Patriot Dreams: May 18, 2015 - Bittersweet day...

Today my thoughts were with "ex-family" and my children as they laid to rest the patriarch and matriarch of the Bareham family. I felt very sad to not be there to say good-bye to two wonderful people who were very much my family for over 40 years. In addition, it was David's (son) 37th birthday. Grieving and rejoicing...all part of the same day, removed from it all and reflecting on the gift of life and lasting memories.

The past few days have presented heavy rains and very muggy, hot weather. Today was no exception. We rode our bikes to the National Aquarium where we spent a good part of the day, then had a late lunch at Phillips Seafood on the Harbor. While in the aquarium, it cut loose with a very heavy rain but had cleared by the time we left. Fortunately, our rides to and from the aquarium and inner harbor were rain-free.

Tonight is laundry night, as we are preparing for our trip to Anchor Bay East Marina tomorrow morning. At Anchor Bay we will leave the boat for the 6 weeks while in Michigan enjoying family and friends for a little of Michigan's summer. While gone, we are planning to have the hull painted (sadly, the blue is very faded) and will have the carpeting replaced with teak & holly hardwood floor. We will be excited to return in July and enjoy the "renovation" for the rest of our trip.

Francis Scott Key Bridge

Abandoned fort along the Chesapeake, near Baltimore

Near this boat along the shore is where, on September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment of Ft. McHenry-over 25 hours of shelling and rockets raining down, inflicting only minor damage on Ft. McHenry. After the smoke cleared, defenders raised a 32x42' flag, which inspired Francis Scott Key to make notes for a poem that later became our National Anthem. His notes included several verses, but only the first verse became the words of our National Anthem.

Baltimore is a very active shipping community, with military and cargo ships plentiful along the shoreline.

One of the cargo areas where cargo is loaded onto ships via these large cranes

Welcome to Baltimore!

Ft. McHenry, just on the outskirts of Baltimore. This 18th century star-shaped fort is considered the birthplace of our National Anthem. After the Battle of Baltimore in the war of 1812, the fort never again came under attack and remained an active military post for the next 100 years. In the Civil War, it was used as a prison camp for Union soldiers. It is now a national monument and historical shrine under the National Park Service.

Ship along the shoreline...one of many

Cargo ship waiting to be loaded

Anchorage Marina, Baltimore...our home for 5 days

Many of these row houses grace the Baltimore shoreline, and walkways are located all around the harbor, making it a wonderful place for runners, bikers, and walkers to enjoy the harbor shoreline. In the background you can see the onion domes of St. Michael's Ukranian Catholic Church rising above the homes at the edge of Patterson Park. The church features four corner domes in the form of a Greek Cross that rise 45 ft. with a central dome that rises 100 ft. In 1997 gold leaf was added to the copper domes and is one of Baltimore's most distinctive "new" landmarks.

Mama duck and her babies swimming near our boat

Anniversary dinner...could it really be 21 years?!!!

Boats like this cruise the harbor picking up trash..."marine garbage trucks"

Landmarks along the Inner Harbor of Baltimore

Baltimore's World Trade Center...this statue outside the WTC honors the people of Maryland killed in the 9/11 attacks and displays part of the twisted steel from the World Trade Center in New York City.