The Hudson River and Champlain Canal.  We have been traveling all week in the stunning valleys of the Catskills, Adirondacks and Green mountains.  Just breathtaking.  Pictures are tough to capture the feeling that so many have painted especially in the Hudson River School.

Highlights this week include a visit with my first cousin Douglas and his family in Thornwood and joining them for a parade and party for Memorial Day and a crowning of Mary ceremony in Richfield, CT, meeting new Canadian friends Cindy and Richard who spent time getting us prepped for their country, watching local baseball in Saugerties, NY, visiting an 1874 mansion in Whitehall, NY and finally, entering our 17th and final state before heading to Montreal later this week.  They say people from Vermont eat pine cones.  Ha! The folks we have met are among the most friendly to date and the maple sugar cake is scrumptious.

   

NYC from a fresh perspective. After 25 years of visits to this fabulous city, everything seemed new and different from the boat and our bikes. When Lady Liberty showed up in my binoculars it took my breath away! And who knew there was a well travelled bike path all the way around Manhattan? Our experience was quieter and gentler than relying on cabs and trains although we used those too.  The city lights and the new World Trade Center from the Marina in Jersey City were spectacular at night.

Other highlights included a visit to the new Whitney museum (Tim Straker, you must go!), seeing our niece Kelsey who works in the city, enjoying Jersey Boys in a packed, happy house, madness in Times Square followed by a nap in Central Park and celebrating our 30 year anniversary a little early at dinner in Little Italy.

A truly special stop on our Great Loop.  Heading up the Hudson River today... back to nature.

T

Baltimore still going strong and big displays of wealth on the Jersey Shore. We had a nice quiet time in Baltimore despite being somewhat concerned about the state of affairs there.  But the Orioles were in town, the marinas busy and we had a great dinner with Cheryl and Dudley. The row houses and boldly designed aquarium made for nice contrasts.

On to New Jersey after a quick stop in Delaware City. Happy to have crossed the Chesapeake and Delaware bays and to have visited our 15th state so far. The Jersey shore was a string of mostly beautiful homes and boardwalks. The Trump Taj Mahal was the standout in Atlantic City.

On to Liberty Landing this morning!

Sailing mecca in Annapolis.  From tall ships to midshipmen at the Naval Academy to Wednesday night races we thoroughly enjoyed the sailing.  The harbor was the busiest we had seen to date but we cruised into the Annapolis Yacht Club and tucked into the juniors dock on the Eastport side where it was less touristy.

We visited the Maryland a State House where George Washington resigned his commission as General of the Army at the end of the Revolutionary war. His actual resignation letter was discovered and on display after having been in private hands until this year. We were treated to a private tour by an associate of a fellow boater who practices law in town.

The Naval Academy was a wonderful campus to explore.  We were impressed by the midshipmen in their spiffy whites (a la Tom Cruise) and it seemed there were 30-40 percent women. Lunch at the officer's club, John Paul Jones' crypt and the sprawling grounds were highlights.

The town was tidy and row houses with spring flower boxes were the norm. Clearly a monied town where the kids attending St Mary's HS all drove brand new vehicles (Jeeps below). Still, we enjoyed the sense of history and commitment to our country... Somehow easier to connect with now that we are in the north.

Island hopping on the Chesapeake. There are hundreds of choices on this Bay and we elected to try to do a mix of stops to get a flavor of the Virginia and Maryland coastal towns and islands. First up was the a Western shore and Tangier Island where 500 people live their lives much as their Cornwall ancestors have for 400 years. Their Cornish accents, crab fishing centered lives and conservatism was unlike anyplace we have ever visited.

Milton Parks, 84, caught our lines at his Parks Marina and then gave us a tour of town in his golf cart, the primary mode of transportation. The historical museum tells the story of tough times over the years driven by erosion and diminishing crab populations due to global warming. Tourism is on the rise as the 4 predominant families fight to protect their community.

We enjoyed the local restaurants (crab fritters and pound cake), white washed homes and biked to a lovely white sand beach.  A favorite was the standout purple home built by a transplanted couple from the Bahamas.

On to Hooper Island in Maryland. This stop is extra special as we were invited to stay in Cheryl Duvall's vacation home! Thank you!! We needed a little break and this tranquil spot is truly a slice of heaven.  A narrow part of the Island is banked by the Chesapeake and the Honga River so we get to see the sun come up and go down without leaving the couch! Ahhh, a couch! Great for reading, watching movies and resting after biking from bridge to bridge.

This Island is driven by the watermen as well. They are out fishing for crabs 15 hours a day. A few were on hand when we arrived to help us dock in shallow water.  We enjoyed the fruits of their labor twice at Old Salty's.

On to Solomon Island on the Eastern shore tomorrow!