Trip Diary for August, 2006: Chesapeake Bay Based

August 1-3; Atlantic City, NJ: Left about 10 AM Tuesday for Atlantic City, NJ, 235 mi. away.  After arriving at 4:30 PM and checking into the Holiday Inn Express, we drove an additional 10 mi. to the casinos along the Boardwalk.  Wednesday continued the East coast heat wave with temps approaching 100.  After a leisurely departure for the Boardwalk, we enjoyed a late lunch of salad and a Volcano at Trump's Rainforest. Thursday we checked out in time for one last hour at the casinos before a noon departure for Solomons.  Temperatures peaked at 102 degrees along the way, but the car AC provided a pleasant trip as we beat the afternoon rush hour around Baltimore/Washington, arriving back at 5:30 PM.

August 4-11; Solomons, MD: Friday was devoted to paperwork for banking business, but allowed a movie evening.  The heat wave finally broke Saturday.  It provided a comfortable a day for doing laundry, computer backups and a bit of local shopping. After Sunday services at Solomons UMC, we went grocery shopping before tomorrow's arrival from Cordova, TN of granddaughter Samantha Swinford.  Monday we made a slight diversion to Annapolis for shopping on our way to Baltimore's BWI Airport to pick up Samantha from her NW 5:45 flight from Memphis.  Tuesday was a day of rest before taking Samantha on a dinghy tour of Back Creek on our way to dinner at The Captain's Table.  Upon returning, we were honored by a visit from one of the resident swan families (parents and 7 young). We left the boat at 8 AM Wednesday for a day touring Washington, DC.  Parking on the south side of town, the Metro provided convenient access to the heart of the city.  We visited the Smithsonian American History Museum and then, with much walking and several short Metro rides, the White House, Capital, and Lincoln Memorial. While not surprising, it was disappointing to experience the many access restrictions imposed after 9/11 and to observe the thousands of visually obtrusive vehicle barrier devices installed around most buildings.  It rained almost all day Thursday, so we rested aboard until dinner at Four Winds.  We departed for Baltimore Friday at 9 AM in order to shop and enjoy its Inner Harbor area before Samantha's 5:15 PM return flight to Memphis.  We took the Water Taxi for a quick, delightful tour of the harbor including its lighthouse and Ft. McHenry.  We returned in time for laundry and getting the boat ready for its next guests, grandson Chris and his friend Bret Davis who arrived from Noblesville, IN about 9:30 PM, too late to enjoy today's glorious sunset on Back Creek.

August 12-19; Chesapeake Boating and Driving: Saturday was a day to rest a bit, for the boys to settle in and use the dinghy to explore Back and Mill Creeks and for Lola to prepare for tomorrow's visitors.  After Sunday's Solomons UMC service we awaited the 2 PM arrival of Denise, Jim and Hodson from W. Lafayette with their daughter Rebecca from Arlington.  Denise worked with Larry in the Eng. Business Office at Purdue.  We took a 3 hr. trip up the Patuxent and into the Chesapeake before returning to a grilled brats dinner aboard.  Monday's plan was to harbor hop to St. Michaels, but 20-30 mph winds suggested otherwise.  At 9:15 AM we began driving to Baltimore.  Chris and Bret toured the 4 ships in the inner harbor while Lola and Larry shopped.  We then took the Water Taxi to Ft. McHenry.  Historic because it successfully defended Baltimore in the decisive battle of the War of 1812 in a battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became our national anthem, this visit was the highlight of the trip.  Upon returning, we stopped at Target's to acquire the sale-priced 4.3 cuft. refrigerator to supplement the 7.1 cuft. one in the salon.  Winds began to subside Tuesday morning, so we cast off at 11:30 AM for Cambridge, a 47 mi. trip to the east shore.  Bay conditions were delightful.  Arriving at the impressive Hyatt's River Marsh Marina at 5:30, Chris and Bret explored the Choptank River into Cambridge with the dinghy while Lola finished cooking a delicious beef stroganoff dinner.  Wednesday was devoted to exploring the city of Cambridge via bus/trolley.  The city has many historical homes, but generally gives an impression of hard economic times, especially the downtown area.  We enjoyed an excellent lunch at Snapper's right on Cambridge Creek downtown.  After a leisurely Thursday breakfast, we dropped lines at 10:40 for another delightful day of cruising the Chesapeake, returning to Calvert Marina at 3 PM.  Friday we drove 55 mi. to Annapolis to walk and shop its historic district.  We went to the Chart House at 5 PM for early, excellent seafood dinners.  Saturday was primarily devoted to getting the boat ready for an extended leave and final packing for the return drive to W. Lafayette tomorrow.

August 20-31; W. Lafayette, IN: We left Sunday at 8 AM for the 715 mi., 13 hr. drive home for our 50th anniversary celebration.  Monday-Thursday were devoted to catching up on local personal business.  Friday was a day to ready the Outpost for the party that had been so carefully planned by daughter Sandy with help from other family members and friends.  Saturday, Aug. 26 was the big day! About 100 people, including Larry's mother (shown holding Larry's hand) came to the reception and dinner. All the wedding party except the maid of honor (deceased) and one groomsman attended (my how the ring bearer, David Kater [left], and flower girl, Jodi Kater Armstrong [right], have grown!). Sunday-Thursday were days to recuperate from the celebration, do maintenance work on several computers and generally catch up on local needs.

Total water miles traveled to date: 5,539.

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