“Written in Sand at Low Tide” a familiar saying amongst cruisers whenever the subject of Cruising Plans is discussed. Obviously being able to go where you want whenever you want is generally not something many of us are able to do all the time. When it comes to full-time cruising however, this becomes an everyday part of life and a primary cruising consideration. In no order of importance; crew health, boat readiness, current and future location “fun factor” and weather weigh heavily in our cruising plan development. It didn’t take long in our early cruising before we realized how true and primary this saying would become. Today finds us high-centered in Baltimore and while not part of our cruising plan it is every bit enjoyable cruising.

We are in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Marina, waiting on weather. With the potential convergence of Hurricanes Idalia and Franklin, Rich, our weather router agreed that staying in Baltimore is a good idea until the sea states further north are more favorable.  Local weather messages like “Life threatening surf and rip currents are occurring along the coast of the southeast U.S., these conditions are expected to spread northward along the remainder of the U.S. east coast, Atlantic Canada later today and into Wednesday.”  And that’s exactly where we are headed! 

We have a beautiful view of the harbor. Baltimore is alive with happenings; Maryland Science Center, National Aquarium, historic warships and sailing vessels. The Urban Pirate ship, Pride of Baltimore schooner, Coast Guard boats, Catherine Marie, Baltimore Water Taxi, Chessie dragon paddle boats and of course recreational boaters, SUPs, kayaks and tenders are a constant on the waterfront.  Baltimore the ‘Charm City’ and the many neighborhoods are fun to explore.

Baltimore skyline from Orenda

Baltimore Dragon Rowing Club and the Harbor Trash Skimmer

Three years ago last month, we moved onto Orenda and have been exploring the East Coast since. The furthest south we have been are the Crooked Islands in the Bahamas below the Tropic of Cancer. Furthest west, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, FL. and the furthest north Sag Harbor in Long Island Sound, NY.  Last year we were headed to Maine, but a lightning strike on a boat next to us fouled that plan mid-summer. This year, we hope to head to Maine again as soon as the weather is favorable. Back to Baltimore…. A great place to get high centered with lots of things to do, easy access to the airport, beautiful location for catching up on boat maintenance after a winter in the Bahamas, and now, family! My niece Molly and her wife Casey moved here last month from Seattle. Both are recent PhD graduates from the University of Washington; Molly is a Associate Professor working for the University of Maryland and Casey is looking for her fabulous, make her famous, position in Biomechanics Engineering.   

Casey and Molly at the University of Baltimore, Baltimore Campus

Our ‘CIGUATERA adventure’ in April slowed us down some (more than some for me) but we had the pleasure of having Bob and Debbie back on board Orenda before we left the Bahamas which encouraged our recovery some.  We picked them up in Georgetown mid-May and explored Georgetown and Stocking Island, swam the Thunderball Grotto – the James Bond Cave at Staniel Cay, enjoyed the secluded anchorage of Green Cay until they got their ‘sea legs,’ then cruised back to the U.S. across Cal Sal Bank and the Gulf Stream to Key West, FL.  It was a two-overnighter cruise and the route took us just a little north of Cuba.  

Stocking Island, Chat ‘N’ Chill Bar and Grill and feeding the sea rays my toes!

The turtles in Hoopers Bay

Thunderball Grotto; 1965 James Bond film with Sean Connery

Green Cay anchorage; weighing anchor after 70 days ‘on the hook’

Bob and Debbie had never been to Key West, so we explored historic downtown and Duval Street. It was a quick visit before we headed to Palm Beach and then a (weather influenced) over-night run to Brunswick, GA.  Early one morning, Bob and I at the helm, had to manually steer around two-hundred-million fishing boats, not really, but a lot of them.  We eventually returned to autopilot and the autopilot returned to the route pretty darn quick (quicker than we thought possible!), generating a few hand signals and words we couldn’t quite hear from the fishermen! Evidently they thought we were a little too close for the fishing lines they had in the water. Sorry, sorry and we both swore to secrecy.

Green Parrot bar Key West

Key West Tipsy Rooster and the famous Southern-Most Point Buoy

Overnight cruises can be tiring! Daytime Scott’s at the helm; I’m the one with the eye-bags! LOL

Brunswick Landing Marina. We enjoyed a car trip to Daytona.

Matted Ox Axe Throwing in Brunswick. Very fun!

Bye Bob and Debbie, wonderful friends! Until next time, thank you!!

We flew home to Washington state in June to attend Molly and Casey’s wedding, and also doctor and dentist appointments and to visit neighbors, friends and family!!! It was a busy time but we were able to slip in a quick visit with Alison and Kevin who are living in Seattle’s Capitol Hill temporarily.  So fun to catch up! They sure miss Red Rover and we miss cruising with them.

The family! Eileen, Russ, Mayzee, Billie and Hadley front, center and horizontal!

Mayzee on the last day of the 22-23 school year! Well done!

Hadley on his BMX and our favorite place!

Wedding preparations. Canopies can be tricky. Julie is reading the directions.

Marriage Officiant and Flower girl! (My sister Julie and her granddaughter Sage.)

A walk down the “aisle” Molly (Tony and Julie) and Casey (Mamie and Shin).

More wedding fun. Billie, Eileen and Jon and Scott and Russ enjoying a fire.

Scott had breakfast with dear, long-time friends. Push, Bob, Larry and Paul.

Together again! Red Rover crew Alison and Kevin in Capital Hill, WA.

A wonderful surprise when we returned to Brunswick! Alliance crew, Rochelle and Jason were docked in Brunswick Landing Marina and we had fun catching up.

So happy to see Jason and Rochelle on Alliance. Still drinking NA beer.

We had a couple of blowing, sideways, crazy rain thunderstorms in Brunswick, GA

Early-July we headed north on an approximately 700 nautical mile journey to the Chesapeake Bay. One overnight and then many stops along the way including Hilton Head, SC, Norfolk, VA, Piankatank River and Solomon, MD and lastly anchoring in Annapolis, MD. Pleasant seas and dodged rain/thunderstorms along the way.

Annapolis is very cool and worthy of a return visit! Lots going on in the harbor and town. We radioed the harbor taxi to catch a ride to the town dock and back. The harbor with all the sailing schools, sailing races and boats anchored all around us was entertaining. Orenda seemed to be an obstacle (or target!) for the kids so they sailed their little rigs kind of close. Big grins!! We visited the Annapolis Naval Academy, a must see!  We received a call from my brother Joe. Hi we said, we are in Annapolis. I know he said, lets have dinner! Joe was on business in Baltimore and drove down with a co-worker for an early dinner.

Annapolis Navel Academy founded in 1845; Dahlgreen Hall

Noon Meal formation in Tecumseh Court, Bancroft Hall. All present and accounted for!!

Porter Road, Captain’s row and the dedication plaque in Memorial Hall

Annapolis Harbor; very busy and fun.

Junior sailors showing off their skills!

And here we are in Baltimore. On July 21, three months since we contracted the fish neurotoxin, we considered having a beer, strongly considered. Scott and I were sitting at the Crossbar Der Biergarten in Federal Hill. I thought I’d ask my family, we have a family messenger chat, what they thought about me trying alcohol again. Eileen, our daughter created a poll and after a few yays and nays, well……..see below! We eventually decided to continue with NA beer, the risk too great for the reward.

While we are anxious to get moving north, we enjoy Baltimore. Eileen visited for almost a week. She was attending a conference in DC and took the Amtrak to the Baltimore Station when she was done (6 bucks and 35 minutes – a deal).  We went to the National Aquarium, Baltimore Ghost Tour in Fells Point, the Science Center and ate ice cream for lunch.  She was here for my birthday and my sister Julie surprised me by driving in from Athens, OH for the celebration.  We had a great weekend together!

Eileen, one member of my ice cream team!

Fells Point Ghost tour. This is Ashley, our ghostly host.

Fell Family Cemetery, 1614 and the haunted historic tavern; Edgar Allan Poe’s last beer, reportedly.

National Aquarium

Birthday celebration! Thank you!! Thank you!!

Double layer, homemade chocolate cake. Iced and decorated like our mom did.

The weekend following the birthday celebration, Molly texted and asked us if we would like to ride with her and Casey to Pittsburgh, PA the following day. They were attending the Summer Carnival Pink Concert at the PNC Park with Julie, staying at our sister Robin’s house. Well, okay!! So we bought tickets last minute. It was a fantastic concert, Pink and Brandi Carlile! Fun times with my sisters also!

Pink performs acrobatics!

As mentioned, we have done lots of work and maintenance on the boat since our Bahama winter. We installed a new Torrid 40-gal Marine water heater (with Bob’s help, a big thank you!). The water heater was a couple of inches too wide to get through the stateroom doors (of course) so we (Bob and Scott) carried it up to the pilothouse and back down, then lowered it into the basement.  Super humans, LOL.

Torrid Marine Water Heater; delivered by a semi, 110-lbs

Up the pilothouse stairs, down the pilothouse stairs, then lowered into the basement for install.

Lots of products ready for use

We cleaned the teak decks. We used a two-part product called Snappy Teak-Nu.  First, we spray the decks off with water, mostly to remove the surface dirt. The decks need to remain wet during the process. Then apply an acid cleaner (Formula No. 1), followed by a neutralizer (Formula No. 2).  Later, we used DITEC Triton 2.0 Tech Protector to seal the decks. The decks look so nice, a beautiful shade of tan. We treated the cap rail on the cockpit as well as the swim deck with SEMCO Teak Sealer.  Scott re-caulked the cap rail and the finished product looks so nice!  I cleaned the shore power cord one afternoon. Yep, the shore power cord gets pretty grimy. I used Boat Cleaner Pro. The can states “Cleans like a Dream.”  I destroyed 3 pairs of nitrile gloves, a few rags and listened to half an audiobook. In the end the cord looked almost brand-new! Scott has changed all the fluids on the mechanical systems and cleaned the water system strainers.  We have the ‘sweetest’ spot cleaner for the carpets. It works really well for small stains, but every so often, the entire carpet becomes a “stain” and, on hands and knees, the small carpet cleaner and I cleaned the salon and pilothouse carpets.  It takes a while but I was pleased with the results!

Application of Formula 1 and DITEC Triton 2.0 Tech Protector applications

Cockpit railing and swim deck; SEMCO Teak Sealer

So, post Ciguatera, we have gained back our strength and appetites and I have developed a craving for ice cream!  We are still staying away from fish, caffeine and alcohol. We have been super pleased with the variety of NA beers available at breweries, liquor stores and restaurants. Yesterday we visited a newly opened store called Hopscotch which only carries zero alcohol beers, cocktails, wines and liquors! A super selection so we have been stocking up for travel.  NA beer is just pretty darn good!  My sister Robin claims our livers must be having a party! LOL! Catch you in Maine next, fingers-crossed.

Jalapeno Margaritas! Scott’s specialty. Pretty tasty actually.

RIP Jimmy…..”I have found me home, I have found me some peace”….. Bless you my fellow cruiser.