TEXAS RANGER: September 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Baltimore, MD September 25-28

Buoy Near Francis Scott Key Bridge

Fort McHenry, Baltimore

After several delightful days in Annapolis, we moved up the coast to Baltimore. Entering the harbor as did the British in 1814, passing the spot from which Francis Scott Key observed the star spangled banner waving, and then passing Fort McHenry, which the British were not able to pass, was awe-inspiring!

Baltimore, MD

Marina, Baltimore, MD

USS Constellation, Baltimore

Sailboat Races off Annapolis

We enjoyed several days at Trawler Fest climbing on lots of different boats, renewing many former acquaintances, and making many new acquaintances. A special treat was when the USS Constellation was towed from her berth, turned around to a cannon salute, and then returned to her berth. All of this occurred within fifty yards of where we were docked! We departed Baltimore and headed back to Solomons, MD. Passing Annapolis, we saw a huge fleet of sailboats racing. We will stay for several weeks in Solomons as we participate in a Kadey-Krogen owners' rendezvous where over 100 owners of our brand of boat will attend. Following that event, we will fly to Texas for Kay's __th college reunion Homecoming, and a long-overdue visit with the kids and grandkids.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Solomons, MD to Annapolis, MD September 20--24

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

We had a nice passage from Solomons, MD to Annapolis, and then several delightful (and cool) days exploring this historic town and the very unique U.S. Naval Academy. I give up on organizing the photos in BlogSpot...so just look through them at random. Many of the Annapolis buildings shown date from pre-Revolutionary War days. Especially note the beautiful USNA chapel, with its ship high on the rear wall to remind all to pray for their friends and relatives at sea. The crypt of Capt. John Paul Jones is of rare black and white marble from France, where he was interred for years, and has a quite remarkable story. Bancroft Hall is the largest college dormitory in the world. The buildings, museums, and mystique of the Naval Academy and its midshipmen is fascinating, and well worth a trip there. Finally, excuse the photographic editorials...I couldn't resist photographing Fidos' photographer posing the brood, or commenting that the government building must be the last remaining structure posting a fallout shelter designation, complete with capacity, from Cold War days.

Annapolis Skyline

Anne Arundel County Courthouse

USNA Chapel Rear (note ship)

Maryland Inn since pre Revolution

Wood-domed MD Statehouse

USNA Chapel

Crypt of John Paul Jones

Inside Bancroft Hall

USNA Bancroft Hall

Bancroft Hall Detail

USNA Formation

Main Street and Harbor

Sailing Ship Museum Exhibit

USNA Chapel Rear (note ship)

When Did You Last See This?

Say Cheese on 3

Monday, September 16, 2013

Deltaville, VA to Solomons, MD September 15

Smith Point Light, VA

Point No Point Light, MD

Naval Air Station Pax River

After several delightful days at Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville, it is time to move north. We enjoyed meeting several of the “locals”, and each evening at least one other transient boater also arrived, so we had the opportunity to meet and socialize with several other boating couples. It was a quiet, peaceful, marina—more like being anchored out than in a marina. Of course, the very rural nature and seclusion meant that Kay cooked aboard instead of seeking out a restaurant, but that was fine.

We got underway early, and passed Windmill Point Light and Smith Point Light, then crossed the mouth of the Potomac River and into Maryland. It’s a shame Stacy returned to Texas from her Washington, D.C. job a year ago, or we could have just visited her by water! We then passed Point No Point Light, several naval aviation gunnery targets, and turned into the Patuxent River. Shortly up the river, just across from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, we turned into Back Creek just before encountering the speedboat races that had the river blocked, and found our dock at Calvert Marina in Solomons, MD. Their noise finally subsided as the races ended, and we had a glorious sunset and cool, calm evening. The next morning the noise of the speedboat races was replaced by jet fighters screaming overhead, and the “booms” of their guns as they fire at the Chesapeake Bay targets that we cruised past yesterday afternoon!

Solomons, MD

Patuxent River Speedboat Races

Calvert Marina, Solomons, MD

Solomons, MD Sunset

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Norfolk, VA to Deltaville, VA September 11

Container Ship

Thimble Shoal Ligh

Wolf Trap Light

We departed Portsmouth, VA around 0800, and made the radio acquaintance of Blue Moon, a trawler from Dallas also headed north. We passed the Norfolk waterfront, squeaking by a large container ship about to be turned in the channel in preparation for backing to its dock. As we passed Naval Station Norfolk, it was apparent that an aircraft carrier, the Theodore Roosevelt, was preparing to depart for sea. Fortunately we got past that area before its departure, as the waterway was closed and the helicopters that repeatedly zoomed around overhead intensified with that passage. At 1000 we passed the Thimble Shoal Light, and turned up into Chesapeake Bay. We had a fairly calm passage, passing the York River entrance channel at 1105, and reaching Wolf Trap Light at 1300. Soon thereafter we turned into the Rappahannock River, and by 1500 we docked at Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina. Blue Moon was there, and we had a delightful visit.

Regatta Point Marina

Norfolk & Portsmouth VA September 9--10

Portsmouth--Norfolk Ferry

Carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower

We were awaiting the ferry to Norfolk when lots of small patrol craft went by, and then the morning sun was blotted out. Less than 100 feet from where we stood, the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower steamed by en route to the naval shipyard. You could easily have thrown a baseball to it, but for the armed machine gunners lining the deck!