September Road Trip from Baltimore

Weather concerns forced us to leave Annapolis and head to Baltimore on September 12^th - a day earlier than planned.  Thunderstorms and strong winds were in the forecast for the late afternoon but we were sure we could reach Anchorage Marina in plenty of time to be safely tied up at the dock before the storms impacted us.  Our plan almost worked.  Shortly after we cruised under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the storm rolled in pummeling Lazy W with heavy rain and gusty winds.  Cloud to cloud lightning and rumbles of thunder put the Admiral and Captain on edge.  By the time we were within sight of the marina, lightning bolts were numerous – not a good time to be on the water and certainly not a good time to be out on the bow throwing lines to dockhands. So we circled the Inner Harbor for an hour before the storm calmed enough to attempt docking.  We were s-o-o-o-o glad to see the storm retreat out over the bay.  Happy hour came early that day!!!

 

A dreary day on the Patapsco River – passing the Francis Scott Key buoy

 

The following day was Purple Friday.  On this beautiful September afternoon, it seemed that all of Baltimore was preparing for opening day of Ravens football.  Purple banners fluttered from lamp posts; pedestrians were adorned with team jerseys and purple beads. Cheerleaders distributed purple and black pompoms as the Ravens marching band performed at the Verizon Wireless Store on Fleet Street in the Harbor East section of town.   Rise & Conquer, the official mascots of the Ravens, graciously posed for pictures with the fans.

Rise poses for a picture while the Ravens marching band performs. 

Conquer, his brother, was posing for pictures inside Verizon Wireless.

 The Captain and I would soon be attending some social functions that would require an upgrade to his wardrobe so we continued to the Inner Harbor for some serious shopping.  If he cooperated and did not balk over buying a new shirt and a new tie, we would reward ourselves with a happy hour stop before our two-mile walk back to the marina.  Bribery is a wonderful tool!

September 14^th was Defenders Day marking the 199^th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.  In 1814 cannon atop Federal Hill warned Baltimore of the arrival of the British fleet.  Saturday’s early evening fireworks display reenacted the ship to shore bombardment of Fort McHenry. 

Defenders Day fireworks display as seen from the stern of Lazy W

The Ravens tailgate party outside M&T Stadium, the Fisher Investment Seminar at the Four Seasons Hotel, lunch in Fells Point at Ale Mary’s Pub (famous not only for its quirky religious decor and ales but also for its varied preparations of tater tots!?!?) – so many fun things to do and see in Baltimore.  The Captain had to remind me that one of the other reasons we were spending a month here was to get some serious boat chores done so we buckled down and got to work.  Teak needed to be stripped/oiled/refinished and the engines needed some TLC.

                  

ROAD TRIP!!  We were not at Woodstock in August 1969 but for years we had wanted to visit the museum that celebrates the most legendary music festival in history. So on September 19^th we set off from Baltimore and headed north to Bethel and a New York trip that would combine a visit to my Mom with Frank’s 40^th SUNY Maritime College reunion.

 

  I’m going on down to Yasgur’s farm

                   I’m going to join in a rock’n’roll band
                   I’m going to camp out on the land
                   I’m going to try an’ get my soul free.
                                                                          Joni Mitchell

 In 1969 entrepreneurs Michael Lang and John Roberts began making plans for a three-day music expo, Woodstock Aquarian Exposition and Music and Art Fair, to be held in the small New York artist’s haven of Woodstock.  When no suitable venue could be found to hold the expected daily crowd of 40,000 music lovers, they pursued a sight in Walkill about 40 miles away.  On July 22^nd, with the building of the stage nearing completion, they were driven out of Walkill when the residents there decided that they did not want their town invaded by hippies.  Max Yasgur, a dairy farmer and the largest milk wholesaler in Sullivan County, came to the rescue and offered them the use of his land in Bethel for $50,000.  The rest is history!  An estimated 400,000 people attended the “Three Days of Peace and Music” to hear an all-star lineup that included Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Santana, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly and the Family Stone, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker and Jimi Hendrix.  Amazingly, there were no reports of violence among the throngs of people gathered here, just peace and love and trippin’ out in the muddy field.

 

The Museum at Bethel Woods opened in 2008.  It is a multi-media extravaganza filled with movie clips, artifacts and interactive displays that highlight the fashion, culture, music, politics and attitudes of the 1960’s – the Cold War, the race to the moon, the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, the youthful exuberance of the Baby Boomers.  Numerous first-hand narratives from organizers, attendees and townspeople recount the joys as well as the trials and tribulations of all those involved in the three day event.  A short walk from the museum building is the bowl-shaped field where the music festival was held August 15^th thru 18^th 1969.

Love Bug

 

Museum of Bethel Woods custom chopper built by Orange County Choppers

 

The much-anticipated 40^th reunion of the SUNY Maritime College Class of 1973 did not disappoint.  Many of the young men pictured below turned out for the dinner party held at Tosca Marquee on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx.  The Captain of Lazy W can be found lounging aboard the deck of the luxurious TSES IV somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.  That’s him with the curly hair and wide sideburns at the bottom of the picture, two to the left of the guitar player.  Organizers wisely placed the 1973 yearbook picture of each graduate on his name tag – not that anyone had changed that much in 40 years – but it sure helped with identification! :)

 

 

The Throgs Neck Bridge as seen from within the fort

during a ceremony to honor one member from the class of 1968 and another from the class of 1973.

One company of The Class of 2017

A small group of the Class of 1973 gathered at the tailgate party before the Maritime vs Kings Point football game.  The Maritime Privateers lost 7-6.

 

After the game some of the class went on a dinner cruise around Manhattan aboard the Aqua Azul, while others enjoyed good food and camaraderie at Louie’s Seafood Restaurant on East Tremont Avenue.  This was a favorite hangout during their college days.

 

After two days of partying with the Maritime gang it was time to visit Mom.  On the drive north to New Windsor we stopped on Rte. 9W to admire the scenery along the Hudson River.

The band Bergmusikanten provided plenty of oompah music at the Bear Mountain Oktoberfest.  They even attempted a rendition of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville - without much success!  But they kept Mom, my sister Marian, Frank and me entertained as some of us enjoyed our bratwurst and knockwurst.

 

After wandering through the craft vendor area and the renovated Bear Mountain Inn, we were off to OCC Café to ogle the choppers and have a light dinner.  The café is located at the headquarters of Orange County Choppers in Newburgh. 

 

The reality TV show, American Choppers, aired on the Discovery Channel for ten years and was one of my “must see” shows.  It showcased the custom chopper building skills of the Teutels – Senior, Junior and Mikey.   Their contrasting creative styles and work habits led to many memorable verbal arguments and ultimately to a feud which led to the breakup of the family team.  The show has been given a new lease on life as Orange County Choppers on CMT; it will focus on Senior and his non-family creative team.

 

If you look really hard, you can catch a glimpse of my sister and Mom sitting at the table just over the seat of this OCC chopper designed specifically for the café.