good bye Philly....Hello CHICAGO...must admit that Chicago is my favorite big city to visit. Our train ride included a long layover so Floyd and I took the opportunity to visit the downtown water walk...dreaming of when we will return aboard the TUMBLEWEED at the end of August as we head to St Charles and the completion our loop...

Saturday dawned cool and cloudy...after a refrigerator clearing breakfast, we headed out to see what we could of the Philly skyline and found some treasures...Gene and David departed the boat. Floyd and I made preparations to leave the boat at Anchorage Marina while we go for a two week visit to Wichita.

Don't know if we started too early or just stayed too late....but those beers led to boys having some final fun....and managed a little mosquito repelling in the process...I had ice cream!!!!

Gene's son David joined us for a final hooray and TGIF event...Floyd's famous jerk chicken and beer. Friday nite on the aft deck could not have been more pleasant. David spent the night with us as we had a final cruise planned for Saturday morning.

Delaware City Marina sits in the old C and D canel...narrow...and flowing tidal currents...Captain was able to get us there...and their electrical guy figured out the switched wires that were causing our inverter problems...FINALLY got that right! Was a pleasant evening and the next morning we enjoyed watching the tiniest fiddler crabs scamper around...then off to Philly.

WOW...am I behind...???? sorry!!! We are home scurrying around to get things done before heading back to the boat...I have photos and things to write but can't seem to get camera, the computer and me in the same place long enough to get it all done....Hopefully, that will happen soon!!!!

WOW...am I behind...???? sorry!!! We are home scurrying around to get things done before heading back to the boat...I have photos and things to write but can't seem to get me and the computer in the same place

Wednesday morning we chatted for awhile with our new looper friends, made a stop for fuel and a pump out, and headed toward Delaware City...a nine-hour ride on a cloudy cool day. We knew we were in for some ditch driving as we encountered the D and C canal, 14 mile shortcut toward Philly that saved us 600 miles. Luckily, we encountered no traffic...but the sights were a bit different on the other end. We did encounter some minor difficulty with our inverter and batteries. Lucky for us this marina has full service so another electrical man is headed our way. When this stuff works, life is good...when it doesn't, things are not so pleasant. Hopefully, this time someone will get it right....cause we know it was right when we parked in June and nothing has been quite the same since then.

WHAT a DEAL....things unfolded rather rapidly on Monday evening and Tuesday morning...Our friend and blog follower, Geri Apel discovered that we were docked close to where her husband Ken was staying in Baltimore. A few calls and we were on for another great dining experience with Ken. He came aboard for a quick tour and then encouraged us to join him at LA TASCA SPANISH TAPAS BAR AND RESTAURANT, located in the center of the Inner Harbor area. BOY, are we glad we did. Ken assured us this was authentic cuisine (just like he and Geri enjoyed on their travels)...and we enjoyed every bite...all ordering something different and sharing sharing sharing. Friendly service and warm decor...oh, and wine....it was an evening of great food, friends and laughter. Thanks to Geri... she instigated it all...guess we should have saved some to share with her...but alas...we ate it all...

Just sitting aboard the TUMBLEWEED, minding our own business...when we heard such a clatter we had to look...and here's what we saw...Baltimore's authentic paddle wheel dinner/charter boat, the BLACK-EYED SUSAN...must have been completing a training cruise...only crew aboard...but those paddle wheels were something...and operated independently...

Late last night we got news that our buddy Ken Lerman is in Baltimore as well. Hopefully we can catch up with him today before we leave tomorrow. Cold and drizzly rain here...high is to be in the 50s. I'm getting ready to go find that shopping center...or some cheesecake. I spotted a Best Buy so Gene is headed there to see about batteries for his camera...we'll manage to stay out of trouble for another day...hopefully the rain will clear as tomorrow we head to Philly...C and D channel is on the way. I think that's Chesapeake and Delaware...anyway it is ditch driving for 19 miles. One week from today we'll be back in Wichita....

It was Oriole's versus KC Royals...and we understand KC had just fired their Manager and so this was the new guys first game. And we all know the Royals like to give away the game...this was not a pretty game to watch...looked very amateurish to me...but those Royals hung on and won 4-3...much to the dismay of the loyal O fans we departed among...they were wet, cold, and miserable...oh, and their team lost. Floyd and I were comfortable (not exactly warm), dry...and our team won. We had BBQ at Boog's, beer at the Beer Warehouse and fun at the ol' ball game....where's our patch???

Here's what a $17 seat looks like....

What a sight to see...and Raven Stadium is just behind it...oh, and there's Highway 95...and it sure wasn't crowded...in fact, going in a policeman asked if we'd turn off the lights when we left. Sure didn't have to stand in line at the ticket window...and could have our choice of sitting anywhere...we chose high and with a shelter...oh, and cheap...

SOOO...armed with binoculars, umbrellas, all weather coats ...and layered layered layered in warm clothing...I even broke out the UGGS...we sallied forth to Camden Yards...it really wasn't far. But it was uphill all the way...we figured that worked in our favor for going back to the boat. And it did...

After three hours touring the aquarium and lunch break at the Cheesecake Factory, we decided it wasn't that cold or that rainy...let's go to the ball game. We could see Camden Yards from our marina walk...we'd been cold before...so bundling up and being better prepared would be our plan. (Unlike some car races we attended where we about froze to death...oh, the memories!!!) Besides they were playing the KC Royals...and it was a chance to see and experience Camden Yards.

One of the boats anchored here with us is KISSES, owned by several men ...one is businessman Ron Perlman...it is listed as the 47th largest yacht in America at 175 feet long. Wichita remembers him as the guy who bought Coleman Co...we say this is one BIG boat...we are glad we're not buying the fuel or paying the slip fees. Other than crew we've not seen any signs of life.

oh, and rockfish for Jack and Pete, Becky and Larry, Hilary and Bob...but they didn't have any filets...hehehe

Monday Floyd and I headed out to see the Baltimore City Aquarium....p a c k e d with school kidos...can you say massive field trips???? Felt good knowing I wasn't responsible for any of them...and some were very cute. We managed to think of our friends and take photos of the things we knew they would like...sooooo...pink parrot for BB...octopus for Michelle and Seahorse for Dawn...enjoy!!!

The Inner Harbor area has been updated and they seem to be working hard to keep it nice. Cleaning crews come around regularly...interesting techniques to make waterway litter free...oh, and noisy....trust me you know when they are in your area...

More important the Ben and Jerry's is always close. They say there is a shopping center across the street...but I couldn't get past the Cheesecake Factory!!!!

Views of the Inner Harbor...from our marina and from the Aquarium...yep, you could see TUMBLEWEED from there. It is a busy place...water taxis, cruise tours, and cleaning crews daily every 45 minutes...on the Sunday there were people people everywhere...but calm waters and electricity.

Leaving Annapolis was no problem...I decided I liked those mooring fields. Encountered a few GBGB (great big gray boats)(like the one that knocked me on my ...last year in Alabama. This one didn't.). We decided it was Navy final exam on boat handling. It was cloudy and a much cooler day...and boy, did we get it head on when we turned the corner to head to Baltimore. Head winds and good sized waves aren't really any better than trailing winds and following seas...either makes for a long day. We knew we were getting close to a major port by the traffic...freighters and barges...haven't seen much of either yet on this leg. Oh, and sail boats sail boats sail boats...and they were actually using their sails...this area is truly the sailing capitol of the world.

Arrived in the Baltimore City Marina Inner Harbor right in the heart of downtown entertainment district around 4:00...what a great area. Aquarium, shops, musical fountain, science museum, BEN AND JERRY's, CAMDEN YARDS and numerous restaurants (yep, even HOOTER's) are within easy walking distance. Also found three boats here flying Great Loop burgees....we talked briefly last night and plan to spend more time with them...we are all here for a while...the rain you've been having is headed our way. Our next stop is Philadelphia...we don't really need to get there until Friday.

Sunday called for special breakfast...and then off to Baltimore. After traveling with trailing winds and following seas we thought we'd like the head winds better. But let me tell you...it is rough out there. I'd say two to three foot waves...but Floyd says one to two...either way they are killing our speed...and making for a bumpy ride. Could be worse....I find myself saying that quite often. Oh, well, one week from today we'll be headed home for a visit. How's that???

Friday evening the best did appear...SS SOPHIE was quite a site to behold. Google search determined she is owned by Greta Van Susteren....of FOX news channel fame and fortune. While we didn't catch a glimpse of her aboard...some one was enjoying a cruise through Annapolis...and dinner...crew was scurrying and serving...we were impressed. Oh, that's the Naval Academy visitor senter in the background...just part of the view we had from the mooring field aboard the TUMBELWEED.

Dinghy alley was full...and so was the mooring field. By four o'clock we were glad to be sitting on the aft deck and watching the boat show...which ended with fire works at 10 pm...Saturday in Annapolis was a busy busy time. Next weekend will be graduation and while I'm sorry to miss the Blue Angels and the Silent Marine Drill Team...I sure won't miss mingling in that crowd. This one was quite enough.

Thunderstorms prevented us from following our game plan that night...thank goodness there was plenty of goulash so we didn't starve. Saturday we took Gene for a dinghy tour and then stopped for lunch at Pusser's Rum Restaurant for a late lunch. Gene also found the Alex Haley statue...seems he's quite the hero in Annapolis. Kunte Kante landed here in his book ROOTS. Quite a group of statues devoted to this in the town common area. Also a big statue of Thurgood Marshall at the State House...(we saw that on Friday) I must have been melting by then as there is no photo of that...

We managed to spend the whole day in town...had crab cakes and a beer at a little pub for lunch...did the town in the morning and the academy all afternoon...just as we were leaving the gift shop...we stepped out to photo the TUMBLEWEED...and who should we spot on the aft deck...our crew, GENE...perfect timing. He was doing his version of home alone that day...

John Paul Jones crypt beneath the chapel was pretty swell but the chapel was closed. Seems as though the cadets aren't allowed to marry until after graduation and the chapel was booked booked booked...well, graduation is next week. During our coming and going, I noted at least three different bridal parties rehearsing....but then as luck would have it as we were passing back to leave, the no visitor signs were down....in we went...just like we knew what we were doing. What a marvelous place...special blue glass windows, blue carpet, and blue pew seat pads. Nautical religious scenes on the stained glass...used by all the religious groups on campus. Of special note was the candle in the pew...placed there in the 60s as a tribute to MIAs and POWs...it is lit during services and no one sits in that pew...no matter how crowded the chapel may be. It has stayed on as a symbol of thanks and remembrance for those who serve and fight for freedom. Pretty darn cool way to say thanks if you ask me...