Memorial Day in Baltimore, MD

Date            May 28-29, 2012                            
Day             335-336
Departure    Yacht Basin Co., Annapolis, MD  7:15 am
Arrival         Baltimore Marine Center, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD  11:20 am
 Miles               31.7             
Cumulative   5422.8

May 28th-Memorial Day.  Another great day to travel on the Chesapeake.  Light winds, 1 foot seas.

Lighthouse along the route to Baltimore

Even though it is Memorial Day, the watermen are still out working on the bay.  This is a crab boat piled high with empty crab pots.

The Seven Knoll Light was built in 1855 and is the oldest screw pile lighthouse in Maryland.  It was initially installed on a shallow shoal, Seven Foot Knoll, at the mouth of the Patapsco River. The northern reach of this river is the  Baltimore Harbor, where the now-decommissioned lighthouse has been placed as a museum.

As we proceed up the Patapsco River, we pass by Fort McHenry.  Fort McHenry is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the war of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British Navy in Chesapeake Bay.  It was during the bombardment of the fort that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Fort McHenry

After we reached our destination, we went off for a visit to Fort McHenry.  It was extremely warm and humid, almost 100 degrees, but the breeze coming off the river into the fort brought some relief.   We toured the Visitor Center and watched a brief video then headed on up the hill to the fort.  We arrived at the fort just in time to view a flag changing ceremony and Lynda participated in helping to raise the new flag.

Lowering the flag that was to be removed

Holding the flag as it is about to be hoisted up the flag pole (Lynda is in the one in the middle with the hat!) and below is the new flag atop the flag pole.

A painting of the star-shaped Fort McHenry, as it appeared in 1814.

Sights around the inner harbor of Baltimore

Three of these boats came into our marina.  They are test boats for the US Navy

View of Baltimore skyline at night from the back deck of Erika Lin

May 29th - Today's weather is more of the same, hot, humid and sticky.  We decided to spend the day inside the National Aquarium in Baltimore where it was much cooler!

Puffin

Queen Triggerfish

Squirrel fish

                                                            An assortment of jellies