The high temps continue into September, so we moved our cocktails and appetizers into the boaters' lounge at Anchorage Marina to take advantage of meeting more people and enjoying the a/c. On Saturday, September 4, Su and Nan, her friend from PHS days, had lunch at an Irish pub out in the suburbs followed by shopping. The next night Nan and her husband, Bob, took us to Ciao Bella in Little Italy for dinner and then for dessert at Vaccaro's in Canton.

On Su's birthday, we took the water taxi to Fort McHenry with Paul & Joanne of M/V Abacus and Bob & Lynn of M/V Legrace. Fort McHenry served as the cornerstone of the water defenses of Baltimore during the Battle of Baltimore on September 12-14, 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem at became our National Anthem. Fort McHenry never again came under enemy fire, although it continued as an active military post for the next 100 years. During the Civil War, it was used a temporary prison for captured Confederate soldiers. From 1917 until 1923, a military hospital was located here to serve World War I veterans.

In 1925 Congress made Fort McHenry a national park; 14 years later it was redesignated a national monument and historic shrine, the only park in the country to have this double distinction.

Su's surprise birthday dinner with Bob & Lynn was at Mama's on the Half Shell followed by gelato from Vaccaro's. It was truly a wonderful day.

On Monday, September 13, the MTOA (Marine Trawler Owner's Association) rendezvous started with BYOB and heavy hors d'oeurves. On Tuesday, we attended several seminars including the history of marine navigation. The day ended with happy hour followed by a huge pot luck dinner. Based on the alphabet, we brought a dessert. On Wednesday, more seminars were attended followed by happy hour and dinner on the tour boat, Spirit. The last day of the rendezvous included even more seminars followed by happy hour and dinner at Bay Cafe Restaurant which was a few blocks away from Anchorage Marina.

On Friday, September 17, we took the water taxi down to the inner harbor with Bob and Lynn to tour The US Coast Guard Barque Eagle, America's Tallship, and to see Michelle, an OCS, who was cruising on the ship. She is the daughter of Dave and Laurie, friends who also have an Ocean Alexander. Eagle's length is 295', beam is 39', draft fully loaded is 16' with a sail area of 22,227 feet! The Eagle cruised down from New London, CT for a three day weekend in Baltimore. Fortunately, we went Friday as we understand the lines were incredibly long over the weekend. Michelle joined us for dinner J. Paul's in the Pavilion next to the Eagle and gave us more insight into what really goes on aboard the huge ship.

On Sunday, September 19, we left Baltimore and cruised down to Solomons, MD for what we thought would be an overnight stop. As the winds picked up, we stayed until Thursday, September 23 when we left for Deltaville, VA. Cruising wasn't too bad that day until south of Smith Point when we had 3' waves coming at the bow for about ten miles. It was almost like going through ship wakes and as suddenly as they started, they stopped. We arrived and Dozier's Regatta Point marina and knew we would be here for several days based on the forecast of wind from a tropical storm coming up the Atlantic. On Wednesday, September 29, it got so windy, and we were rocking around in our slip in the basin; we moved into a slip in a covered shed. Our plans to get to Oriental were delayed for over a week at this point. On Friday, September 30, the forecast was SE 25 to 30 knots with gusts to 40 with waves 4' building to 5'-6'. Who knows how long we will be here!?