Baltimore to NYC

After spending a week in Solomons and getting most of the boat waxed along with a few other projects it was time to get moving. We set off up the Chesapeake Bay on a grey morning heading for Baltimore. It never really did clear up that day but it made for calm conditions on the bay.

At Baltimore we found a slip right in the Inner Harbor in the heart of downtown. The hustle and bustle of a big city environment was a bit of a shock on our systems. We had been visiting small towns for a couple of months but really enjoyed all we got to take in in the few days we were there.

One thing we did take in was my sister Kathy who flew in to spend some travel time with us. Here she is in our typical "crossing the state border" selfie as we go from Maryland to Delaware on the C & D canal.

I think Delaware will be the winner of our "least time spent" award as we were in the state for all of one night. The late spring weather had been bringing cold fronts through the area with storms followed by several days of windy weather. You have a brief calm spell before the pattern repeats so you have to move when you can. After Delaware City we ran down Delaware Bay to Cape May New Jersey. We got in just a few hours ahead of the next cold front and heard from those who came in later that it was getting nasty on the bay.

We spent a few days in Cape May getting a few more projects done and doing some sightseeing. It's a cute little town with some true Jersey Shore characters around.

When we left Cape May the plan was to go in the Atlantic until Atlantic City then pick up the NJICW inside from there. The ICW is too shallow between Cape May and Atlantic City for us to use. Once we got close to Atlantic City we decided to keep going outside to the next available inlet since the conditions were so good. We entered Manasquan Inlet about 6:00 after covering 100 miles, a very long day for us. Kathy is really getting her money's worth. The long run made for an easy 40 mile day into New York where we are now on Staten Island at the Great Kills Yacht Club.

This is a true blue collar yacht club and I've found many of the members are active or retired NYPD or FDNY. Having a few drinks with these fellas is a real hoot!!

Yesterday we took the Staten Island Ferry into lower Manhattan and toured the 9/11 memorial. I must say that this is a very impressive and moving memorial. Everything was very tastefully done in my opinion. On the way over we passed the Statue of Liberty. We will be passing there in our boat tomorrow and will be traveling with a few other boats so we can have a photo op.

 
The park at the memorial is amazing with the footprints of each tower now being cascading water falls. I've seen it on TV but you really feel it when you're there in person.

South Tower

The memorial is right below the new Freedom Tower which is a sight all it's own.

The picture shows just a bit of the memorial centering on the "last beam" which was cut down in a special ceremony that many of the responders returned to attend. The base of the memorial is the bottom level or base of the towers.

One section housed a collection of photographs taken by the official FEMA/USAR photographer. I didn't even know there was one (I don't think she worked the night shift). They are asking for help in identifying the people in the pictures and I found one of 3 OHTF-1 members but you can't see the faces. Anyone remember who had a red helmet? Looks like a search guy since he has a search-cam battery on his back, maybe Joey??? I have no clues on the others.

Not sure how many of my old Task Force pals follow the blog but I thought you may like to know that our BoO is looking much better these days. I was even able to get money out of the ATM this time!! Merc, is that you???

Before

After

Well, that's it for this installment...tune in tomorrow as we head up the Hudson River toward the Erie Canal.