Street Sweeper

Baltimore Harbor always looks clean--no trash or even leaves floating in the harbor or canals.  The reason is the "Trash Navy" water sweepers.  These things go through the water picking up debris, and take it to a conveyor that loads it in a dumpster.  Just like street sweepers--only on the water.

Baltimore Dinghy Tour

Thursday 10-1-09

There's a lot of new buildings going up near this marina.  More re-development of the waterfront.  Just outside the entrance to the marina, there's some construction being done by an open shop (non-union) contractor.  The unions are picketing around the construction site.  Only thing is...............the union workers either have work elsewhere or are too lazy to picket themselves.  So they hire the homeless people to do the picketing for them.  They march around in circles and chant the usual union propaganda.   Sounds a little like a pep rally.   When I first heard them, I thought it was similar to the start of the day at a Japanese auto manufacturing plant, but it turns out to be just the opposite.

We went out for a tour of the harbor in the dinghy this afternoon.  All the sights we'd seen from the shore, we saw again from the water.  I usually prefer nature over buildings.  However, I really enjoy looking at the structures around Baltimore Harbor.

Here's the Science Center

The Hard Rock Cafe and Barnes and Noble from the water.

We went in several canals and under a few bridges.  Here's the National Aquarium from the under the connecting bridge.

We toured several marinas and found an Urban Pirates sail boat.  I thought it interesting that it has dual outdrives.  Pirates indeed.

The USS Constellation.

This ship was unloading sugar at the domino Sugar plant.

We also couldn't help but notice the Laurel.

I looked it up on the internet, and found it to be the 9th largest mega yacht in America.  (240')  I also found it's fuel capacity, and at the current prices here in Baltimore, it would cost $143,316.44 to fill it up.

On the other end of the boating spectrum, here we three are in Inner Harbor East.  Again, it's costing us $8 each per night to stay here.  Thanks to Frank for finding it.

We're leaving Baltimore tomorrow.  Pam and I may stop here again on our way south next week.

National Aquarium

Wednesday 9-30-09

Still at Inner Harbor East Marina.

Went to the National Aquarium today.  Took in the entire circuit--the aquarium, the dolphin show and the 4D Immersion Theater.

The dolphin show was pretty typical.

The aquarium had shark and stingray exhibits, jellyfish, Atlantic reef etc.

They also had some tropical rain forest exhibits.  It was an enjoyable tour until the hunderts of school buses showed up with hunderts of screaming elementary school children whose screams were only exceeded by the few adult chaperons accompanying them.

But the most unique experience was the 4D theater.  We had been to 3D theaters before, but never an "Immersion" theater. You really experience the happenings of the movie.  Thunder shakes your seat.  When the dolphin splashes or the whale breeches..................you get wet.  When the rats run loose on the floor, you feel them scurrying around through your feet.  When the snake strikes, you feel it hit your body.  (That one just about made me jump out of my seat.)  The underwater bubbles looked so real that I took off my 3D glasses to check..................they were real bubbles.  An interesting time.

Later, we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe.  Lots of memorabilia.  Like a mini trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Baltimore's Inner Harbor has several ships (in addition to the Constellation we toured yesterday.)  This Coast Guard ship was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. 

USS Constellation

Took the tour through the USS Constellation. 

As we went below, each deck has it's own purpose.  The first lower deck held the cannons.

The next lower deck was the bedroom for the crew

The deck below that held the 25,000 gallons of drinking water.  (Our boat holds 25 gallons.)

Back in the captains quarters, we found his "seat of ease"  (no holding tank--just direct discharge)

If you've ever wondered where the term "poop deck" comes from.............................................

Baltimore 3

Tuesday 9-29-09

Hawkeye Mike got an early start out of Ferry Point Marina to avoid the continuing windy conditions.  They arrived about 10 am today.  So now we are three.

Before we left the city docks, Pam and I rode our bicycles up to the top of Federal Hill.  Baltimore's Inner Harbor is really a nice place.

You can see us at the city docks - three Rosboroughs.

Later on, we moved over to the Inner Harbor East Marina.  Frank had discovered that for a short time, they offer FREE docking Tuesday thru Thursday.  All we had to pay was for electric.  For the three nights, the total charge was $24.00.   And, it's a very nice marina, still close enough to walk to the aquarium, etc.  Which is what we plan to do tomorrow.

Baltimore 2

Still Monday

We took a slip at the city marina,  Not too expensive ($35) and right in the heart of the inner harbor.

We checked in with the harbormaster, and the went walking around town.  Ended up  walking all the way over to Fells Point.    Quite a hike.

There are several old ships to tour--including the USS Constellation.  (Our boat is in the background)  

There's also a submarine we might tour.

Lots of little dragons were getting puffed around here by the sea in the autumn mist.

As I mentioned earlier, it was very windy today.  We're meeting a couple of other Rosboroughs here.  Frank and Pat on "Grey Goose" keep their boat on the C&D canal in Delaware.  They made reservations for all three of us at the Inner Harbor East Marina for Tuesday and Wednesday this week.  That marina has a special this week, and are letting us stay at a VERY reduced rendezvous price.  Anyway, with the weather forecast no better for tomorrow, they decided to make one long miserable trip all the way down here today.  They arrived about 5 pm.

 

They had to come all the way directly into the wind and waves, with water crashing over the cabin top.  They had a new leak in the windshield and the interior got soaked.  Frank suffered a nasty cut on the head from getting it banged against the boat in the waves. 

It's good to see them again.  We expect to see Hawkeye arrive tomorrow, hopefully with an easier journey.

T

Baltimore 1

Monday 9-28-09

Made our way up the Patapsco River towards Baltimore.  It was very windy today (NOAA was right this time.)  But we didn't have far to go.  Baltimore is the third largest seaport in the US--behind New York and Norfolk.  Lots of ships on the way in.  Saw one unloading tractors, and others unloading cars. 

Just after you go under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, there's a buoy marking the spot where he was held captive on a prison barge while Ft. McHenry was under siege.  He could see the bombs bursting in air from here.

And a little further up the river is the fort where the flag is still there.  The number of stars on the flag is anatomically correct for 1812.

There's several marinas in the harbor, and a few recreational boats as well as the commercial ships.

The Inner Harbor is the location of a lot of the "attractions"

T