Sunday - October 16

Beautiful Sunday....we left the hotel at 7 AM and rode the elevator with BA #3, Lance who was going on his morning run.     What a fun time we had in the "Charm City" with absolutely gorgeous weather!

 

Stopped in Woodstock VA for 10:00 Mass at St. John Bosco.    They had a visiting priest from India - very warm and friendly along with a fabulous choir in this little town of 4,000.

Despite the pretty day for traveling, traffic was very heavy on I-81.     

 Had some pretty color in the higher elevations, but overall, still a lot of green trees.

We arrived at Michael and Brooke's at 4:45.     Great to be here as it's been several months for me (Mark was here in August)!

Had delicious dinner on the porch and then settled in to watch the Cubbies!

Cuddling under the Cubbie blanket!

Saturday - October 15

Another very fun beautiful day in Baltimore....we left around 10 for a breakfast spot.....Miss Shirley's (the original) was packed; Panera had folks coming out the door waiting; Corner Bakery closed?    WHAT?     Can't figure that out as so many people were out and about but possibly cause of the big race/going on.    Many streets were closed cause of the thousands running a 5K, 1/2 or full marathon.   Maybe their employees where running with the throngs?    At any rate, we decided to go to Barnes and Noble and eat at Starbucks, plus check out the new books!  

 

Maeve broke her record last night - slept 12.5 hours!!!!!!!!

 

We had thought we would take the water taxi part way to Fort McHenry and then walk but long lines so we decided to walk again all the way.    It was such a pretty day and we took our time.    Lots of folks were doing the same thing and eventually we were walking down the street (all closed to traffic) and finally onto the grounds of Fort McHenry.    Enormous crowds !!!

 

Fort McHenry

before all the massive crowds

 

Enjoyed visiting with the Blues families and then our nephew and Godchild, Tom arrived with his fiancée, Samm. 

 

After the show, we all walked back to the Tiki Barge and had orange crushes (Mark had beers) - so fun to sit and chat on the water with lots of boat traffic leaving the show.    Got the scoop on all the wedding plans (next July 24th in Milwaukee).

 

 Enjoying our orange crushes - Samm, Tom, Pat

Tom and Samm with Baltimore skyline

 

We rode with Tom and Samm to Dalesio's Italian Restaurant (where we ate with Ryan last night.   It was sooo good, Tom and Samm love Italian, so.....a no-brainer - let's do it again!) 

Wonderful again - food, wine, chatter!

 

Back in our room tonight - tired, happy, and stuffed!   It was a great end to our time in Baltimore1

 

View from our room...

Daytime 

Nighttime

 

Tomorrow we are off to North Carolina and see our kids/kiddies!    Can't wait.....

 

 

Friday - October 14

Totally spectacular day.....blue skies and 65.    We walked across the street for a quick breakfast at Starbucks (a nippy 49 degrees but quickly warmed up).  We had a leisurely stroll (3 miles) to Fort McHenry, site of the air show practice.    Half way had a nice break to have lunch at Little Havana, a favorite Cuban restaurant on the water from when Philip lived aboard his boat in the  Inner harbor - 2000 (hard to believe that's 16 years ago....wow)!!!

 

Lunch was delicious and then on to the show.   Along the way, we walked past so many lovely row houses and many had their fall décor out much to this nomad's enjoyment! 

 

 Fort McHenry

  What a great site for viewing and so good to catch up with the Blues and family members. 

 

We started the long trek back, stopped at The Tiki Barge (Harborview Marina where Philip lived) and had a drink.    Sooooo pretty out sitting by the water in mid October....

 

Mark decided his legs needed a break, (mine, too), so we called Uber and just like that (despite heavy traffic) and an $8 ride, we were back at the Marriott!

Another small world story, this one from Philip......yesterday and today he was training Nick from AZ.    Nick and Philip discovered they were both originally from IL AND then that Nick and I both went to Amboy High School (we were Clippers but of course, many years apart) AND that Nick is married to my cousin, Jennifer from Sublette (my hometown)!    Also Nick's family owns the Long Branch in Amboy and my Aunt Dee worked there many years ago!

We had dinner with Ryan at Dalesio's in Little Italy which was delicious and topped off with chocolate lava cake!!!   

Back to the hotel for drinks and visited with some of the Blues families.

A great day in Baltimore!!!

 

 

 

Thursday - October 13

Cloudy morning in Frederick, but had a delightful breakfast at the B and B and met some nice folks (Dick and Norma) from Hickory, NC (near Michael and Brooke).    Small world as Dick hired Brooke's Dad out of college at Drexel Heritage!    WOW.....really enjoyed our visit and maybe we can meet up in Hickory!    Also enjoyed visiting with Betty and Phil, the owners who are interested in getting an RV.

 

Just a 50-minute drive to Baltimore and arrived around 11, settled in our room at the Marriott Waterfront and then took off to walk the Inner Harbor.    The Blues were practicing, we had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and then toured the USNS Carson City, a huge transport ship that was commissioned in January.    Very interesting!   The sun came out later in the afternoon, we stopped for drinks at "The Point" in Fells Point (when in MD, gotta have an orange crush - yum)!   Back to our hotel to rest a bit and put up the feet.   2 straight days, we've surpassed our 10,000+ steps.....been a long dry spell since we had done that!!!

Had dinner at Apropos and then met Ryan for drinks and good visit at hotel bar - hadn't seen him since Oceana (Virginia Beach) on September 9th.
We are all happy to be in Baltimore!






 

 

 

Wednesday - October 12

We had a fabulous day..........it all stated waking up and hearing that the Cubbies won the National League East Division in dramatic fashion - down by 3 going into the 9th inning and scoring 4 runs to win 6-5!!!!!   My Mom and Dad had to be watching from up above and soooo thrilled!

And we also loved getting this picture (and video) of this silly little Miss from NC.

It's Princess Blair
Can't wait to see her on Sunday!!1

 

After breakfast we were on our way around 9:15.   It was a spectacular day with sunny blue skies and mid 60's.   We drove to the Flight 93 Memorial near Shanksville, PA.    There were lots of people there up high in the hills of PA and what a sobering, emotional experience.     So hard to believe that 15 years have passed since this horrible tragedy.   But just reading and hearing what all happened that Tuesday morning, brought it all back and learned lots of info we did not know.

We were so impressed with how this landmark (now a national park of over 1,000 acres) was designed into such a wonderful remembrance for the men and women who gave their lives
on 9/11 in an empty field in the boonies of Pennsylvania.

If you are ever near this area, do stop and visit this incredible memorial.

This boulder marks the actual location of the crash and the surrounding grassy area is the final resting place for the victims.

Mark is walking down the Memorial Plaza listing the names of the 44 who died .
37 passengers, including the 4 hijackers and a crew of 7.

 

We drove into Stoysville for lunch at the Lincoln Café - very good and just a neat little spot that was full of visitors and locals.

Just a picture-perfect day for traveling thru Pennsylvania (one of our favorite states especially in the fall).    As we drove thru the Allegheny Mountains, oh my......down below in the lower elevations, it was mostly green, but in the mountains with the sunshine on all those orange, red and gold trees...
 oh my....magnificent!     From the mountains to the hills and valleys and farms tucked here and there, it is soooo picturesque!

We arrived in Frederick, MD around 4 and staying here tonight at the Hollerstown Hill B and B built in 1900.    Betty and Phil have owned this lovely home for 19 years and been running it as a B and B for 17 years.    We were given the tour and then took off down Market Street and the very neat historic district.  

Hollerstown Hill

Our "home" tonight 

State Farm used to have a regional office here in Frederick and we had heard it was a really neat town......and that it is!     Very charming with old architecture (the town dates back to 1745) and just full of restaurants, shops and quaintness.   We walked thru the Carroll Creek area with neat eateries,  along the water which was full of lily pads.  The area also had waterfalls, bridges, and great walking path.

Pretty lily pads at Carroll Creek

We had drinks at the WK (Wine Kitchen) sitting outdoors - looked like a very neat restaurant, too, but we were still full from lunch.    So, then we continued on down Market Street and also walked along Patrick Street.    Absolutely loved this area.

We decided we really weren't hungry but maybe dessert and take back to our room?    We came upon "Cakes to Die For" and we chose a mini chocolate pie, rocky road cheesecake and heath bar brownie!    All were excellent along with glass of wine provided at the B and B.
The perfect ending to this day!

Just one of many gorgeous trees we saw today!

The news on TV tonight showed the Blue Angels landing in Baltimore just 10 minutes earlier.

Maeve Kathryn
October 12, 2016

 

 Miss her sooo much!!!