Baltimore Beat by Captain
Jean Korten Moser
Take Me Out to the Ballgame W
as the little neon yellow bird that took up refuge on our port jib sheet some kind of omen? It looked for all the world like a canary, but what was it doing here in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay where we are much more likely to see osprey, great blue heron, Canada geese, and gulls? Why was the little hitchhiker here? Coincidentally, we were heading to Baltimore to the see The Birds—the Baltimore Orioles. We had joined members of the Chesapeake Bay Tartan SC and the Bay Region Mariners SA on a baseball cruise. We had reserved slips at a marina within walking distance of Camden Yards and had purchased tickets for the 7:05 p.m. game against the Cincinnati Reds. What better way to combine two loves: sailing and baseball? Unfortunately, we weren’t getting much sailing in. The five- to 10-mile-perhour winds were on the nose, and with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast, we were using the iron genny as we entered the Patapsco River. Besides, we were hoping to arrive in time to tour Oriole Park and visit the nearby Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. For the next hour, the little bird rode along as we passed fishing boats, commercial ships, trawlers, sailboats—even the John W. Brown, the World War II Liberty Ship berthed in Baltimore. After
a particularly large powerboat wake left us rocking and rolling wildly as we were about to past under the Key Bridge, the bird disappeared. Alone, we motored past Fort McHenry and Fort Carroll, past dozens upon dozens of commercial ships in various stages of loading and unloading cargo, past City Pier and the pirate ship Fearless. Four hours after we left Rock Hall, MD, we tied up to a floating dock at Inner Harbor East Marina. We marveled at the transformation of the Harbor East area since our last visit several years earlier. The construction cranes along the shore had been replaced by glistening skyscrapers perched over the marina. The marina showers and restrooms had moved from a cramped waterside trailer to the first floor of the Legg Mason tower (also the home to the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School). There is now also a boater’s lounge with a flatscreen television, Wi-Fi, and coin-operated washer and dryers. Even if we were to take one of the free downtown shuttle buses to Camden Yards, we would arrive too late for the last Oriole Park tour of the day. Instead, we socialized with our fellow cruisers at the marina picnic area until it was time to head off to the game. At the stadium, we checked out the food vendors as we made our way to our seats high above the first base foul line. For a taste of authentic Baltimore, would we
grab a bite at Boog’s Barbecue and catch a glimpse of John Wesley “Boog” Powell, the former Baltimore Orioles’ first baseman? Or would we get polish sausages at Polock Johnny’s, a Baltimore institution since 1921? Or would it be crabcakes from Old Bay washed down with a cup of Natty Boh (National Bohemian Beer) once brewed in Baltimore? After making our selections, we settled down to watch baseball, do the wave, and watch the Oriole team mascot dance with fans along the edge of the field. We root, root, rooted for the home team, but by the top of eighth, with the Cincinnati Reds five runs ahead, it became pretty clear that the home team was not going to win this game. So, we headed to Harbor Place for ice cream. As I sipped on my root beer float, disappointed with the loss, I thought of the little hitchhiker and suddenly I got it. It’s not just about winning; it’s about enjoying the ride. A little bird told me.
About the Author: Jean Korten Moser is a journalist and USCG-licensed captain who sails out of Rock Hall on a Caliber 38. You can e-mail her at mosermedia@dejazzd.com.
Getting There Baltimore Water Taxi—(410) 563-3900, baltimorewatertaxi.com Charm City Circulator—(410) 350-0456, charmcitycirculator.com The 2011 Orioles Schedule through late September—baltimore.orioles.mlb.com 90-minute Tours of Oriole Park at Camden Yards—tickets@orioles.mlb.com Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum—baberuthmuseum.com
Where To Stay Inner Harbor East Marina (near Little Italy)—(410) 625-1700, innerharboreast.net Baltimore Marine Center at Inner Harbor (near Harbor Place)—(410) 837-5339, baltimoremarinecenters.com Baltimore Marine Center at Harborview (near Federal Hill/Locust Point)—(410) 752-1122, baltimoremarinecenters.com Anchorage Marina (Canton)—(410) 522-7200, anchoragemarina.com Follow us!
SpinSheet August 2011 41