Day 271 - Constellation — Captain Father John

Miles cruised 0, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $145, daily high temperature 88°f

Much of Saturday afternoon was spent exploring the Baltimore inner harbor by dingy. There are numerous large commercial docks that have been converted from unloading ships to retail glut. The docks have large cleats for freighters but the dock space has been converted to bars, restaurants and museums.

We have a closer view of the dragon boats.

There is a trash collection boat that picks all the trash in the inner harbor each morning. It works quite well.

At 8:30 AM a cannon is fired from the Constellation. The rapport rocked our boat. Very impressive. The Constellation is the sister ship to the Constitution which is in Boston. I toured the Constitution on New Year’s Day 1991. We were visiting Priscilla’s parents who had a three flat on Bunker Hill in Boston. We were visiting for the holidays. From the second and third floors of their house there is great view of the Constitution. Her rigging was all lit up for the holidays. New Year’s Day was my morning to get up with our one year old daughter Alison. Priscilla and I switched off every other day getting up early. It was an unusually warm January 1 so Alison and I rumbled down the cobblestone streets of Charlestown in her stroller to get a closer look at the Constitution. Strollers in those days had tiny wheels, not like the deluxe models with large wheels our grandchildren have. As we approached the docks the gates were open. I thought that was odd for a holiday. We continued on and the gang plank to the Constitution was open. We saw no one else around so I decided to roll the stroller up the gangplank. As we approached the main deck I heard a bosun’s whistle pipe us onboard. There was one sailor in an 1812 period uniform greeting us. I suggested it was unexpected to find the Constitution open on New Year’s Day. He told us that the Constitution is still an active navy ship and as such is still manned 365 days a year. We had a delightful private tour.

Constellation on the Baltimore city docks.

We were at the Orioles baseball game today at Camden Yards in Baltimore to celebrate Father’s Day. When they sang the Star Spangled Banner I thought it was quite appropriate given our proximity to Fort McHenry. The Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 11 – 6 and won the three game series 2-1. It was hotter than Hades at the ballpark. The seats are dark green plastic. When you first sit down you are at risk for third degree burns. Everyone that sat down around us cried out. I wonder if the architectural color consultant that suggested dark green seats for the ball park has experienced the result of their choice?

The four amigos. Still friends after living in close quarters for 271 days. Birdland is another name for the Baltimore Orioles baseball stadium. Today was retro men’s hat day in honor of Father’s Day.

A photo of CL as seen from the top of Federal Hill. Federal Hill was used by the Union Army to point cannons on Baltumore to control the Southern sympathetic population. CL’s bow is facing the tan skyscraper in the center of the photo.

Bonus photo

We will stay in Baltimore until Tuesday morning and then cruise 50 miles up the Chesapeake to the Bohemia River. That will place us at the top of Chesapeake Bay near the C and D Canal.

Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote of the day.

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag (/ˈsɒntæɡ/; January 16, 1933 – December 28, 2004) was an American writer, filmmaker, teacher and political activist. She published her first major work, the essay “Notes on ‘Camp'”, in 1964. Her best-known works include On Photography, Against Interpretation, Styles of Radical Will, The Way We Live Now, Illness as Metaphor, Regarding the Pain of Others, The Volcano Lover and In America.