The Bistro Cafe was totally French and when we mentioned this to the folks in London during a recent Skype session, Jaime wanted to know if the were rude to us as well! Finally got our fill of crab cakes supporting the local crabbing industry.
After gathering parts at various ports as available, SS backing plates, polysulfide chalking, SS bolts of the right length so as not to scratch the companion way hatch, the crew installed our new life raft on the cabin top where it is safe and accessible if needed.
Our safety inventory is now complete with all the originally secured USCG required stuff, i.e. life vests, fire extinguishers, flares, VHF radio and horn. The new additions of the life raft, and the EPIRB added to recently acquired SSB radio (with much greater signal capabilities {we've spoken to NY from Florida}) and SPOT which you may be familiar with.
This piece of technology, the EPIRB, (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) gives the most piece of mind while sailing far from land. When activated in case of emergency it sends a signal thru satellites orbiting the earth to the local Rescue authority with coverage world wide. While in/near the USA that is our own USCG, and they receive our coordinates giving our exact position and because we have registered with the USCG they will know all about HD and her crew. Just like the commercial, Priceless!
Back to the Eastern Shore, Oxford was a bust, not much there other than the famous Robert Morris Inn and white picket fences so we sailed up the Tred River to Easton.
Easton is a very pleasant surprise. Enjoying the meetings, restaurants, coffee houses with live music and of course West Marine. A few local coffee houses one which roasts their own, colonial era downtown and extremely friendly people. A little over an hours drive to Annapolis and plenty of waterfront estates with deep water docks.
Very friendly folks. As we were walking out of the local coffee shop a woman asks "are you boaters", yes, "HD?", yes, "my husband wants to speak with you", OK.
Seems we were anchored in the creek with a huge empty barge at the dock to one side. A sister barge full of gravel shows up every couple of days for unloading and could come in the middle of the night. The creek was clearly not wide enough for us both. Since the marina couldn't handle HD due to length, Bob offered for us to raft up with him at his dock alongside the marina. Did I mention they are very friendly folks. Nice place with good food.
One of the locals mentioned the sailabration that Baltimore was putting on the coming week to celebrate the bicentennial of France Scott Key's writing of the National Anthem. There are to be a couple of dozen or so tall ships along with various navy ships from all over the world as arriving Wednesday.
Off to Baltimore where Mick Jagger said in the 1969 concert attended by the caption " Bal-ti-more shake your arises"
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