August 25-August 30 Baltimore, Maryland
As we
began our cruise to Baltimore, the weather was cooperating beautifully. We had a calm sea with light wind, sunshine,
cool weather, and blue skies. We had
spoken to our friend, Brian McDermott at Henderson’s Wharf Marina in Baltimore
and he had assured us the boat would be cared for while we returned to Texas.
After
several hours of cruising, the weather began to change. The wind became heavier and the sky began to
darken. The radio indicated a squall was
on the way and we were soon in the midst of pouring rain. We expected it to move on quickly but it
seemed to follow us as we entered the Patapsco River heading toward
Baltimore. The rain finally slackened as
we neared the huge Francis Scott Key Bridge spanning the river and by the time
we reached our marina, it was light enough that we could easily dock. The hours of intensive rain had given our
boat the good washing it needed. All the
resilient grime had been removed from the hull and the entire boat was cleaner
than it had been since we left Maine.
Henderson’s
Wharf Marina is located in the historic Fells Point neighborhood of
Baltimore. Many of the streets are cobblestoned
and the area boasts more than 100 restaurants.
We could easily walk to the main streets and enjoy the vibrant
ambiance. Many lovely little shops are
scattered among the restaurants, taverns, inns, and condominiums.
The
following morning, David wanted to explore the area and find a restaurant he
had seen featured on Drive-ins, Diners
and Dives, a popular Food Network show.
Using his computer, he learned it was within easy walking distance of
the marina. With a bright blue façade,
the Blue Moon Café stands out from
the more traditional buildings surrounding it.
Serving only breakfast and closing at 3:00 PM, the café is a popular
local dining experience. The interior is
small with scarcely space for about fifteen tables and a small bar.
After a
short wait, we were seated at a small table near the window. Our waitress was an Ann Hathaway look-alike,
tall, slender, with a beautiful complexion. This girl also had fuchsia hair and
multiple tattoos. She was charming,
efficient, with a lovely smile which completely destroyed her tough-girl image.
The menu
was expansive and high in calories. I
ordered Crunchy French Toast which was beautifully presented with a three slice
tier each garnished with a different fruit.
Cinnamon-flavored whipping cream was artfully placed on the side. It was outstanding! Diners around us seemed to be enjoying a
similar experience with generous plates of eggs, breakfast meats, corned beef,
waffles, pancakes, etc. All the plates
looked as if they could have been photographed for Bon Appetit magazine.
Except
for one other dining experience at a wine bar near the marina and a brief trip
on the bus to the closest Walgreen’s Pharmacy
for a medicine refill, we spent the remainder of the time on the boat. David had work to do and I had boat projects
to finish. In the evenings, we were
usually watching the Republican Convention activities. Unfortunately, David’s
left knee was giving him considerable pain and his mobility was very
limited. It was probably a good thing we
were going home early so he could see our doctor in Fort Worth. With only a brief respite, David had been in
constant pain since May 12 when he broke his leg. Despite all the discomfort, he had persevered
and we had been able to enjoy the boat and make the journey we had planned.
