Memory Lane

Beautiful downtown Port Deposit Md.
Made famous as the birthplace of Charis' Captain. ;-)

A super highlight of our idyllic summer last week as we drove about two hours north to celebrate Larry's 75 birthday in the environs of his youthful boating days at the head end of the Chesapeake Bay.

We stayed in an ancient and antique B&B two nights and toured Havre De Grace, Port Deposit and Perryville. Larry contacted several relatives still in the area and had a delightful visit with his cousin Lee Steinhilber who he had not seen in 60 years. Lee is 85 or so and was very close to Larry's father. He still has total recall of Larry's early years and many long forgotten moments were joyfully recalled. Joan had a voice recorder so the visit is saved for posterity.

Larry also met several old timers who knew his father and all of the hunting and fishing lore of early 1900's. Joan delighted in the architecture and charm of the old towns and the quaintness of the natives. All in all, perhaps Larry's most memorable birthday

After returning to the boat Friday we headed out Saturday evening with our friends Laura and Jason to an obscure fall festival at St Clements, a small town nearby on the Potomac, expecting to see a few fireworks and the usual array of hot dogs and funnel cakes. To our surprise and joy there were all kinds of tasty seafood which we ate and possibly the most beautiful fireworks display we have ever seen this side of Taiwan.

Monday we ventured away from the dock to Broomes Island and Mill Creek for two nights at anchor. What a joy. Mill Creek was our favorite anchorage 30 years ago and we were thrilled to find it had changed very little. Even found the crab cakes at Clarke's Landing, a bar and honky tonk back then, to be as good as remembered.

Plans continue on track to lay the boat up on 1 Nov and be home a week or so later.

Pictures at Birthdays and Memories Picasaweb.google.com/lropka