September 17-18                       Baltimore, Maryland

It is a nine hour cruise from Cape May to Henderson Wharf Marina in Baltimore.  We could not miss breakfast at the new marina café so we arose early and were inside shortly after seven.  The food was delicious, the service excellent, and the nautical theme of the place was well done.  By eight we were ready to go.  David exited expertly from our tight dockage space and maneuvered through the crowded harbor to the entrance of the Cape May Canal.  Dredging had improved the depths here and we did not have to be concerned by possible grounding (as long as one stays within the channel limits).  Lovely homes, lush lawns, and new riprap along the shoreline added to the scenery as we neared the entrance to Delaware Bay.

The bay is noted for treacherous winds, high waves, and dangerous shoals.  We carefully checked the weather forecast before departing Cape May and were assured we would have light winds and smooth seas.  As predicted, weather was not a problem.  Numerous sailboats were encountered, all under motor with furled sails.  Piloting in this area requires vigilance to avoid small craft, huge tankers, and shoal markers.

After approximately five hours, we passed the nuclear plant and reached the C & D Canal leading to Chesapeake Bay.  We encountered only recreational boats.  On a previous journey through this area, we were startled to see a monstrous cargo boat coming toward us.  Despite shallow water near the shore, we gave it a wide berth!

Chesapeake Bay is well marked and with our new binoculars, chosen by Dave who considered our others to be “junk,” we easily could discern placement and color of the buoys.  The channel into Baltimore was a familiar sight and as we passed beneath the impressive Frances Scott Key Bridge, spanning the Patapsco River, we could see the skyline of the city.

At Henderson Wharf Marina, we were docked in the same place next to Don, a local fisherman who lives in his boat.  He greeted us warmly as did Glenn Petersen, who had helped us do repairs in the past.  Later, we saw David from the office.  It was a great homecoming!  To celebrate, we cooked steaks on the grill and had dinner on the bridge, enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery.

To complete our molding project for the main stateroom, we needed additional supplies.  This meant a two mile walk to the nearest hardware store.  Midway, we saw a newly opened Mexican restaurant, La Tolteca. David had an immediate insatiable desire for enchiladas and we had to stop.  With a beautiful interior, the restaurant looked like it should have been in San Antonio.  The food was generous and delicious.  Definitely worth another visit!

We returned to the boat by Uber and resolved to work on the molding project the following day.  Tired from walking, we opted for naps. Later discussion questioned our choice of staying again in Baltimore.  David was ready to move southward to Norfolk or Portsmouth.  A call to Tidewater Marina in Portsmouth convinced him to move the boat there.  The question now was when—would we change our plans to go home on September 22 and go south or would we leave the boat in Baltimore and return to do so near the end of October.  We decided to go home as planned and return later.