More Fireworks than you ain’t never seen!

Just outside our marina, at the cruise ship terminal

The last day and a half have been even better than we could have hoped for.  It started with the marina holding an already-scheduled picnic/cookout for the boat owners.  Who ever said that there ain’t no free lunch?

Baltimore’s Celebration this entire week commemorates two major events.  One, the Battle of Baltimore (British attacks by both land and sea) on September 13, 1814, and two, the creation of the Star Spangled Banner by Key, who watched the assault on Ft McHenry.  So a lot of the events were “over the top” to make them special.

The rain and low ceilings started lifting Saturday afternoon about the time for the air show, and wouldn’t you know it, the NAVY Blue Angels showed up right on schedule to put on their low-level show (those NAVY guys always come through when needed!).  Again, our location at the marina was perfect to hear the scream of the jet engines, only 1000 feet above our heads!

Looking down the harbor, each red burst was from
a separate fireworks barge!

The cold front came through, the winds shifted north, and the skies cleared for the evening fireworks.  We decided to walk about 2 miles to the Inner Harbor to a spot we found when we were in town a week or two ago.  We had read from the USCG Notice to Mariners that there were to be SIX fireworks barges within the 2-1/2 mile long Inner Harbor, plus 4 barges right next to Ft McHenry.  We got our position right next to one barge, and could see 4 others from our vantage point.  They started at 9:30 and went continuously for 20 minutes from all 6+ barges SIMULTANEOUSLY.  Each barge was shooting the same fireworks at the same time, all coordinated to music.  I was able to take videos looking down the harbor & it was impressive to see the harbor just filled with fireworks, and having them reflected off the windows of the tall city buildings.  There were so many fireworks that I ain’t never seen so many!

 

The cream on the cake was Sunday morning as we were leaving our marina, passing Ft McHenry.  All the visiting tall sailing ships, some at full sail, were outside the harbor, re-enacting the British fleet in 1814, and the Fort was shooting cannon at the ships.  It was a fantastic photo-op that we just happened to find.  It really completed a special two days in Baltimore to enjoy their celebration.

 

 

 

So now we’re headed south, eventually ending up in Myrtle Beach SC for the winter.  The cold fronts up here are now coming every 3 days, and the temp tonight will go down to 49F.   We’re finding our jackets buried in the closets, and it looks like we can put away our shorts & sandals.  We’ll anchor all week on our way back to the Potomac River, and enjoy the cool weather.