Baltimore and the Chester River

Saturday, September 23 - Saturday, September 30, 2017

We cruise up the Patapsco River, past industrial sections of the waterfront, to our marina near downtown Baltimore.
 

Baltimore Outer Harbor

We pass lots of container ships and a military presence.

Baltimore Outer Harbor

As we near the downtown area, the waterfront is lined with marinas filled with pleasure craft.  Our marina is on the downtown waterfront in the Fells Point neighborhood.

Northwest Harbor, Baltimore MD

The entire waterfront has been gentrified over the past 60 years, starting with the central business district in the late 1950s - mid 1960s.  The 1970s and 1980s saw redevelopment of the Inner Harbor, adding waterfront businesses in the central part of the harbor.  In recent years, renovations and new construction have moved into adjacent waterfront neighborhoods, such as Fells Point, Canton and Federal Hill.

Baltimore Inner Harbor from Federal Hill

Our first activity after arriving was to take a Segway tour of the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill areas.  What a blast!  And a great way to get an overview of a fairly large area, filled with tourist attractions.  Federal Hill affords great views of the Inner Harbor.

Baltimore Inner Harbor from Federal Hill

Several historic ships, docked in the Inner Harbor, are open for tours.

Historic Coast Guard ship, Baltimore Inner Harbor

This view of the Inner Harbor shows the National Aquarium in the center (the building with the triangular roof).

Baltimore Inner Harbor from Federal Hill

The Jones Falls River empties into the harbor and carries quite a volume of trash.  An innovative design, dubbed "Mr. Trash Wheel", has been implemented that greatly decreases the trash volume flowing into the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake beyond.  The wheel on the left of this device, powered by the river current, operates a conveyor belt that scoops up trash and deposits it into a dumpster, camouflaged by the canvas cover.  When full, the dumpster on it's barge are towed away for disposal and an empty dumpster takes it's place.

Mr. Trash Wheel, Baltimore MD

A water taxi service shuttles us around the harbor, including to nearby Fort McHenry.  This fort was key to protecting Baltimore from a British attack during the War of 1812.  During the battle, Francis Scott Key was held captive on a British ship in the harbor.  That experience inspired him to write the words to the Star Spangled Banner, which later became our National Anthem.

Patapsco River from Ft. McHenry

Our water taxi returns to Fells Point and this elegant hotel on the waterfront.  We stop for a cocktail before walking back to our boat.

Sagamore Pendry Hotel, Fells Point, Baltimore

The waterfront near our marina is filled with shops, restaurants and lots of activity.  With Baltimore's crime problems in the news, we are advised by locals to stay within 5-6 blocks of the waterfront.  We did Uber farther inland to see the Baltimore Museum of Art and were surprised by it's small size.  It houses an odd assortment of paintings and decorative objects most, donated by local collectors.

Fells Point waterfront, Baltimore

Another day we take the water taxi across to Federal Hill to tour the Baltimore Museum of Industry.  This interesting museum is a vivid reminder of all the businesses that originated in Baltimore in its heyday as an industrial center.

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Proximity to the river and major shipping routes down the Chesapeake and Delaware Rivers made this location a prime industrial center for many years.  Some manufacturers, such as the Domino sugar factory, are still in operation.

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Other names are a trip down memory lane.  Remember Bendix?

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Noxzema skin care products were developed by a local pharmacist.

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Black & Decker is still going strong.

Baltimore Museum of Industry

A large garment and shoe-making industry once thrived here.  Umbrellas were a popular local product, too.

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Nearby in Federal Hill is the American Visionary Art Museum.  We don't make an effort to visit this museum, but what a creative building!

American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore MD

American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore MD

We enjoy a lovely sunset from our slip.  We've had an okay stay in Baltimore.  The waterfront has an abundance of bars, restaurants and housing, but too many tourist destinations catering to children.  Or perhaps we are just getting tired from the constant travel.  We are very ready for our winter break to stay put in one location for several months. 

Sunset from Henderson's Wharf Marina

Sunday, October 1, 2017

We stay an extra day in Baltimore waiting for winds to lay down and seas to calm in the northern Chesapeake.  Soon we are moving south again. 

Chester River MD

Today we cruise 43 miles to the western shore of the Chesapeake.  We follow the Chester River a short distance to it's junction with the Corsica River and this peaceful anchorage.

Corsica River anchorage

Not much to do here except relax and enjoy the scenery.  We see several eagles soaring on the river bank nearby and lots of bait fish in the water.  Robert is unable to get a nibble, though.  The water is full of jellyfish, the kind that leave a really bad sting.  We keep sucking them into the cooling water intake for our generator and have to clean them out before the generator overheats.  Yuk!

Corsica River near Centreville MD

A short dinghy ride up the river brings us to the small town of Centreville.  This nice town wharf welcomes cruisers, allowing us to tie up long enough to walk into town.

Town Wharf, Centreville MD

We pass some nice homes on the waterfront, most with acreage.  This area has the feel of a weekend respite from the major cities on the opposite side of Chesapeake Bay.

Centreville MD

Centreville MD

After three nights anchored here, we are ready to head to civilization in the form of a marina.  We have no wifi signal here and very weak cell service.  We have been working with our realtor as best we can to try to get our home listed for lease again.  Time to get to a dock with better internet and cell access.

Corsica River anchorage