in the Bahamas. Third, I may be bored there.  We'll see how it goes...

Sunday, September 9

It rained lightly all day. We got up late (9:30 AM) and dodged rain drops to get to the showers. I can’t continue any of my outdoor projects today—it is simply too wet. The pattering sound of the rain drops on the cabin top is very comforting as I sit here in the navigation station writing this blogpost on my iPad.

A view looking out over the marina
on this rainy day.

Thanks for following our blog!