Bans on Boat Gatherings

There has been a lot of recent talk in Maryland about safety when a group of boats gathers together. Unfortunately, it seems that a few bad eggs are causing trouble for those of us who are safe on the water. Legislation has now been passed that restricts the number of boats that can gather without a permit. It appears that most of the complaints (and reasons for the new law) are related to Bumper Bash. People get drunk, get into fights, and trespass on private property. We attended the festivities for the first time last year and had a great time (we did not get into any fights or trespass, we just enjoyed the sun). Also, Bumper Bash is not all about drunken partying. Last year, money was raised through t-shirt sales and donations for Special Olympics. Because of the new laws, Bumper Bash 2012 has officially been canceled. Many people are talking about gathering behind Dobbins Island anyway but we don't plan to attend.

Canal Days has now been drawn into the mix. If more than 100 boats gather in the Chesapeake City basin on June 30, the DNR is vowing to break up the gathering. I'm starting to wonder how far the law is going to reach?

On any given weekend there are hundreds of boats rafted up behind Hart-Miller Island or in Fairlee Creek. We raft up with friends for most of our weekend trips. Rafting up gives us an opportunity to get away from it all. There is no house work. There is no Internet (at least for those of us without Smart phones). It's just the simple joy of relaxing on the water with a group of friends. And, to be honest, the fact that it is free is a big draw. We simply can't afford to pay to visit a marina every weekend. For Independence Day 2011, we met up with friends in Sue Creek. As more and more boats entered the creek we realized it would be best to attach our raft up to the group next to us. We did this for safety and the protection of property. By being hooked together we didn't have to worry about boats slamming together. At last count, there were 32 boats rafted up together. Should we be concerned if that happens this year? Is the idea of anchoring going to be threatened by this new law?

I applaud lawmakers and the DNR for trying to keep everyone safe. I just hope it doesn't affect my enjoyment of summer on the water.

Launch Weekend

Luv'n Life III is finally in the water. We picked her up in Pasadena on Saturday morning and brought her home. I can't tell you how excited I was to see our marina from the water.

We normally get the boat in the water by mid-April. So, what took so long this year? Well, to make a very long story short, we had to replace our outdrives (no, we didn't hit something). We went from the Volvo Ocean Series to Volvo OceanX drives. Look everybody, Doug bought me something shiny! (That's for all my girlfriends who laugh because I would rather go on trips than receive jewelry.)

It was the perfect weekend for a boat launch: sunny, warm, and windless. We have spent many of our first trips wearing sweatshirts while huddled under blankets. It was fantastic to make this trip in a t-shirt and jeans. With no wind, the trip was extremely smooth. Who can complain about calm waters like this:

As my boating friends know, getting the boat back for the season isn't like buying a new car. When you buy a car, they wash it and it has that fantastic new car smell. Nope, our boat was D I R T Y. When we pulled into the slip our boat neighbor asked if she had been in a field all summer. Saturday was spent washing, cleaning, and scrubbing. By the end of the day our boat neighbor stated that she "looks like your boat again."

Sunday was spent waxing. We do consider the boat our "baby" so it actually makes sense for us to spend Mother's Day working on it. There's even proof that I assisted with the waxing process.

It's easier when the boat is out of the water but we didn't have that option this year. Instead, we spent hours trying not to get our feet in the Baltimore water. We love, love, love living in this city but the harbor water lacks a certain....ummm.....cleanliness. Read my past posts on litter and floating wetlands to learn about clean-up efforts.

Looking forward to a fabulous summer!

Floating Wetlands in Baltimore

The recent news has been full of Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts. We've seen Litter Cleanup and Rebounding Crab Populations. Now, a local middle school is joining the fight. They have installed 50 floating wetlands in front of the World Trade Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The roots of the plants will provide food for the fish that live in the Harbor. As stated in the article: “They’ll help clean the water, but we have a large body of water here, so more than anything they’re really an educational opportunity.” That may be true, but here's the way I see it -- Every little bit counts. Thanks kids!

Dramatic Crab Populations

"The number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay has tripled over the last five years to the highest total in nearly two decades. The dramatic rebound was caused by restrictions on catching female crabs imposed by Virginia and Maryland in 2008, according to Maryland fisheries scientists."

Wonderful, wonderful news! You can read the whole article on the Bay Daily.

Seeing news like this makes me hope that even more restaurants will choose to serve local crabs. Click here to see my recent posting about the True Blue initiative.

I'm so happy to see that efforts to save the Bay are working. However, the Chesapeake Bay recently received a D plus rating so we still have a ways to go.

Where is your crab meat from?

"True Blue, a new labeling and promotion initiative from The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), hopes to give restaurants that do use Maryland crabmeat a claw up on those that fill their crab cakes with inexpensive imported meat from Indonesia and Venezuela."
I am excited about this program since I've been trying to buy more local food. I'm hoping that some of my favorite crab houses will be on the list. Anyone else planning to pay attention to this list?

Litter

Baltimore has a huge problem with litter. I've watched a 14-year-old kid, standing two feet from a trash can, throw his popsicle wrapper on the ground. The Inner Harbor looks disgusting after a heavy rain. We find ourselves dodging railroad ties in the Bay after a storm. Now, the General Assembly has adopted a bill "mandating that Maryland's largest localities, including Baltimore city and its suburbs, levy fees on their residents to pay for controlling polluted runoff from streets, parking lots and buildings." I'm not complaining about the bill. I want the Bay to be clean. I just wish people would clean up after themselves in the first place.

Home Marina

Doug and I recently met another boating couple at a bar. They hail from Stoney Creek Bridge Marina - which also happens to be one of our favorite places to purchase gas for our boat. This couple wanted a good marina to visit in Baltimore with easy access to the Canton neighborhood. We, of course, told them about our marina and it made me realize that I've never written about Anchorage Marina on this blog.
Reasons to visit or permanently stay at Anchorage:

*541 slips - with that many boats there is always someone around so you'll be sure to make friends (we always miss our boating friends during the winter months)
*A floating pool - they replaced one of the slips with a freshwater pool and it has a great view
*Easy walking distance to a variety of bars and restaurants including (all distances according to Mapquest walking map):

• Langermann's - ask about the Anchorage Marina discount (across the street from the marina)
• Chesapeake Wine Company - the olive tampenades are fantastic and try one of their Tuesday night tastings (across the street from the marina)
• Mahaffey's Pub - join the 100 beer club (0.31 miles)
• Mama's on the Half Shell - great seafood options (0.38 miles)
• Vaccaro's (0.41 miles) and Dangerously Delicious (0.35 miles) - for your dessert fix
• JD's Smokehouse - 50 beers on tap (0.47 miles)
• Jack's Bistro - try the mac + cheese + chocolate appetizer and one of their specialty cocktails (0.61 miles)
• Yellow Dog Tavern - brunch on Saturday and Sunday (0.68 miles)
• Annabel Lee Tavern - the longest walk but worth it for the food and fantastic atmosphere (0.98 miles)

*There is easy access to groceries with a Safeway almost directly across the street from the marina.
*Need a coffee fix? Try the Firehouse Coffee Company (0.38 miles from the marina) or the Starbucks across the street from the marina.
*It's a cooperative marina so you can own or lease a slip - your choice. Slips currently for sail are listed on the marina website.
*Each dock has a security gate so you don't have to worry about random visitors.
*Take a taxi (street or water) or take a longer walk via the promenade to other parts of Baltimore: Fell's Point, Inner Harbor, Camden Yards.

The one downside is that parking is very tight at the marina. We live less than a mile from the marina yet oftentimes have to drive because of coolers and overnight bags. We rarely find a spot in the marina lot but never have trouble finding street parking very close.

What marina do you like? Why?