Baltimore and beyond

Seeing is not believing! What looks like a substantial pirate ship is actually a number of inflatable dinghys lashed together and manned by a "happy" pirate crew.

Our second summer mini cruise was a delight as we began by motoring 6 hrs up the bay to Annapolis for several days of ambling around this beautiful little town and enjoying the never ending panoply of funny boat tricks in the harbor.

Onward then to Baltimore and a great visit with cruising friends Lynn and Wayne Flatt AKA "Capt Bones" Commander of a pirate ship that raids the harbor five times daily. We stayed at the Henderson Wharf Marina at Fells Point a stones throw from the Inner Harbor. We spent most of the second day exploring the "Inner Harbor" possibly the greatest transformation of a hughly depressed central urban area ever. Stunning hotels, shopping centers and other entertainment abound topped by the Aquarium. The sea life and aquatic displays are magnificently presented in a building that is a work of art in itself. We rode the water taxi around the harbor venues all day culminating in a visit to Fort McHenry. Standing beneath the flag pole where "Old Glory" was first flown and seeing/hearing the details of that occasion was a thrill.

Off then a few hours across the bay to Rock Hall, a once quaint fishing village now home to tons of home ported and visiting cruising boats. As luck would have it, we stumbled in on the major event of the year, the "Pirates and Ladies Weekend". Most of the town participates in decorating and sporting fancy pirate costumes. Visitors add to the scene with numerous pirate related events take place all weekend. Most fun was the pirate dinghy parade and race. About 40 dinghys of all types were dressed out in pirate garb and manned by crews who worked hard not to become thursty during the several hours in the hot noonday sun while boat registration and formation took place. Riding the trolly and our bikes around the old town was great fun as well as visiting with a great assortment of "characters".

Then a 3 hour run up the Chester River to Chestertown perhaps the most beautiful town on the Eastern Shore. Dating from the 1700's, the town surrounds Washington College the only school to bear George's name and one he visited regularly on his trips from points north to Washington. Many streets lined by ancient trees and well maintained old homes are a feast for the eyes.

After two delightful days anchored in the river, we headed back down to a "town" ... Queenstown at the mouth of the river and a few miles from Kent Island and the Narrows. Thinking we might taper off with an evening ashore in a quaint little place we dinghyed to the town after anchoring in an idealic nearby "creek". We climbed up onto the dock and then walked up a hill a short block or two to the "center of town" where a post office and a fire house were found. We asked a nice lady unloading groceries at a nearby home where we might get something to eat. She chuckled and said what we were seeing all of it. Guess there are smaller towns but we have yet to see one.

Finally a sleigh ride downwind on a 15k breeze, 6 hours to the Solomons and our home marina..
All in all a fun and easy two weeks with lots of sights and sounds and the best so far this summer.

As usual too many pictures at in album "Baltimore and beyond" at

picasaweb.google.com/lropka

Going Home

50 YEARS!!!! It was only yesterday that the wee small town of Libby, Montana was sending 60 youngsters out into the cold, cruel world to make their fortunes. Like bad pennies, many of us came back to our 50th reunion, maybe not with fortunes but fond memories of a time long past. It was fun to hear my classmates relate their impressions of each other tempered by a half century of life. It was especially engaging to hear the many tales of unrequited love throughout our school years. Amazing how long it takes for the truth to be known. I had no idea of the trail of broken hearts left behind. Especially delightful was time spent with my friend Marj. She has accomplished so much in her life and has made Libby proud.

While Larry stayed aboard CHARIS tending her lines, painting the bilge and reorganizing his stuff, I was toddling up and down the highway from Spokane to Libby to Seattle visiting family. Note: out West it is not highways, it is highway .... there is only one ;-)

It was wonderful to find Aunt Grace in fine fettle and once again enjoying life in her new digs overlooking Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. She has been such an inspiration to me over the years. Her daughter, Heidi has done a yomens job working through the many challenges of caring for her mother. Uncle Vince and Aunt JoAnne are still in good health and full of stories of the early Neils family culture. The time spent with my brothers and their families is always full of laughter and there is always a tale of adventure. The latest was nephew James hiking in the woods with his family, when he fell, broke his leg and had to be helicoptered out ... took 5 hours to get to him. My sister-in-law Rene and her family turned out for dinner in Edmonds. They are always so welcoming. Love sitting with Rene overlooking her garden of beautiful flowers, sipping a cup of tea and catching up with the families comings and goings.

Along the way, I stopped at many neat little towns, fruit stands and mom & pop breakfast spots while a patient husband kept track of my escapades and kept the money flowing.

Pictures can be found at picasaweb.google.com/lropka @ going home